diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 9bf720693..13fff2b5e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,37 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [2.12.0] - 2025-08-26
+
+### API-Changes
+
+- api!(python): remove remaining broken API for reactions
+
+### Features / Changes
+
+- Use Group ID for chat color generation instead of the name for encrypted groups.
+- Use key fingerprints instead of addresses for key-contacts color generation.
+- Replace HSLuv colors with OKLCh.
+- `wal_checkpoint()`: Do `wal_checkpoint(PASSIVE)` and `wal_checkpoint(FULL)` before `wal_checkpoint(TRUNCATE)`.
+- Assign messages to key-contacts based on Issuer Fingerprint.
+- Create_group_ex(): Log and replace invalid chat name with "…".
+
+### Fixes
+
+- Do not create a group if the sender includes self in the `To` field.
+- Do not reverify already verified contacts via gossip.
+- `get_connectivity()`: Get rid of locking SchedulerState::inner ([#7124](https://github.com/chatmail/core/pull/7124)).
+- Make reaction message hidden only if there are no other parts.
+
+### Refactor
+
+- Do not return `Result` from `valid_signature_fingerprints()`.
+- Make `ConnectivityStore` use a non-async lock ([#7129](https://github.com/chatmail/core/pull/7129)).
+
+### Documentation
+
+- Remove broken link from documentation comments.
+- Remove the comment about Color Vision Deficiency correction.
+
 ## [2.11.0] - 2025-08-13
 
 ### Features / Changes
@@ -6646,3 +6678,4 @@ https://github.com/chatmail/core/pulls?q=is%3Apr+is%3Aclosed
 [2.9.0]: https://github.com/chatmail/core/compare/v2.8.0..v2.9.0
 [2.10.0]: https://github.com/chatmail/core/compare/v2.9.0..v2.10.0
 [2.11.0]: https://github.com/chatmail/core/compare/v2.10.0..v2.11.0
+[2.12.0]: https://github.com/chatmail/core/compare/v2.11.0..v2.12.0
diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 42562364a..08063e638 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1296,7 +1296,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "deltachat"
-version = "2.11.0"
+version = "2.12.0"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "async-broadcast",
@@ -1406,7 +1406,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "deltachat-jsonrpc"
-version = "2.11.0"
+version = "2.12.0"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "async-channel 2.5.0",
@@ -1428,7 +1428,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "deltachat-repl"
-version = "2.11.0"
+version = "2.12.0"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "deltachat",
@@ -1444,7 +1444,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "deltachat-rpc-server"
-version = "2.11.0"
+version = "2.12.0"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "deltachat",
@@ -1473,7 +1473,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "deltachat_ffi"
-version = "2.11.0"
+version = "2.12.0"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "deltachat",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index d3bc6ed3e..b3885c936 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "deltachat"
-version = "2.11.0"
+version = "2.12.0"
 edition = "2024"
 license = "MPL-2.0"
 rust-version = "1.85"
diff --git a/deltachat-ffi/Cargo.toml b/deltachat-ffi/Cargo.toml
index afc09173f..a8aa0fc56 100644
--- a/deltachat-ffi/Cargo.toml
+++ b/deltachat-ffi/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "deltachat_ffi"
-version = "2.11.0"
+version = "2.12.0"
 description = "Deltachat FFI"
 edition = "2018"
 readme = "README.md"
diff --git a/deltachat-jsonrpc/Cargo.toml b/deltachat-jsonrpc/Cargo.toml
index ba91bb4f2..3133c6b08 100644
--- a/deltachat-jsonrpc/Cargo.toml
+++ b/deltachat-jsonrpc/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "deltachat-jsonrpc"
-version = "2.11.0"
+version = "2.12.0"
 description = "DeltaChat JSON-RPC API"
 edition = "2021"
 license = "MPL-2.0"
diff --git a/deltachat-jsonrpc/typescript/package.json b/deltachat-jsonrpc/typescript/package.json
index 93c671d55..865365282 100644
--- a/deltachat-jsonrpc/typescript/package.json
+++ b/deltachat-jsonrpc/typescript/package.json
@@ -54,5 +54,5 @@
   },
   "type": "module",
   "types": "dist/deltachat.d.ts",
-  "version": "2.11.0"
+  "version": "2.12.0"
 }
diff --git a/deltachat-repl/Cargo.toml b/deltachat-repl/Cargo.toml
index 53b8fefe8..4b578702f 100644
--- a/deltachat-repl/Cargo.toml
+++ b/deltachat-repl/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "deltachat-repl"
-version = "2.11.0"
+version = "2.12.0"
 license = "MPL-2.0"
 edition = "2021"
 repository = "https://github.com/chatmail/core"
diff --git a/deltachat-rpc-client/pyproject.toml b/deltachat-rpc-client/pyproject.toml
index aa1e2898d..4e06b5479 100644
--- a/deltachat-rpc-client/pyproject.toml
+++ b/deltachat-rpc-client/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "deltachat-rpc-client"
-version = "2.11.0"
+version = "2.12.0"
 description = "Python client for Delta Chat core JSON-RPC interface"
 classifiers = [
     "Development Status :: 5 - Production/Stable",
diff --git a/deltachat-rpc-server/Cargo.toml b/deltachat-rpc-server/Cargo.toml
index fed4a8da7..48e19b920 100644
--- a/deltachat-rpc-server/Cargo.toml
+++ b/deltachat-rpc-server/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "deltachat-rpc-server"
-version = "2.11.0"
+version = "2.12.0"
 description = "DeltaChat JSON-RPC server"
 edition = "2021"
 readme = "README.md"
diff --git a/deltachat-rpc-server/npm-package/package.json b/deltachat-rpc-server/npm-package/package.json
index f361d4b7d..b1611b8e0 100644
--- a/deltachat-rpc-server/npm-package/package.json
+++ b/deltachat-rpc-server/npm-package/package.json
@@ -15,5 +15,5 @@
   },
   "type": "module",
   "types": "index.d.ts",
-  "version": "2.11.0"
+  "version": "2.12.0"
 }
diff --git a/python/pyproject.toml b/python/pyproject.toml
index f15bf2e49..8049bec07 100644
--- a/python/pyproject.toml
+++ b/python/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "deltachat"
-version = "2.11.0"
+version = "2.12.0"
 description = "Python bindings for the Delta Chat Core library using CFFI against the Rust-implemented libdeltachat"
 readme = "README.rst"
 requires-python = ">=3.8"
diff --git a/release-date.in b/release-date.in
index 133aaaa64..fd0ed26ad 100644
--- a/release-date.in
+++ b/release-date.in
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2025-08-13
\ No newline at end of file
+2025-08-26
\ No newline at end of file