diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index b1f588f2d..18bcad75f 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -11,6 +11,13 @@
 Changes
 =======
 
+Version v12.2.1 (released 2024-09-19)
+
+- file upload: better handling of errors when uploading empty files
+- serializers: ensure that the vocab id is set before performing a look up
+- deposit: take into account the can_publish permission to control when the
+           Publish button should be enabled or disabled
+
 Version v12.1.1 (released 2024-09-11)
 
 - resource: fix add record to community
diff --git a/invenio_rdm_records/__init__.py b/invenio_rdm_records/__init__.py
index 62555abe9..402d03fbf 100644
--- a/invenio_rdm_records/__init__.py
+++ b/invenio_rdm_records/__init__.py
@@ -10,6 +10,6 @@
 
 from .ext import InvenioRDMRecords
 
-__version__ = "12.1.1"
+__version__ = "12.2.1"
 
 __all__ = ("__version__", "InvenioRDMRecords")