diff --git a/.release-please-manifest.json b/.release-please-manifest.json
index 32ac6588..529b133f 100644
--- a/.release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/.release-please-manifest.json
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {
-  ".": "8.0.0"
+  ".": "8.1.0"
 }
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ed52db54..39a6f6bc 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,19 @@
 * Docs: document every driver option and split contributor docs ([#246](https://github.com/test-kitchen/kitchen-openstack/pull/246)) ([ee556dae](https://github.com/test-kitchen/kitchen-openstack/commit/ee556dae))
 * Standardize renovate config and remove dependabot ([#247](https://github.com/test-kitchen/kitchen-openstack/pull/247)) ([39ccc29e](https://github.com/test-kitchen/kitchen-openstack/commit/39ccc29e))
 
+## [8.1.0](https://github.com/test-kitchen/kitchen-openstack/compare/v8.0.0...v8.1.0) (2026-08-24)
+
+
+### Features
+
+* implement the driver doctor hook ([#254](https://github.com/test-kitchen/kitchen-openstack/issues/254)) ([43e2d98](https://github.com/test-kitchen/kitchen-openstack/commit/43e2d980c5ac8077118d9cdbb51b198917a51874))
+* implement the driver status hook ([#253](https://github.com/test-kitchen/kitchen-openstack/issues/253)) ([e32a3c8](https://github.com/test-kitchen/kitchen-openstack/commit/e32a3c85aed40ba445ebf3d1e22671de45c5d1b8))
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* require test-kitchen 3.0 or newer ([#251](https://github.com/test-kitchen/kitchen-openstack/issues/251)) ([e1c95c0](https://github.com/test-kitchen/kitchen-openstack/commit/e1c95c088c5e9cf24510210e72427c79358e7c06))
+
 ## [8.0.0](https://github.com/test-kitchen/kitchen-openstack/compare/v7.0.1...v8.0.0) (2026-08-23)
 
 
diff --git a/lib/kitchen/driver/openstack_version.rb b/lib/kitchen/driver/openstack_version.rb
index 67255bfc..50de25bd 100644
--- a/lib/kitchen/driver/openstack_version.rb
+++ b/lib/kitchen/driver/openstack_version.rb
@@ -29,6 +29,6 @@ module Driver
     # plain string literal on a single line.
     #
     # @return [String]
-    OPENSTACK_VERSION = "8.0.0"
+    OPENSTACK_VERSION = "8.1.0"
   end
 end