diff --git a/.scripts/release.sh b/.scripts/release.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..5c7538d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.scripts/release.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Create a CalVer release tag and push to trigger CI.
+#
+# Usage:
+#   .scripts/release.sh           # auto-generates next version (YYYY.M.BUILD)
+#   .scripts/release.sh 2026.3.11 # explicit version
+#   .scripts/release.sh -y        # auto-generate + skip confirmation
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+SKIP_CONFIRM=false
+VERSION=""
+
+for arg in "$@"; do
+  case "$arg" in
+    -y) SKIP_CONFIRM=true ;;
+    *) VERSION="$arg" ;;
+  esac
+done
+
+# --- Ensure we're on main and up to date ---
+
+BRANCH=$(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD)
+if [[ "$BRANCH" != "main" ]]; then
+  echo "ERROR: Must be on main branch (currently on ${BRANCH})"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "==> Fetching latest..."
+git fetch origin main --tags --quiet
+LOCAL=$(git rev-parse HEAD)
+REMOTE=$(git rev-parse origin/main)
+if [[ "$LOCAL" != "$REMOTE" ]]; then
+  echo "ERROR: Local main is not up to date with origin. Run: git pull"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+# --- Determine version ---
+
+YEAR=$(date +%Y)
+MONTH=$(date +%-m) # no leading zero
+
+if [[ -z "$VERSION" ]]; then
+  # Find the highest build number for this year.month
+  LAST_BUILD=$(git tag --list "${YEAR}.${MONTH}.*" --sort=-v:refname | head -1 | awk -F. '{print $3}')
+  NEXT_BUILD=$((${LAST_BUILD:-0} + 1))
+  VERSION="${YEAR}.${MONTH}.${NEXT_BUILD}"
+fi
+
+# Validate format
+if [[ ! "$VERSION" =~ ^20[0-9]{2}\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+$ ]]; then
+  echo "ERROR: Invalid version format '${VERSION}'. Expected YYYY.M.BUILD (e.g., 2026.3.11)"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+# Check tag doesn't already exist
+if git rev-parse "refs/tags/${VERSION}" &>/dev/null; then
+  echo "ERROR: Tag ${VERSION} already exists"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+# --- Show what's being released ---
+
+LAST_TAG=$(git tag --sort=-v:refname | head -1)
+echo ""
+echo "Version:  ${VERSION}"
+echo "Previous: ${LAST_TAG:-none}"
+echo "Commit:   $(git log -1 --format='%h %s')"
+echo ""
+
+if [[ -n "$LAST_TAG" ]]; then
+  COMMIT_COUNT=$(git rev-list "${LAST_TAG}..HEAD" --count)
+  echo "Changes since ${LAST_TAG} (${COMMIT_COUNT} commits):"
+  git log "${LAST_TAG}..HEAD" --oneline --no-merges
+  echo ""
+fi
+
+# --- Confirm ---
+
+if [[ "$SKIP_CONFIRM" != true ]]; then
+  read -rp "Create tag ${VERSION} and trigger release? [y/N] " answer
+  [[ "$answer" =~ ^[Yy]$ ]] || {
+    echo "Aborted."
+    exit 0
+  }
+  echo ""
+fi
+
+# --- Tag and push ---
+
+git tag "$VERSION"
+git push origin tag "$VERSION"
+
+echo ""
+echo "==> Tag ${VERSION} pushed. CI will build:"
+echo "    - manticorum67/major-domo-discordapp:${VERSION}"
+echo "    - manticorum67/major-domo-discordapp:production"
+echo ""
+echo "Deploy with: .scripts/deploy.sh"