diff --git a/docs/changes.rst b/docs/changes.rst
index 6c354e9af..176436c0b 100644
--- a/docs/changes.rst
+++ b/docs/changes.rst
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ Release History
 ===============
 
 
-16.1.0 (unreleased)
+16.1.0 (2018-10-31)
 -------------------
 * Fixed documentation to use pypi.org and correct curl options; :issue:`1042`
 * bug fix: ensure prefix is absolute when creating a new virtual environment :issue:`1208`
diff --git a/src/virtualenv.py b/src/virtualenv.py
index 23c3aff66..4b57cde92 100755
--- a/src/virtualenv.py
+++ b/src/virtualenv.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
 except ImportError:
     import configparser as ConfigParser
 
-__version__ = "16.1.0.dev0"
+__version__ = "16.1.0"
 virtualenv_version = __version__  # legacy
 
 if sys.version_info < (2, 7):