diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index fdee79f..47c930c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ which records not just what changed but what each drill run proved.
 
 ## Unreleased
 
+## 0.9.0 — 2026-07-21
+
 ### Added
 
 - `box import` stamps the trip, leaving the artifact's own mint stamp intact
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index d182dc9..ac39a10 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.8.1-dev
+0.9.0