diff --git a/releasenotes/source/2026.1.rst b/releasenotes/source/2026.1.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3d2861580
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/source/2026.1.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+===========================
+2026.1 Series Release Notes
+===========================
+
+.. release-notes::
+   :branch: stable/2026.1
diff --git a/releasenotes/source/index.rst b/releasenotes/source/index.rst
index 3c1d51e95..b6a1442b1 100644
--- a/releasenotes/source/index.rst
+++ b/releasenotes/source/index.rst
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
    :maxdepth: 1
 
    unreleased
+   2026.1
    2025.2
    2025.1
    2024.2