diff --git a/.release-please-manifest.json b/.release-please-manifest.json
index f3dbfd2a..b33e9fd7 100644
--- a/.release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/.release-please-manifest.json
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {
-  ".": "1.26.0"
+  ".": "1.26.1"
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ef07b5bc..9d98bacd 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [1.26.1](https://github.com/orbcorp/orb-java/compare/v1.26.0...v1.26.1) (2026-08-28)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **api:** require non-empty `country` in customer address input ([b1e3d47](https://github.com/orbcorp/orb-java/commit/b1e3d47a38342d2e77e58ab0936257342dc63974))
+
 ## [1.26.0](https://github.com/orbcorp/orb-java/compare/v1.25.0...v1.26.0) (2026-08-25)
 
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 73d21afe..24274a5f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 <!-- x-release-please-start-version -->
 
-[![Maven Central](https://img.shields.io/maven-central/v/com.withorb.api/orb-java)](https://central.sonatype.com/artifact/com.withorb.api/orb-java/1.26.0)
+[![Maven Central](https://img.shields.io/maven-central/v/com.withorb.api/orb-java)](https://central.sonatype.com/artifact/com.withorb.api/orb-java/1.26.1)
 
 <!-- x-release-please-end -->
 
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ The REST API documentation can be found on [docs.withorb.com](https://docs.witho
 ### Gradle
 
 ```kotlin
-implementation("com.withorb.api:orb-java:1.26.0")
+implementation("com.withorb.api:orb-java:1.26.1")
 ```
 
 ### Maven
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ implementation("com.withorb.api:orb-java:1.26.0")
 <dependency>
   <groupId>com.withorb.api</groupId>
   <artifactId>orb-java</artifactId>
-  <version>1.26.0</version>
+  <version>1.26.1</version>
 </dependency>
 ```
 
diff --git a/build.gradle.kts b/build.gradle.kts
index 65cc90cb..c49f5f21 100644
--- a/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/build.gradle.kts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 allprojects {
     group = "com.withorb.api"
-    version = "1.26.0" // x-release-please-version
+    version = "1.26.1" // x-release-please-version
 }
 
 subprojects {