diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 4c33ba1c4b..42ad12cc9e 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>com.fasterxml.jackson</groupId>
     <artifactId>jackson-base</artifactId>
-    <version>2.16.0</version>
+    <version>2.16.1</version>
   </parent>
   <groupId>com.fasterxml.jackson.core</groupId>
   <artifactId>jackson-core</artifactId>
diff --git a/release-notes/VERSION-2.x b/release-notes/VERSION-2.x
index d2fa652275..10a340a7ba 100644
--- a/release-notes/VERSION-2.x
+++ b/release-notes/VERSION-2.x
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ a pure JSON library.
 === Releases ===
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-2.16.1 (not yet released)
+2.16.1 (24-Dec-2023)
 
 #1141: NPE in `Version.equals()` if snapshot-info `null`
  (reported by @TimSchweers)