diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 2117da3..e8f4cf1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ match the `VERSION` file and `v*` git tags.
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## [2.2.6] - 2026-09-22
+
 ### Changed
 
 - **`--use-gpu` real-hardware finding: currently a net loss on a 4GB card for real sessions, not just a
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 21bb5e1..bda8fbe 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.2.5
+2.2.6