diff --git a/docs/community/publish.md b/docs/community/publish.md
index 6b602312bc..557c459cb5 100644
--- a/docs/community/publish.md
+++ b/docs/community/publish.md
@@ -92,8 +92,8 @@ rm -f pom.xml.*
echo "*****Step 1. Stage the Release Candidate to GitHub."
-mvn -q -B clean release:prepare -Dtag={{ sedona_create_release.current_git_tag }} -DreleaseVersion={{ sedona_create_release.current_version }} -DdevelopmentVersion={{ sedona_create_release.current_snapshot }} -Dresume=false -Penable-all-submodules -Darguments="-DskipTests"
-mvn -q -B release:clean -Penable-all-submodules
+mvn -B clean release:prepare -Dtag={{ sedona_create_release.current_git_tag }} -DreleaseVersion={{ sedona_create_release.current_version }} -DdevelopmentVersion={{ sedona_create_release.current_snapshot }} -Dresume=false -Penable-all-submodules -Darguments="-DskipTests"
+mvn -B release:clean -Penable-all-submodules
echo "*****Step 2: Upload the Release Candidate to https://repository.apache.org."
@@ -381,11 +381,11 @@ MVN_WRAPPER=$(create_mvn_wrapper $JAVA_VERSION)
verify_java_version $MVN_WRAPPER $JAVA_VERSION
echo "Compiling for Spark 3.4 with Scala 2.12 using Java $JAVA_VERSION..."
-cd apache-sedona-${SEDONA_VERSION}-src && $MVN_WRAPPER -q clean install -DskipTests -Dspark=3.4 -Dscala=2.12 && cd ..
+cd apache-sedona-${SEDONA_VERSION}-src && $MVN_WRAPPER clean && $MVN_WRAPPER install -DskipTests -Dspark=3.4 -Dscala=2.12 && cd ..
cp apache-sedona-${SEDONA_VERSION}-src/spark-shaded/target/sedona-*${SEDONA_VERSION}.jar apache-sedona-${SEDONA_VERSION}-bin/
echo "Compiling for Spark 3.4 with Scala 2.13 using Java $JAVA_VERSION..."
-cd apache-sedona-${SEDONA_VERSION}-src && $MVN_WRAPPER -q clean install -DskipTests -Dspark=3.4 -Dscala=2.13 && cd ..
+cd apache-sedona-${SEDONA_VERSION}-src && $MVN_WRAPPER clean && $MVN_WRAPPER install -DskipTests -Dspark=3.4 -Dscala=2.13 && cd ..
cp apache-sedona-${SEDONA_VERSION}-src/spark-shaded/target/sedona-*${SEDONA_VERSION}.jar apache-sedona-${SEDONA_VERSION}-bin/
# Compile for Spark 3.5 with Java 11
@@ -394,11 +394,11 @@ MVN_WRAPPER=$(create_mvn_wrapper $JAVA_VERSION)
verify_java_version $MVN_WRAPPER $JAVA_VERSION
echo "Compiling for Spark 3.5 with Scala 2.12 using Java $JAVA_VERSION..."
-cd apache-sedona-${SEDONA_VERSION}-src && $MVN_WRAPPER -q clean install -DskipTests -Dspark=3.5 -Dscala=2.12 && cd ..
+cd apache-sedona-${SEDONA_VERSION}-src && $MVN_WRAPPER clean && $MVN_WRAPPER install -DskipTests -Dspark=3.5 -Dscala=2.12 && cd ..
cp apache-sedona-${SEDONA_VERSION}-src/spark-shaded/target/sedona-*${SEDONA_VERSION}.jar apache-sedona-${SEDONA_VERSION}-bin/
echo "Compiling for Spark 3.5 with Scala 2.13 using Java $JAVA_VERSION..."
-cd apache-sedona-${SEDONA_VERSION}-src && $MVN_WRAPPER -q clean install -DskipTests -Dspark=3.5 -Dscala=2.13 && cd ..
+cd apache-sedona-${SEDONA_VERSION}-src && $MVN_WRAPPER clean && $MVN_WRAPPER install -DskipTests -Dspark=3.5 -Dscala=2.13 && cd ..
cp apache-sedona-${SEDONA_VERSION}-src/spark-shaded/target/sedona-*${SEDONA_VERSION}.jar apache-sedona-${SEDONA_VERSION}-bin/
# Compile for Spark 4.0 with Java 17
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ MVN_WRAPPER=$(create_mvn_wrapper $JAVA_VERSION)
verify_java_version $MVN_WRAPPER $JAVA_VERSION
echo "Compiling for Spark 4.0 with Scala 2.13 using Java $JAVA_VERSION..."
-cd apache-sedona-${SEDONA_VERSION}-src && $MVN_WRAPPER -q clean install -DskipTests -Dspark=4.0 -Dscala=2.13 && cd ..
+cd apache-sedona-${SEDONA_VERSION}-src && $MVN_WRAPPER clean && $MVN_WRAPPER install -DskipTests -Dspark=4.0 -Dscala=2.13 && cd ..
cp apache-sedona-${SEDONA_VERSION}-src/spark-shaded/target/sedona-*${SEDONA_VERSION}.jar apache-sedona-${SEDONA_VERSION}-bin/
# Clean up Maven wrappers
@@ -665,24 +665,24 @@ set_java_home() {
# For Spark 3.4 and Scala 2.12 (Java 11)
JAVA_VERSION=$(get_java_version "3.4")
set_java_home $JAVA_VERSION
-mvn -q org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-release-plugin:2.3.2:perform -DconnectionUrl=scm:git:https://github.com/apache/sedona.git -Dtag={{ sedona_create_release.current_git_tag }} -Dresume=false -Darguments="-DskipTests -Dspark=3.4 -Dscala=2.12" -Dspark=3.4 -Dscala=2.12
+mvn org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-release-plugin:2.3.2:perform -DconnectionUrl=scm:git:https://github.com/apache/sedona.git -Dtag={{ sedona_create_release.current_git_tag }} -Dresume=false -Darguments="-DskipTests -Dspark=3.4 -Dscala=2.12" -Dspark=3.4 -Dscala=2.12
# For Spark 3.4 and Scala 2.13 (Java 11)
-mvn -q org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-release-plugin:2.3.2:perform -DconnectionUrl=scm:git:https://github.com/apache/sedona.git -Dtag={{ sedona_create_release.current_git_tag }} -Dresume=false -Darguments="-DskipTests -Dspark=3.4 -Dscala=2.13" -Dspark=3.4 -Dscala=2.13
+mvn org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-release-plugin:2.3.2:perform -DconnectionUrl=scm:git:https://github.com/apache/sedona.git -Dtag={{ sedona_create_release.current_git_tag }} -Dresume=false -Darguments="-DskipTests -Dspark=3.4 -Dscala=2.13" -Dspark=3.4 -Dscala=2.13
# For Spark 3.5 and Scala 2.12 (Java 11)
JAVA_VERSION=$(get_java_version "3.5")
set_java_home $JAVA_VERSION
-mvn -q org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-release-plugin:2.3.2:perform -DconnectionUrl=scm:git:https://github.com/apache/sedona.git -Dtag={{ sedona_create_release.current_git_tag }} -Dresume=false -Darguments="-DskipTests -Dspark=3.5 -Dscala=2.12" -Dspark=3.5 -Dscala=2.12
+mvn org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-release-plugin:2.3.2:perform -DconnectionUrl=scm:git:https://github.com/apache/sedona.git -Dtag={{ sedona_create_release.current_git_tag }} -Dresume=false -Darguments="-DskipTests -Dspark=3.5 -Dscala=2.12" -Dspark=3.5 -Dscala=2.12
# For Spark 3.5 and Scala 2.13 (Java 11)
-mvn -q org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-release-plugin:2.3.2:perform -DconnectionUrl=scm:git:https://github.com/apache/sedona.git -Dtag={{ sedona_create_release.current_git_tag }} -Dresume=false -Darguments="-DskipTests -Dspark=3.5 -Dscala=2.13" -Dspark=3.5 -Dscala=2.13
+mvn org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-release-plugin:2.3.2:perform -DconnectionUrl=scm:git:https://github.com/apache/sedona.git -Dtag={{ sedona_create_release.current_git_tag }} -Dresume=false -Darguments="-DskipTests -Dspark=3.5 -Dscala=2.13" -Dspark=3.5 -Dscala=2.13
# For Spark 4.0 and Scala 2.13 (Java 17)
# Note: Spark 4.0 + Scala 2.12 is not supported, so we skip it
JAVA_VERSION=$(get_java_version "4.0")
set_java_home $JAVA_VERSION
-mvn -q org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-release-plugin:2.3.2:perform -DconnectionUrl=scm:git:https://github.com/apache/sedona.git -Dtag={{ sedona_create_release.current_git_tag }} -Dresume=false -Darguments="-DskipTests -Dspark=4.0 -Dscala=2.13" -Dspark=4.0 -Dscala=2.13
+mvn org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-release-plugin:2.3.2:perform -DconnectionUrl=scm:git:https://github.com/apache/sedona.git -Dtag={{ sedona_create_release.current_git_tag }} -Dresume=false -Darguments="-DskipTests -Dspark=4.0 -Dscala=2.13" -Dspark=4.0 -Dscala=2.13
```
## 9. Release Sedona Python and Zeppelin
diff --git a/docs/setup/release-notes.md b/docs/setup/release-notes.md
index 4b53cd22c0..c85f549828 100644
--- a/docs/setup/release-notes.md
+++ b/docs/setup/release-notes.md
@@ -17,6 +17,151 @@
under the License.
-->
+## Sedona 1.8.1
+
+Sedona 1.8.1 is compiled against:
+
+- **Spark**: 3.4, 3.5, 4.0
+- **Flink**: 1.19
+- **Snowflake**: 7+
+
+**Java Requirements:**
+
+- Spark 3.4 & 3.5: Java 11
+- Spark 4.0: Java 17
+
+This is a minor release that includes bug fixes, new features, and improvements.
+
+### New Contributors
+
+* @andrii-marushchak made their first contribution in https://github.com/apache/sedona/pull/2296
+* @yunchipang made their first contribution in https://github.com/apache/sedona/pull/2378
+* @bunnysocks made their first contribution in https://github.com/apache/sedona/pull/2451
+* @gauravbyte made their first contribution in https://github.com/apache/sedona/pull/2455
+* @joonaspessi made their first contribution in https://github.com/apache/sedona/pull/2467
+* @chay0112 made their first contribution in https://github.com/apache/sedona/pull/2484
+* @aleczoeller made their first contribution in https://github.com/apache/sedona/pull/2475
+* @alexeyegorov made their first contribution in https://github.com/apache/sedona/pull/2561
+* @radekaadek made their first contribution in https://github.com/apache/sedona/pull/2452
+
+### Highlights
+
+* [X] [GH-2402] - Add Sedona Flink SQL module for enhanced Flink integration
+* [X] [GH-2419] - Register Sedona functions as built-in functions to support permanent VIEW creation
+* [X] [GH-2522] - STAC authentication support for both Python and Scala APIs
+* [X] [GH-2367] - Add ST_ApproximateMedialAxis and ST_StraightSkeleton functions
+* [X] [GH-2545] - Add ST_Collect_Agg aggregate function
+* [X] [GH-2552] - Add ST_OrientedEnvelope function
+* [X] [GH-2365] - Modernize Sedona Python project by switching to pyproject.toml and uv
+* [X] Multiple GeoPandas API improvements including is_closed, symmetric_difference, union, convex_hull, and more
+* [X] Enhanced compatibility with Databricks Runtime 17.3 LTS
+* [X] Improved example projects with better documentation
+
+### New Features
+
+#### Core Features
+
+* [GH-2367] - Add ST_ApproximateMedialAxis and ST_StraightSkeleton UDFs
+* [GH-2419] - Register Sedona functions as built-in functions to support permanent VIEW creation
+* [GH-2545] - Add ST_Collect_Agg aggregate function
+* [GH-2552] - Add ST_OrientedEnvelope function
+* [GH-2547] - Support `*_Agg` alias for `*_Aggr` functions
+* [GH-2356] - Implement barrier udf function
+* [GH-2522] - Implement STAC authentication for both Python and Scala APIs
+
+#### Flink
+
+* [GH-2402] - Add Sedona Flink SQL module
+
+#### GeoPandas API
+
+* [GH-2377] - Implement is_closed
+* [GH-2394] - Implement symmetric_difference
+* [GH-2398] - Implement union
+* [GH-2476] - Implement convex_hull
+* [GH-2485] - Implement minimum_bounding_circle
+* [GH-2482] - Implement intersection_all
+* [GH-2491] - Implement force_2d
+* [GH-2489] - Implement minimum_bounding_radius
+* [GH-2504] - Implement force_3d
+* [GH-2454] - Implement binary predicate relate
+* [GH-2389] - Replace GeometryType() with ST_GeometryType()
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+#### Core & Spark
+
+* [SEDONA-745] - Fix OSM parser
+* [SEDONA-746] - Fix RS_Clip behavior
+* [SEDONA-748] - Fix issue with no optimization for weighting function
+* [GH-2240] - Fix write and read nested geometry array using vectorized parquet reader
+* [GH-2406] - Make ST_Distance return null instead of 0.0 when arg is empty geom
+* [GH-2470] - Fix ST_Envelope behavior to return input geom for empty geom cases
+* [GH-2137] - Make ST_LineMerge return merged lines instead of original when there are more than one
+* [GH-2525] - Make ST_Force3D return multipolygons even if it's a single polygon inside
+* [GH-2506] - Fix segmentize array-like input and support lists as 'array-like'
+* [GH-2565] - Fix NULL handling for various aggregation functions in SedonaSpark
+* [GH-2465] - Fix Log4j Class Initialization Deadlock in SedonaKryoRegistrator Class
+* [GH-2472] - Fix compatibility issue with DBR 17.3 LTS
+
+#### STAC
+
+* [GH-2348] - Make STAC tests resilient to external server failures (Python and Scala)
+
+#### Build & Examples
+
+* [GH-2441] - Fix failed example project build
+* [GH-2496] - Fix failed docs build
+
+### Improvements
+
+#### Python
+
+* [GH-2365] - Modernize Sedona Python project by switching to pyproject.toml and uv
+* [GH-2365] - Consolidate Python dependency files for building docs to pyproject.toml
+* [GH-2566] - Temporarily set pyspark < 4.1.0
+
+#### Infrastructure & Build
+
+* [GH-2460] - Increment graphframes version
+* [GH-2422] - Bump minio version to 8.6.0 due to CVE-2025-59952
+* [GH-2424] - Remove gulp-minify from doc build
+* [GH-2549] - Upgrade Testcontainers to 2.0.2
+* [GH-2551] - Pin sphinx version to fix the doc build
+
+#### Docker & Examples
+
+* [GH-2489] - Update the old dependencies in Sedona docker image
+* [GH-2489] - Improve the docker image build process
+* [GH-2509] - Refactor the example projects to include better examples
+* [GH-2474] - New Java Spark Example
+
+#### GeoPandas
+
+* [GH-2404] - Add empty cases to match test suite + fix edge cases
+* [GH-2456] - Remove 'IMPLEMENTATION_STATUS' global variables
+* [GH-2513] - Make 'assert_geometry_almost_equal' check for Z and M dimensions too
+* Replace assert_series_equal with check_pd_series_equal in geopandas tests
+
+#### CI & Testing
+
+* [GH-2351] - Fix R CI flakiness with Spark download from PySpark
+* [GH-2524] - Fix testthat compatibility issues with version 3.3.0
+* [GH-2432] - Fix first-interaction workflow by adding permissions
+* Multiple pre-commit hook improvements and additions
+* Dependabot configuration optimizations
+
+### Documentation
+
+* [GH-2296] - Homepage redesign
+* [GH-2355] - Fix comment and doc consistency issues in GeoPandas API
+* [GH-2519] - Restructure navigation
+* [GH-2561] - Add spatial left join docs solution
+* [GH-2572] - Add doc example of specifying broadcast hint in SQL
+* [GH-2577] - Bump Sedona Python, R, and Zeppelin version to 1.8.1
+* Multiple documentation typo fixes and improvements
+* New blog posts: SedonaDB announcement, SpatialBench, and spatial tables in data lakehouses
+
## Sedona 1.8.0
Sedona 1.8.0 is compiled against:
diff --git a/mkdocs.yml b/mkdocs.yml
index d6b33d07fc..27246b7280 100644
--- a/mkdocs.yml
+++ b/mkdocs.yml
@@ -216,8 +216,8 @@ extra:
current_geotools: 1.8.0-33.1
sedona_create_release:
current_version: 1.8.1
- current_git_tag: sedona-1.8.1-rc1
- current_rc: 1.8.1-rc1
+ current_git_tag: sedona-1.8.1-rc2
+ current_rc: 1.8.1-rc2
current_snapshot: 1.9.0-SNAPSHOT
next_version: 1.9.0
copyright: Copyright © 2026 The Apache Software Foundation. Apache Sedona, Sedona, Apache, the Apache feather logo, and the Apache Sedona project logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of The Apache Software Foundation in the United States and other countries. All other marks mentioned may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Please visit Apache Software Foundation for more details.
