diff --git a/.release-please-manifest.json b/.release-please-manifest.json
index 945fbaf29..c84411f5e 100644
--- a/.release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/.release-please-manifest.json
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {
-  ".": "0.25.0"
+  ".": "0.26.0"
 }
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ed134192d..7bf4c35fe 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,26 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 0.26.0 (2025-02-05)
+
+<!-- Release notes generated using configuration in .github/release.yaml at main -->
+
+## What's Changed
+### Exciting New Features 🎉
+* feat: adds new field for helm values input for cilium CNI by @manoj-nutanix in https://github.com/nutanix-cloud-native/cluster-api-runtime-extensions-nutanix/pull/1011
+* feat: implementation for user defined configmap for cilium addon in cluster creation by @manoj-nutanix in https://github.com/nutanix-cloud-native/cluster-api-runtime-extensions-nutanix/pull/1033
+* feat: update CAPI to v1.9.3 by @dkoshkin in https://github.com/nutanix-cloud-native/cluster-api-runtime-extensions-nutanix/pull/1010
+* feat: adds cluster's ownerref on cilium helm values source object by @manoj-nutanix in https://github.com/nutanix-cloud-native/cluster-api-runtime-extensions-nutanix/pull/1034
+### Fixes 🔧
+* fix: correctly copy Helm charts in init container by @dkoshkin in https://github.com/nutanix-cloud-native/cluster-api-runtime-extensions-nutanix/pull/1018
+* fix: Use mindthegap v1.17.0 for the helm-repository container by @dlipovetsky in https://github.com/nutanix-cloud-native/cluster-api-runtime-extensions-nutanix/pull/1024
+* fix: use republished COSI controller image by @dkoshkin in https://github.com/nutanix-cloud-native/cluster-api-runtime-extensions-nutanix/pull/1022
+### Other Changes
+* test: wait for COSI controller to be ready by @dkoshkin in https://github.com/nutanix-cloud-native/cluster-api-runtime-extensions-nutanix/pull/1014
+* refactor: Remove api module dependency from common module by @jimmidyson in https://github.com/nutanix-cloud-native/cluster-api-runtime-extensions-nutanix/pull/1019
+
+
+**Full Changelog**: https://github.com/nutanix-cloud-native/cluster-api-runtime-extensions-nutanix/compare/v0.25.0...v0.26.0
+
 ## 0.25.0 (2025-01-16)
 
 <!-- Release notes generated using configuration in .github/release.yaml at main -->
diff --git a/docs/hugo.toml b/docs/hugo.toml
index 35a7ed932..243f8d068 100644
--- a/docs/hugo.toml
+++ b/docs/hugo.toml
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ archived_version = false
 # The version number for the version of the docs represented in this doc set.
 # Used in the "version-banner" partial to display a version number for the
 # current doc set.
-version = "0.25.0"
+version = "0.26.0"
 
 # A link to latest version of the docs. Used in the "version-banner" partial to
 # point people to the main doc site.
diff --git a/metadata.yaml b/metadata.yaml
index 8dccd22da..5c2f04ff6 100644
--- a/metadata.yaml
+++ b/metadata.yaml
@@ -76,3 +76,6 @@ releaseSeries:
   - contract: v1beta1
     major: 0
     minor: 25
+  - contract: v1beta1
+    major: 0
+    minor: 26
diff --git a/test/e2e/config/caren.yaml b/test/e2e/config/caren.yaml
index bf5afdbc9..626f18a2e 100644
--- a/test/e2e/config/caren.yaml
+++ b/test/e2e/config/caren.yaml
@@ -136,8 +136,8 @@ providers:
   versions:
   # Upgrade e2e tests will use this as the "upgrade from" version.
   # This should reference the most recent successful release.
-  - name: "{go://github.com/nutanix-cloud-native/cluster-api-runtime-extensions-nutanix@v0.24}"
-    value: "https://github.com/nutanix-cloud-native/cluster-api-runtime-extensions-nutanix/releases/download/{go://github.com/nutanix-cloud-native/cluster-api-runtime-extensions-nutanix@v0.24}/runtime-extensions-components.yaml"
+  - name: "{go://github.com/nutanix-cloud-native/cluster-api-runtime-extensions-nutanix@v0.25}"
+    value: "https://github.com/nutanix-cloud-native/cluster-api-runtime-extensions-nutanix/releases/download/{go://github.com/nutanix-cloud-native/cluster-api-runtime-extensions-nutanix@v0.25}/runtime-extensions-components.yaml"
     type: "url"
     contract: v1beta1
     files:
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ providers:
       new: "--v=8"
     - old: --metrics-addr=127.0.0.1:8080
       new: --metrics-addr=:8080
-  - name: v0.26.99 # "vNext"; use manifests from local source files
+  - name: v0.27.99 # "vNext"; use manifests from local source files
     value: "file://../../../runtime-extensions-components.yaml"
     type: "url"
     contract: v1beta1
diff --git a/test/e2e/data/shared/v1beta1-caren/metadata.yaml b/test/e2e/data/shared/v1beta1-caren/metadata.yaml
index 1f774e959..21fc44d5b 100644
--- a/test/e2e/data/shared/v1beta1-caren/metadata.yaml
+++ b/test/e2e/data/shared/v1beta1-caren/metadata.yaml
@@ -67,3 +67,6 @@ releaseSeries:
   - contract: v1beta1
     major: 0
     minor: 26
+  - contract: v1beta1
+    major: 0
+    minor: 27