diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 7b35b3f26d..561baa5f1f 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -6,10 +6,38 @@ Changelog
 Starting with version 1.8.0, pybind11 releases use a `semantic versioning
 <http://semver.org>`_ policy.
 
-v2.6.1 (TBA, not yet released)
-------------------------------
+v2.6.1 (Nov 11, 2020)
+---------------------
+
+* ``py::exec``, ``py::eval``, and ``py::eval_file`` now add the builtins module
+  as ``"__builtins__"`` to their ``globals`` argument, better matching ``exec``
+  and ``eval`` in pure Python.
+  `#2616 <https://github.com/pybind/pybind11/pull/2616>`_
+
+* ``setup_helpers`` will no longer set a minimum macOS version lower than the
+  current version.
+  `#2622 <https://github.com/pybind/pybind11/pull/2622>`_
+
+* Allow deleting static properties.
+  `#2629 <https://github.com/pybind/pybind11/pull/2629>`_
+
+* Seal a leak in ``def_buffer``, cleaning up the ``capture`` object after the
+  ``class_`` object goes out of scope.
+  `#2634 <https://github.com/pybind/pybind11/pull/2634>`_
+
+* ``pybind11_INCLUDE_DIRS`` was incorrect, potentially causing a regression if
+  it was expected to include ``PYTHON_INCLUDE_DIRS`` (please use targets
+  instead).
+  `#2636 <https://github.com/pybind/pybind11/pull/2636>`_
+
+* Added parameter names to the ``py::enum_`` constructor and methods, avoiding
+  ``arg0`` in the generated docstrings.
+  `#2637 <https://github.com/pybind/pybind11/pull/2637>`_
+
+* Added ``needs_recompile`` optional function to the ``ParallelCompiler``
+  helper, to allow a recompile to be skipped based on a user-defined function.
+  `#2643 <https://github.com/pybind/pybind11/pull/2643>`_
 
-* Details to follow here
 
 v2.6.0 (Oct 21, 2020)
 ---------------------
diff --git a/include/pybind11/detail/common.h b/include/pybind11/detail/common.h
index 3e4893649c..751141a927 100644
--- a/include/pybind11/detail/common.h
+++ b/include/pybind11/detail/common.h
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
 #define PYBIND11_VERSION_MAJOR 2
 #define PYBIND11_VERSION_MINOR 6
-#define PYBIND11_VERSION_PATCH 1.dev1
+#define PYBIND11_VERSION_PATCH 1
 
 #define PYBIND11_NAMESPACE_BEGIN(name) namespace name {
 #define PYBIND11_NAMESPACE_END(name) }
diff --git a/pybind11/_version.py b/pybind11/_version.py
index 950a500ed1..d18535cd7b 100644
--- a/pybind11/_version.py
+++ b/pybind11/_version.py
@@ -8,5 +8,5 @@ def _to_int(s):
         return s
 
 
-__version__ = "2.6.1.dev1"
+__version__ = "2.6.1"
 version_info = tuple(_to_int(s) for s in __version__.split("."))