diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ac9974df077d..ce2a611340fd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -91,12 +91,12 @@ you can build the software yourself following the instructions [below](#building
 
 ### Latest release
 
-4.6.1 (stable)
+4.8.1 (stable)
 
-* [Download executable for Windows](https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/download/release-4.6.1/darktable-4.6.1-win64.exe)
-* [Download executable for macOS on Intel](https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/download/release-4.6.1/darktable-4.6.1-x86_64.dmg)
-* [Download executable for macOS on Apple Silicon](https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/download/release-4.6.1/darktable-4.6.1-arm64.dmg)
-* [Download executable for macOS 12.5 on Apple Silicon](https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/download/release-4.6.1/darktable-4.6.1-arm64-macOS-12.5.dmg)
+* [Download executable for Windows](https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/download/release-4.8.1/darktable-4.8.1-win64.exe)
+* [Download executable for macOS on Intel](https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/download/release-4.8.1/darktable-4.8.1-x86_64.dmg)
+* [Download executable for macOS on Apple Silicon](https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/download/release-4.8.1/darktable-4.8.1-arm64.dmg)
+* [Download executable for macOS 12.5 on Apple Silicon](https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/download/release-4.8.1/darktable-4.8.1-arm64-macOS-12.5.dmg)
 * [Install native packages or add a third-party repository for Linux distros](https://software.opensuse.org/download.html?project=graphics:darktable:stable&package=darktable)
 * [Install Flatpak package for Linux](https://flathub.org/apps/details/org.darktable.Darktable)
 * [More information about installing darktable on any system](https://www.darktable.org/install/)
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ See below (in "Using") how to start a test install of the unstable version witho
 
 #### Latest stable release
 
-4.6.1
+4.8.1
 
 The darktable project releases two major versions every year, on Summer and Winter Solstices, tagged with even numbers (e.g. 4.0, 4.2, 4.4, 4.6).
 Minor revisions are tagged with a third digit (e.g. 4.0.1, 4.0.2) and mostly provide bug fixes and camera support.
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ You may want to compile these stable releases yourself to get better performance
 git clone --recurse-submodules --depth 1 https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable.git
 cd darktable
 git fetch --tags
-git checkout tags/release-4.6.1
+git checkout tags/release-4.8.1
 ```
 
 ### Get submodules
diff --git a/RELEASE_NOTES.md b/RELEASE_NOTES.md
index 074bd4616467..444820430d0d 100644
--- a/RELEASE_NOTES.md
+++ b/RELEASE_NOTES.md
@@ -26,9 +26,9 @@ You are strongly advised to take a backup first.
 
 Since darktable 4.8.0:
 
-- 1484 commits to darktable+rawspeed
-- 513 pull requests handled
-- 60 issues closed
+- 93 commits to darktable+rawspeed
+- 26 pull requests handled
+- 1 issues closed
 
 
 _Please note that the darktable documentation is not currently complete for release 4.8
diff --git a/data/org.darktable.darktable.appdata.xml.in b/data/org.darktable.darktable.appdata.xml.in
index 70466e1dd6ed..514e44cf134d 100644
--- a/data/org.darktable.darktable.appdata.xml.in
+++ b/data/org.darktable.darktable.appdata.xml.in
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
   </screenshots>
   <content_rating type="oars-1.1" />
   <releases>
+    <release date="2024-07-24" version="4.8.1"/>
     <release date="2024-06-21" version="4.8.0"/>
     <release date="2024-02-17" version="4.6.1"/>
     <release date="2023-12-21" version="4.6.0"/>