diff --git a/.github/release-pr/v2.6.1.md b/.github/release-pr/v2.6.1.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..83eb7f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/release-pr/v2.6.1.md
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+Automated release prep for **v2.6.1**. CHANGELOG.md regenerated via git-changelog.
+
+Merging promotes `develop` -> `main` with the changelog already in place.
+Afterwards, run the **release** workflow on `main` to build, publish, and tag v2.6.1.
+
+_No open issues are referenced by the 3 pull requests merged since v2.6.0._
+
+---
+
+<a name="v2.6.1"></a>
+
+## [v2.6.1](https://github.com/swgoh-utils/comlink-python/compare/v2.6.0...v2.6.1) (2026-10-22)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **deps:** require certifi 2026.10.19 to drop compromised emSign CAs ([0f5c92e](https://github.com/swgoh-utils/comlink-python/commit/0f5c92e9fa0f86f23f273ab9c24d25f59903ff32))
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1e6b0f7..209a2f4 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,6 +1,14 @@
 # CHANGELOG
 
 <!-- insertion marker -->
+<a name="v2.6.1"></a>
+
+## [v2.6.1](https://github.com/swgoh-utils/comlink-python/compare/v2.6.0...v2.6.1) (2026-10-22)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **deps:** require certifi 2026.10.19 to drop compromised emSign CAs ([0f5c92e](https://github.com/swgoh-utils/comlink-python/commit/0f5c92e9fa0f86f23f273ab9c24d25f59903ff32))
+
 <a name="v2.6.0"></a>
 
 ## [v2.6.0](https://github.com/swgoh-utils/comlink-python/compare/v2.5.0...v2.6.0) (2026-10-22)