diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f3a5ad0d4..30e996e31 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,21 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 1.6.1
+
+**Release date:** 2026-06-30
+
+This patch release updates Kubernetes to 1.36.2, Helm to v4.2.2 and the
+fluxcd/pkg dependencies. It also adds kubectl categories to the HelmRelease CRD
+and documents the controller's command-line options.
+
+Improvements:
+- Add categories to the HelmRelease CRD
+  [#1527](https://github.com/fluxcd/helm-controller/pull/1527)
+- Document controller options
+  [#1531](https://github.com/fluxcd/helm-controller/pull/1531)
+- Update fluxcd/pkg dependencies
+  [#1529](https://github.com/fluxcd/helm-controller/pull/1529)
+
 ## 1.6.0
 
 **Release date:** 2026-06-17
diff --git a/config/manager/kustomization.yaml b/config/manager/kustomization.yaml
index ffd06fd10..57b23cadd 100644
--- a/config/manager/kustomization.yaml
+++ b/config/manager/kustomization.yaml
@@ -5,4 +5,4 @@ resources:
 images:
   - name: fluxcd/helm-controller
     newName: fluxcd/helm-controller
-    newTag: v1.6.0
+    newTag: v1.6.1
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index b4197bb88..f4ff9a5f2 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ replace (
 require (
 	github.com/Masterminds/semver/v3 v3.5.0
 	github.com/fluxcd/cli-utils v1.2.2
-	github.com/fluxcd/helm-controller/api v1.6.0
+	github.com/fluxcd/helm-controller/api v1.6.1
 	github.com/fluxcd/pkg/apis/acl v0.10.0
 	github.com/fluxcd/pkg/apis/event v0.27.1
 	github.com/fluxcd/pkg/apis/kustomize v1.19.1