diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index fa6c67489..608965040 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 Synapse 1.26.0rc1 (2021-01-20)
 ==============================
 
+This release brings a new schema version for Synapse and rolling back to a previous
+verious is not trivial.  Please review [UPGRADE.rst](UPGRADE.rst) for more details
+on these changes  and for general upgrade guidance.
+
 Features
 --------