diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index 0dbd01f63c..c8ea637bd3 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+# Synapse 1.161.0 (2026-09-15)
+
+No significant changes since 1.161.0rc1.
+
+
+
+
 # Synapse 1.161.0rc1 (2026-09-08)
 
 Please check the [relevant section in the upgrade
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 95521ec46e..cebc8490cb 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+matrix-synapse-py3 (1.161.0) stable; urgency=medium
+
+  * New synapse release 1.161.0.
+
+ -- Synapse Packaging team <packages@matrix.org>  Tue, 15 Sep 2026 16:42:29 +0000
+
 matrix-synapse-py3 (1.161.0~rc1) stable; urgency=medium
 
   * New synapse release 1.161.0rc1.
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index f3bf9682d8..3087b942f7 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "matrix-synapse"
-version = "1.161.0rc1"
+version = "1.161.0"
 description = "Homeserver for the Matrix decentralised comms protocol"
 readme = "README.rst"
 authors = [