diff --git a/docs/ReleaseNotes.txt b/docs/ReleaseNotes.txt
index 722175ec..2761a056 100644
--- a/docs/ReleaseNotes.txt
+++ b/docs/ReleaseNotes.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,22 @@
+=== v1.8.1 === (31 December 2014)
+
+A minor update of ``ispc`` with several important stability fixes, namely:
+
+* Auto-dispatch mechanism is fixed in pre-built Linux binaries (it used to
+  select too conservative target).
+
+* Compile crash with "-O2 -g" is fixed.
+
+Also KNC (Xeon Phi) support is further improved.
+
+The release includes experimental build for Sony PlayStation4 target (Windows
+cross compiler), as well NVPTX experimental support (64 bit Linux binaries
+only). Note that there might be NVPTX compilation fails with CUDA 7.0.
+
+Similar to 1.8.0 all binaries are based on LLVM 3.5. MacOS binaries are built
+for MacOS 10.9 Mavericks. Linux binaries are compatible with kernel 2.6.32
+(ok for RHEL6) and later.
+
 === v1.8.0 === (16 October 2014)
 
 A major new version of ISPC, which introduces experimental support for NVPTX
diff --git a/docs/news.rst b/docs/news.rst
index cc29b39b..06286cb7 100644
--- a/docs/news.rst
+++ b/docs/news.rst
@@ -2,6 +2,15 @@
 ispc News
 =========
 
+ispc 1.8.1 is Released
+----------------------
+
+A minor update of ``ispc`` with several important stability fixes has been
+released. Problem with auto-dispatch on Linux is fixed (affects only pre-built
+binaries), the problem with -O2 -g is also fixed. There are several
+improvements in Xeon Phi support. Similar to 1.8.0 all binaries are based on
+LLVM 3.5.
+
 ispc 1.8.0 is Released
 ----------------------
 
diff --git a/doxygen.cfg b/doxygen.cfg
index c09a11f1..81092519 100644
--- a/doxygen.cfg
+++ b/doxygen.cfg
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ PROJECT_NAME           = "Intel SPMD Program Compiler"
 # This could be handy for archiving the generated documentation or
 # if some version control system is used.
 
-PROJECT_NUMBER         = 1.8.1dev
+PROJECT_NUMBER         = 1.8.1
 
 # The OUTPUT_DIRECTORY tag is used to specify the (relative or absolute)
 # base path where the generated documentation will be put.
diff --git a/ispc.h b/ispc.h
index 4fd1816e..c34761ab 100644
--- a/ispc.h
+++ b/ispc.h
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 #ifndef ISPC_H
 #define ISPC_H
 
-#define ISPC_VERSION "1.8.1dev"
+#define ISPC_VERSION "1.8.1"
 
 #if !defined(LLVM_3_2) && !defined(LLVM_3_3) && !defined(LLVM_3_4) && !defined(LLVM_3_5) && !defined(LLVM_3_6)
 #error "Only LLVM 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5 and the 3.6 development branch are supported"