diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index 907bb8e..e5aa058 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 emoji
 =====
 
+v2.12.1 (2024-05-20)
+-----
+* `typing-extensions` requires at least version `4.7.0` #297
+
 v2.12.0 (2024-05-19)
 -----
 * Move type annotations inline
diff --git a/emoji/__init__.py b/emoji/__init__.py
index 2102f66..7b7fca1 100644
--- a/emoji/__init__.py
+++ b/emoji/__init__.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     'EMOJI_DATA', 'STATUS', 'LANGUAGES',
 ]
 
-__version__ = '2.12.0'
+__version__ = '2.12.1'
 __author__ = 'Taehoon Kim, Kevin Wurster'
 __email__ = 'carpedm20@gmail.com'
 # and wursterk@gmail.com, tahir.jalilov@gmail.com