diff --git a/.github/workflows/docker-publish.yml b/.github/workflows/docker-publish.yml
index 04d2ba1..05aaae7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/docker-publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/docker-publish.yml
@@ -15,13 +15,43 @@ defaults:
     shell: bash
 
 jobs:
-  publish:
+  images:
     if: >-
-      github.event.workflow_run.event == 'push' &&
+      (github.event.workflow_run.event == 'push' || github.event.workflow_run.event == 'workflow_dispatch') &&
       (github.event.workflow_run.head_branch == 'main' || startsWith(github.event.workflow_run.head_branch, 'v')) &&
       github.event.workflow_run.head_repository.full_name == github.repository &&
       github.event.workflow_run.conclusion == 'success'
     runs-on: ubuntu-26.04
+    timeout-minutes: 5
+    permissions:
+      actions: read
+    outputs:
+      available: ${{ steps.images.outputs.available }}
+    steps:
+      - name: Check for tested images
+        id: images
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+          GH_REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
+          RUN_ID: ${{ github.event.workflow_run.id }}
+          SOURCE_EVENT: ${{ github.event.workflow_run.event }}
+        run: |
+          count=$(gh api --paginate --slurp "repos/$GH_REPO/actions/runs/$RUN_ID/artifacts?per_page=100" | \
+            jq '[.[].artifacts[].name | select(. == "docker-linux-amd64" or . == "docker-linux-arm64")] | unique | length')
+          if [[ "$count" == 2 ]]; then
+            echo 'available=true' >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          elif [[ "$count" == 0 && "$SOURCE_EVENT" == workflow_dispatch ]]; then
+            echo 'available=false' >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            echo 'Skipping Docker publication: packaging-only manual run.' >> "$GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY"
+          else
+            echo 'Expected tested images for both amd64 and arm64.' >&2
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+  publish:
+    needs: images
+    if: needs.images.outputs.available == 'true'
+    runs-on: ubuntu-26.04
     environment: docker-publish
     timeout-minutes: 15
     permissions:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/manual-release.yml b/.github/workflows/manual-release.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..64a727f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/manual-release.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+name: Create Release
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+defaults:
+  run:
+    shell: bash
+
+concurrency:
+  group: create-release
+  cancel-in-progress: false
+
+jobs:
+  release:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-26.04
+    timeout-minutes: 5
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+      actions: write
+    steps:
+      - name: Require main
+        run: |
+          if [[ "$GITHUB_REF" != refs/heads/main ]]; then
+            echo 'Create Release must be run from main.' >&2
+            exit 1
+          fi
+      - uses: actions/checkout@3d3c42e5aac5ba805825da76410c181273ba90b1 # v7.0.1
+        with:
+          ref: main
+          fetch-depth: 0
+      - name: Create and push release tag
+        id: tag
+        run: |
+          git config user.name 'github-actions[bot]'
+          git config user.email '41898282+github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com'
+          ./release.sh origin
+          tag="v$(git show HEAD:VERSION)"
+          echo "tag=$tag" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "Created \`$tag\`." >> "$GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY"
+      - name: Start release pipeline
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+          GH_REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
+          RELEASE_TAG: ${{ steps.tag.outputs.tag }}
+        # A tag pushed with GITHUB_TOKEN does not trigger push workflows.
+        run: gh workflow run release.yml --ref "$RELEASE_TAG" -f publish=true
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index fcb8d99..7983685 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ on:
     branches: [main]
     tags: ['v*']
   workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      publish:
+        description: Publish the selected version tag and Docker images
+        type: boolean
+        default: false
 
 permissions:
   contents: read
@@ -21,7 +26,7 @@ concurrency:
 
 jobs:
   checks:
-    if: github.event_name == 'push'
+    if: github.event_name == 'push' || (inputs.publish && startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v'))
     uses: ./.github/workflows/ci.yml
 
   build:
@@ -45,7 +50,13 @@ jobs:
     env:
       ARCH: ${{ matrix.arch }}
       BUILD_RELEASE: ${{ github.event_name != 'push' || github.ref_type == 'tag' }}
+      EXPORT_IMAGE: ${{ github.event_name == 'push' || (inputs.publish && startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v')) }}
     steps:
+      - name: Require version tag for publication
+        if: inputs.publish && !startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v')
+        run: |
+          echo 'Publishing requires a vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH tag. Use Create Release to tag main.' >&2
+          exit 1
       - uses: actions/checkout@3d3c42e5aac5ba805825da76410c181273ba90b1 # v7.0.1
         with:
           persist-credentials: false
@@ -171,12 +182,12 @@ jobs:
           if-no-files-found: error
           compression-level: 0
       - name: Export tested image
-        if: github.event_name == 'push'
+        if: env.EXPORT_IMAGE == 'true'
         env:
           IMAGE: livepeer:test-${{ matrix.arch }}
         run: docker save --output "$RUNNER_TEMP/docker-$ARCH.tar" "$IMAGE"
       - name: Save tested image
-        if: github.event_name == 'push'
+        if: env.EXPORT_IMAGE == 'true'
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@cf430e030ddbb5b0abf93d22962f4752f3646cd9 # v7.0.2
         with:
           name: docker-linux-${{ matrix.arch }}
@@ -187,7 +198,7 @@ jobs:
 
   publish:
     needs: [checks, build]
-    if: github.event_name == 'push' && startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v')
+    if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v') && (github.event_name == 'push' || inputs.publish)
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     timeout-minutes: 10
     permissions:
diff --git a/docs/development.md b/docs/development.md
index 06e6b76..fbc85eb 100644
--- a/docs/development.md
+++ b/docs/development.md
@@ -16,8 +16,10 @@ builder in `docker/Dockerfile` aligned with it.
 ## Releases
 
 Set the [VERSION](../VERSION) file to the next `MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH` number without
-a `v` prefix, leading zeroes, prerelease suffix, or build metadata. Commit it,
-then run the release helper with the Git remote name:
+a `v` prefix, leading zeroes, prerelease suffix, or build metadata. Commit it to
+`main`, then run **Create Release** from GitHub Actions.
+
+You can also run the release helper locally with the Git remote name:
 
 ```sh
 ./release.sh github
@@ -26,9 +28,17 @@ then run the release helper with the Git remote name:
 The helper creates and pushes a `vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH` tag. Release tags cannot be
 updated or deleted, and published releases are immutable.
 The [Release workflow](../.github/workflows/release.yml) on GitHub publishes
-bundles after CI and packaging tests pass. To test packaging before tagging, run
-**Release** manually from GitHub Actions; manual runs save artifacts without
-publishing a release.
+bundles after CI and packaging tests pass. Successful publication also starts
+Docker image publishing.
+
+If **Create Release** creates the tag but fails to start **Release**, run:
+
+```sh
+gh workflow run release.yml --repo livepeer/node --ref vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH -f publish=true
+```
+
+If **Release** or **Publish Docker** fails, choose **Re-run failed jobs** before
+its image artifacts expire.
 
 ## Checks