diff --git a/CHANGLOG.md b/CHANGLOG.md
index 0c24e25..4045eb9 100644
--- a/CHANGLOG.md
+++ b/CHANGLOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+## v2.6.0 / 2025-06-30
+
+### Enhancements
+
+- update actions/cache to v4 (#293) @wanjunlei
+- update template (#296) @wanjunlei
+
 ## v2.5.2 / 2024-05-14
 
 ### Enhancements
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 33485ee..95f97e3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -82,11 +82,11 @@ We assume you already have a Kubernetes cluster (v1.16+). You can install one us
 
 ```shell
 # Deploy CRDs and the Notification Manager Operator:
-kubectl apply -f https://github.com/kubesphere/notification-manager/releases/download/v2.5.2/bundle.yaml
+kubectl apply -f https://github.com/kubesphere/notification-manager/releases/download/v2.6.0/bundle.yaml
 # Deploy default template:
-kubectl apply -f https://github.com/kubesphere/notification-manager/releases/download/v2.5.2/template.yaml
+kubectl apply -f https://github.com/kubesphere/notification-manager/releases/download/v2.6.0/template.yaml
 # Deploy built-in language packs.
-kubectl apply -f https://github.com/kubesphere/notification-manager/releases/download/v2.5.2/zh-cn.yaml
+kubectl apply -f https://github.com/kubesphere/notification-manager/releases/download/v2.6.0/zh-cn.yaml
 ```
 
 #### Install with helm
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ ensures a deployment meeting the resource requirements is running.
 We should create a NotificationManager CR first, skip this when using helm install.
 
 ```shell
-kubectl apply -f https://github.com/kubesphere/notification-manager/releases/download/v2.5.2/notification_manager.yaml
+kubectl apply -f https://github.com/kubesphere/notification-manager/releases/download/v2.6.0/notification_manager.yaml
 ```
 
 ### Configure sender
diff --git a/RELEASE.md b/RELEASE.md
index cb539c5..ad20cfd 100644
--- a/RELEASE.md
+++ b/RELEASE.md
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ This page describes the release process and the currently planned schedule for u
 | v2.5.0         | 2024-03-21             | leiwanjun (GitHub: @leiwanjun)      |
 | v2.5.1         | 2024-04-03             | leiwanjun (GitHub: @leiwanjun)      |
 | v2.5.2         | 2024-04-14             | leiwanjun (GitHub: @leiwanjun)      |
+| v2.6.0         | 2025-06-30             | Gentleelephant (GitHub: @Gentleelephant) |
 
 # How to cut a new release
 
diff --git a/helm/Chart.yaml b/helm/Chart.yaml
index bb0406a..d08440f 100644
--- a/helm/Chart.yaml
+++ b/helm/Chart.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 apiVersion: v1
-appVersion: 2.5.0
+appVersion: 2.6.0
 description: Notification Manager manages notifications in multi-tenant K8s environment. It receives alerts or notifications from different senders and then send notifications to various tenant receivers based on alerts/notifications' tenant label like "namespace". 
 name: notification-manager
-version: 2.5.0
+version: 2.6.0
diff --git a/helm/templates/notificationmanagers.yaml b/helm/templates/notificationmanagers.yaml
index 32e988e..e4de669 100644
--- a/helm/templates/notificationmanagers.yaml
+++ b/helm/templates/notificationmanagers.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ spec:
   {{- if .Values.notificationmanager.replicas }}
   replicas: {{ .Values.notificationmanager.replicas }}
   {{- end}}
-  image: {{ include "global.imageRegistry" .}}{{ .Values.notificationmanager.image.repo }}:{{ .Values.notificationmanager.image.tag }}
+  image: {{ include "global.imageRegistry" .}}{{ .Values.notificationmanager.image.repo }}:{{ .Values.notificationmanager.image.tag | default (printf "v%s" .Chart.AppVersion) }}
   imagePullPolicy: {{ .Values.notificationmanager.image.pullPolicy }}
   serviceAccountName: notification-manager-sa
   portName: webhook
diff --git a/helm/templates/operator.yaml b/helm/templates/operator.yaml
index bd6d8ea..5b4590d 100644
--- a/helm/templates/operator.yaml
+++ b/helm/templates/operator.yaml
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ spec:
         - name: TZ
           value: {{ .Values.timezone }}
         {{- end }}
-        image: {{ include "global.imageRegistry" . }}{{ .Values.operator.containers.operator.image.repo }}:{{ .Values.operator.containers.operator.image.tag }}
+        image: {{ include "global.imageRegistry" . }}{{ .Values.operator.containers.operator.image.repo }}:{{ .Values.operator.containers.operator.image.tag | default (printf "v%s" .Chart.AppVersion) }}
         imagePullPolicy: {{ .Values.operator.containers.operator.image.pullPolicy }}
         name: notification-manager-operator
         ports:
diff --git a/helm/values.yaml b/helm/values.yaml
index 6b29713..517a3e4 100644
--- a/helm/values.yaml
+++ b/helm/values.yaml
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ operator:
     operator:
       image:
         repo: kubesphere/notification-manager-operator
-        tag: v2.5.0
+        tag: v2.6.0
         pullPolicy: IfNotPresent
       resources:
         limits:
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ operator:
 notificationmanager:
   image:
     repo: kubesphere/notification-manager
-    tag: v2.5.0
+    tag: v2.6.0
     pullPolicy: IfNotPresent
   sidecar:
     image: