diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index fb6e7a4..655b900 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.51.1
\ No newline at end of file
+0.52.0
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/releaseNotes.ts b/frontend/src/lib/releaseNotes.ts
index b161283..01a2af5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/releaseNotes.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/releaseNotes.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,16 @@ export interface ReleaseEntry {
 }
 
 export const RELEASE_NOTES: ReleaseEntry[] = [
+  {
+    version: "0.52.0",
+    date: "2026-07-22",
+    summary: "Honest loading and error states across the app — pages no longer look empty when a fetch is still loading or has failed.",
+    fixes: [
+      "When a page's data is still loading or fails to load (e.g. right after a server restart), it now shows a spinner or a clear error with a Retry button — instead of looking like it's simply empty (\"No channels\", an empty inbox…). Rolled out across the feed, channels, playlists, downloads, messages, notifications, Plex, admin and stats pages.",
+      "A failed action now shows the server's actual reason (e.g. \"Not enough quota left today\") instead of a generic \"failed\" message.",
+      "The startup screen now offers a Retry if the app can't reach the server on load.",
+    ],
+  },
   {
     version: "0.51.1",
     date: "2026-07-22",