diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index a35fa43c..236767db 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+2.6.2 (October 28, 2023)
+------------------------
+
+This version documents exclude files: each personal word list is paired with
+an exclude file that contains words the user considers invalid.
+
+
 2.6.1 (September 24, 2023)
 --------------------------
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 2f2cde4d..2d503757 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 # along with this program; if not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 AC_PREREQ([2.71])
-AC_INIT([enchant],[2.6.1])
+AC_INIT([enchant],[2.6.2])
 AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR(src/enchant.h)
 AC_CONFIG_AUX_DIR([build-aux])
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([subdir-objects])