diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index 42281483b..a9afd36d2 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,3 +1,18 @@
+Synapse 1.6.1 (2019-11-28)
+==========================
+
+Security updates
+----------------
+
+This release includes a security fix ([\#6426](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/6426), below). Administrators are encouraged to upgrade as soon as possible.
+
+Bugfixes
+--------
+
+- Clean up local threepids from user on account deactivation. ([\#6426](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/6426))
+- Fix startup error when http proxy is defined. ([\#6421](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/6421))
+
+
 Synapse 1.6.0 (2019-11-26)
 ==========================
 
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 82dae017f..b8a43788e 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+matrix-synapse-py3 (1.6.1) stable; urgency=medium
+
+  * New synapse release 1.6.1.
+
+ -- Synapse Packaging team <packages@matrix.org>  Thu, 28 Nov 2019 11:10:40 +0000
+
 matrix-synapse-py3 (1.6.0) stable; urgency=medium
 
   * New synapse release 1.6.0.
diff --git a/synapse/__init__.py b/synapse/__init__.py
index 53eedc004..f99de2f3f 100644
--- a/synapse/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/__init__.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ try:
 except ImportError:
     pass
 
-__version__ = "1.6.0"
+__version__ = "1.6.1"
 
 if bool(os.environ.get("SYNAPSE_TEST_PATCH_LOG_CONTEXTS", False)):
     # We import here so that we don't have to install a bunch of deps when