diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index 3a05942..921f1e5 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 Package: redcapcustodian
 Type: Package
 Title: Data automation for R-centric workflows with a nod towards REDCap
-Version: 1.25.0
+Version: 1.26.0
 Authors@R: c(
   person("Philip", "Chase",
         email = "pbc@ufl.edu",
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 37ccdf9..a35c27d 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# redcapcustodian 1.26.0 (released 2024-10-30)
+- Update Dockerfile to rocker/verse:4.4.1 (@pbchase)
+
 # redcapcustodian 1.25.0 (released 2024-10-24)
 - Add report crash logging to render_report.R  (@ljwoodley, #166)
 - Update render_report.R to use render_report() function  (@ljwoodley, #166)
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index ad21919..5ff8c4f 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.25.0
+1.26.0