diff --git a/releases/v1.9.6.toml b/releases/v1.9.6.toml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4284065d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releases/v1.9.6.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# The commit/tag of the release
+commit = "v1.9.6"
+project_name = "CRI-O"
+github_repo = "kubernetes-incubator/cri-o"
+previous = "v1.9.5"
+pre_release = false
+
+preface = """\
+"""
+
+[notes]
+
+[breaking]