diff --git a/docs/RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md b/docs/RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..108db8be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+# BirdNET-Pi Release Checklist
+
+This document outlines the steps required to prepare and publish a new release of BirdNET-Pi.
+
+## Pre-Release Verification
+
+- [ ] All CI checks passing on main branch
+- [ ] Test coverage meets threshold (≥77%)
+- [ ] No outstanding critical/blocking issues
+
+```bash
+# Verify CI status
+gh run list --branch main --limit 3
+
+# Check for blocking issues
+gh issue list --label "blocking"
+gh issue list --label "critical"
+```
+
+## Version Updates
+
+Update version numbers in the following files:
+
+| File | Location | Example |
+|------|----------|---------|
+| `pyproject.toml` | Line ~35 | `version = "X.Y.Z"` |
+| `src/birdnetpi/config/manager.py` | Line ~19 | `CURRENT_VERSION = "X.Y.Z"` |
+| `src/birdnetpi/cli/manage_translations.py` | Line ~74 | `--version=X.Y.Z` |
+
+## Translations
+
+Run the translation workflow to ensure all strings are extracted and compiled:
+
+```bash
+# Extract translatable strings from source
+uv run manage-translations extract
+
+# Update PO files with new strings
+uv run manage-translations update
+
+# Verify all locales are complete
+uv run manage-translations check
+
+# Compile PO files to MO
+uv run manage-translations compile
+```
+
+### Expected Output
+- All production locales (af, de, es, fr) should be 100% translated
+- Test locales (xx, yy) are skipped (fuzzy header)
+- en locale is skipped (source language)
+
+## Testing
+
+### Full Test Suite
+```bash
+uv run pytest --cov=src --cov-fail-under=77 -m "not expensive and not ci_issue" --blocking-threshold=10.0
+```
+
+### Expensive Tests (Optional)
+```bash
+uv run pytest -m "expensive"
+```
+
+### Docker Verification
+```bash
+# Build images
+docker compose build --parallel
+
+# Verify containers start (optional)
+docker compose up -d
+docker compose ps
+docker compose down
+```
+
+## Create Release
+
+### Commit Changes
+```bash
+# Stage all release-related changes
+git add pyproject.toml src/birdnetpi/config/manager.py src/birdnetpi/cli/manage_translations.py
+git add locales/
+
+# Create release commit
+git commit -m "release: vX.Y.Z"
+```
+
+### Tag and Push
+```bash
+# Create annotated tag
+git tag -a vX.Y.Z -m "Release vX.Y.Z"
+
+# Push commit and tags
+git push && git push --tags
+```
+
+### GitHub Release
+```bash
+# Create GitHub release (interactive)
+gh release create vX.Y.Z --generate-notes
+
+# Or with custom notes
+gh release create vX.Y.Z --title "vX.Y.Z" --notes "Release notes here"
+```
+
+## Post-Release
+
+- [ ] Verify release artifacts on GitHub
+- [ ] Test installation from release
+- [ ] Update documentation if needed
+- [ ] Announce release (if applicable)
+
+## Automation
+
+The release checklist can be executed using task agents:
+
+```bash
+# In Claude Code, the following agents can be used:
+# - Pre-release verification agent
+# - Version update agent
+# - Translation workflow agent
+# - Test runner agent
+# - Docker build agent
+# - Release commit agent
+```
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+### Coverage Below Threshold
+If local coverage is slightly below threshold but CI passes, this is often due to environment differences. The CI environment is authoritative.
+
+### Translation Check Failures
+Run `uv run manage-translations check --warn-only` to see issues without failing, then address them individually.
+
+### Docker Build Failures
+Check for uncommitted changes that might affect the build context:
+```bash
+git status
+git stash  # if needed
+docker compose build --no-cache
+```