diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a55491ad..84f2ec7e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,18 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [2.9.0] - 2026-04-17
+
+### Added
+- Compose box overhaul: emoji, GIF, and sticker pickers now appear inline right where you're typing, drafts autosave so you never lose a post mid-thought, and the box guards against accidental dismissal
+- Badge awards now appear inline in your home, profile, and Badges feeds with a one-tap accept button
+- Reaction, repost, zap, and poll-vote detail views now show the full list of who interacted, not just a count
+
+### Changed
+- Hatching and evolving Blobbis no longer requires posting -- focus on the care actions that matter
+
+### Fixed
+- The expanded emoji picker in feeds now has its background back
+
 ## [2.8.0] - 2026-04-16
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/android/app/build.gradle b/android/app/build.gradle
index a63c0332..fa261eeb 100644
--- a/android/app/build.gradle
+++ b/android/app/build.gradle
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ android {
         minSdkVersion rootProject.ext.minSdkVersion
         targetSdkVersion rootProject.ext.targetSdkVersion
         versionCode 1
-        versionName "2.8.0"
+        versionName "2.9.0"
         testInstrumentationRunner "androidx.test.runner.AndroidJUnitRunner"
         aaptOptions {
              // Files and dirs to omit from the packaged assets dir, modified to accommodate modern web apps.
diff --git a/ios/App/App.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj b/ios/App/App.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
index bd2940bf..19905f37 100644
--- a/ios/App/App.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
+++ b/ios/App/App.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@
 					"$(inherited)",
 					"@executable_path/Frameworks",
 				);
-				MARKETING_VERSION = 2.8.0;
+				MARKETING_VERSION = 2.9.0;
 				OTHER_SWIFT_FLAGS = "$(inherited) \"-D\" \"COCOAPODS\" \"-DDEBUG\"";
 				PRODUCT_BUNDLE_IDENTIFIER = pub.ditto.app;
 				PRODUCT_NAME = "$(TARGET_NAME)";
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@
 					"$(inherited)",
 					"@executable_path/Frameworks",
 				);
-				MARKETING_VERSION = 2.8.0;
+				MARKETING_VERSION = 2.9.0;
 				PRODUCT_BUNDLE_IDENTIFIER = pub.ditto.app;
 				PRODUCT_NAME = "$(TARGET_NAME)";
 				SWIFT_ACTIVE_COMPILATION_CONDITIONS = "";
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 01104cd8..d3e8030e 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "ditto",
-  "version": "2.7.1",
+  "version": "2.9.0",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "ditto",
-      "version": "2.7.1",
+      "version": "2.9.0",
       "dependencies": {
         "@capacitor/app": "^8.0.0",
         "@capacitor/core": "^8.1.0",
@@ -5768,7 +5768,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "arm"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -5782,7 +5781,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "arm64"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -5796,7 +5794,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "arm64"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -5810,7 +5807,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "x64"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -5824,7 +5820,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "arm64"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -5838,7 +5833,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "x64"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -5852,7 +5846,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "arm"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -5866,7 +5859,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "arm"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -5880,7 +5872,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "arm64"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -5894,7 +5885,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "arm64"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -5908,7 +5898,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "loong64"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -5922,7 +5911,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "loong64"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -5936,7 +5924,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "ppc64"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -5950,7 +5937,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "ppc64"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -5964,7 +5950,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "riscv64"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -5978,7 +5963,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "riscv64"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -5992,7 +5976,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "s390x"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -6006,7 +5989,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "x64"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -6020,7 +6002,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "x64"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -6034,7 +6015,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "x64"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -6048,7 +6028,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "arm64"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -6062,7 +6041,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "arm64"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -6076,7 +6054,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "ia32"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -6090,7 +6067,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "x64"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
@@ -6104,7 +6080,6 @@
       "cpu": [
         "x64"
       ],
-      "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
       "os": [
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e4b77a8e..d9118dd0 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "ditto",
   "private": true,
-  "version": "2.8.0",
+  "version": "2.9.0",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "npm i --silent && vite",
diff --git a/public/CHANGELOG.md b/public/CHANGELOG.md
index a55491ad..84f2ec7e 100644
--- a/public/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/public/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,18 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [2.9.0] - 2026-04-17
+
+### Added
+- Compose box overhaul: emoji, GIF, and sticker pickers now appear inline right where you're typing, drafts autosave so you never lose a post mid-thought, and the box guards against accidental dismissal
+- Badge awards now appear inline in your home, profile, and Badges feeds with a one-tap accept button
+- Reaction, repost, zap, and poll-vote detail views now show the full list of who interacted, not just a count
+
+### Changed
+- Hatching and evolving Blobbis no longer requires posting -- focus on the care actions that matter
+
+### Fixed
+- The expanded emoji picker in feeds now has its background back
+
 ## [2.8.0] - 2026-04-16
 
 ### Added