diff --git a/.github/release.yml b/.github/release.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6219f30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/release.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+changelog:
+  categories:
+    - title: Breaking changes
+      labels: [breaking-change]
+    - title: Features
+      labels: [feature, enhancement]
+    - title: Fixes
+      labels: [fix, bug]
+    - title: Maintenance
+      labels: [chore, documentation, dependencies]
+    - title: Other changes
+      labels: ['*']
+  exclude:
+    labels: [skip-changelog]
+    authors: [dependabot]
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 476ca66..733d06e 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@ Releases are tagged from a clean, merged `main` commit:
 1. Confirm `pyproject.toml` and `CITATION.cff` contain the intended version.
 2. Run the validation commands above and confirm `main` is clean and current.
 3. Create an annotated `vX.Y.Z` tag on the merged commit and push the tag.
-4. Create a normal GitHub release with notes summarizing the relevant commits.
+4. Create the GitHub release; the repository generates categorized notes from
+   merged pull requests and contributors.
 5. Confirm the tag, release, and version metadata agree.
 
 The tag workflow reruns the release checks for every `v*.*.*` tag.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9ec08f6..120c214 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -183,6 +183,7 @@ skill-discovery/
     │   ├── config.yml                 # disables blank issues
     │   └── feature_request.yml        # structured feature request form
     ├── dependabot.yml                 # weekly action version updates
+    ├── release.yml                    # generated release-note categories
     ├── workflows/
     │   ├── ci.yml                     # validate + monitor jobs
     │   ├── dependabot-auto-merge.yml  # auto-merge minor/patch dependabot PRs