diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 1a6e141d..56ea2a3a 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
 	<groupId>sc.fiji</groupId>
 	<artifactId>SPIM_Registration</artifactId>
-	<version>5.0.26-SNAPSHOT</version>
+	<version>5.0.26</version>
 
 	<name>SPIM Registration</name>
 	<description>Software for the reconstruction of multi-view microscopic acquisitions like Selective Plane Illumination Microscopy (SPIM) Data.</description>
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@
 	<scm>
 		<connection>scm:git:https://github.com/fiji/SPIM_Registration</connection>
 		<developerConnection>scm:git:git@github.com:fiji/SPIM_Registration</developerConnection>
-		<tag>HEAD</tag>
+		<tag>SPIM_Registration-5.0.26</tag>
 		<url>https://github.com/fiji/SPIM_Registration</url>
 	</scm>
 	<issueManagement>
diff --git a/release.properties b/release.properties
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0c54d37e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release.properties
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#release configuration
+#Thu Aug 29 14:01:41 CDT 2024
+scm.commentPrefix=[maven-release-plugin] 
+exec.pomFileName=pom.xml
+pushChanges=false
+releaseStrategyId=default
+projectVersionPolicyConfig=<projectVersionPolicyConfig>${projectVersionPolicyConfig}</projectVersionPolicyConfig>\n
+scm.tag=SPIM_Registration-5.0.26
+remoteTagging=true
+project.dev.sc.fiji\:SPIM_Registration=5.0.27-SNAPSHOT
+exec.additionalArguments=-Dgpg.skip\=true 
+project.scm.sc.fiji\:SPIM_Registration.developerConnection=scm\:git\:git@github.com\:fiji/SPIM_Registration
+scm.branchCommitComment=@{prefix} prepare branch @{releaseLabel}
+projectVersionPolicyId=default
+scm.url=scm\:git\:https\://github.com/fiji/SPIM_Registration
+scm.tagNameFormat=@{project.artifactId}-@{project.version}
+pinExternals=false
+preparationGoals=clean verify
+project.scm.sc.fiji\:SPIM_Registration.tag=HEAD
+project.scm.sc.fiji\:SPIM_Registration.connection=scm\:git\:https\://github.com/fiji/SPIM_Registration
+project.rel.sc.fiji\:SPIM_Registration=5.0.26
+scm.releaseCommitComment=@{prefix} prepare release @{releaseLabel}
+exec.snapshotReleasePluginAllowed=false
+exec.activateProfiles=deploy-to-scijava
+project.scm.sc.fiji\:SPIM_Registration.url=https\://github.com/fiji/SPIM_Registration
+scm.developmentCommitComment=@{prefix} prepare for next development iteration
+scm.rollbackCommitComment=@{prefix} rollback the release of @{releaseLabel}
+completedPhase=end-release