diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 289e8a8a..20486a8f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+# [1.6.0](https://github.com/stirling-image/stirling-image/compare/v1.5.3...v1.6.0) (2026-04-04)
+
+
+### Features
+
+* lightweight Docker image without AI/ML tools (:lite tag) ([3a0b988](https://github.com/stirling-image/stirling-image/commit/3a0b988b746a5fbe6df10fe8ee288e30e42d747f)), closes [#1](https://github.com/stirling-image/stirling-image/issues/1)
+
 ## [1.5.3](https://github.com/stirling-image/stirling-image/compare/v1.5.2...v1.5.3) (2026-04-04)
 
 
diff --git a/apps/api/package.json b/apps/api/package.json
index 971d7395..c06f577a 100644
--- a/apps/api/package.json
+++ b/apps/api/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@stirling-image/api",
-  "version": "1.5.3",
+  "version": "1.6.0",
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
diff --git a/apps/docs/package.json b/apps/docs/package.json
index ad4f6a4d..7503294d 100644
--- a/apps/docs/package.json
+++ b/apps/docs/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@stirling-image/docs",
-  "version": "1.5.3",
+  "version": "1.6.0",
   "private": true,
   "scripts": {
     "docs:dev": "vitepress dev .",
diff --git a/apps/web/package.json b/apps/web/package.json
index 57d61118..ebfcd751 100644
--- a/apps/web/package.json
+++ b/apps/web/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@stirling-image/web",
-  "version": "1.5.3",
+  "version": "1.6.0",
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 2db23e57..ee164135 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "stirling-image",
-  "version": "1.5.3",
+  "version": "1.6.0",
   "private": true,
   "packageManager": "pnpm@9.15.4",
   "scripts": {
diff --git a/packages/ai/package.json b/packages/ai/package.json
index b48cde63..792caca0 100644
--- a/packages/ai/package.json
+++ b/packages/ai/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@stirling-image/ai",
-  "version": "1.5.3",
+  "version": "1.6.0",
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",
   "main": "./src/index.ts",
diff --git a/packages/image-engine/package.json b/packages/image-engine/package.json
index 0d31ba77..7004b323 100644
--- a/packages/image-engine/package.json
+++ b/packages/image-engine/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@stirling-image/image-engine",
-  "version": "1.5.3",
+  "version": "1.6.0",
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",
   "main": "./src/index.ts",
diff --git a/packages/shared/package.json b/packages/shared/package.json
index dd6848fa..5573a24c 100644
--- a/packages/shared/package.json
+++ b/packages/shared/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@stirling-image/shared",
-  "version": "1.5.3",
+  "version": "1.6.0",
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",
   "main": "./src/index.ts",
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/constants.ts b/packages/shared/src/constants.ts
index 0289edb6..17bf7134 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/constants.ts
+++ b/packages/shared/src/constants.ts
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ export const SOCIAL_MEDIA_PRESETS: SocialMediaPreset[] = [
   { platform: "Threads", name: "Post Image", width: 1080, height: 1080 },
 ];
 
-export const APP_VERSION = "1.5.3";
+export const APP_VERSION = "1.6.0";
 
 /**
  * Tool IDs that require the Python sidecar (AI/ML tools).