diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 92f76b4232..61919cdd8e 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-v1.4.3
+v1.4.4
diff --git a/release-notes/v1.4.4.yaml b/release-notes/v1.4.4.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c5c6dc530b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release-notes/v1.4.4.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+date: September 17, 2025
+
+security updates: |
+  Updated the Go module package `xz` to fix CVE-2025-58058.
+  Updated the distroless image to resolve glibc CVEs.
+
+bug fixes: |
+  Fixed an issue in handling context-related transient errors to prevent incorrect state reconciliation and unintended behavior.
+  Fixed an issue where the `exclusiveMaximum` field in the CRD was set incorrectly.
+  Fixed validation for gRPC routes with extension ref filters.
+  Fixed an issue where route status had dangling conditions and was not cleaned up.
+  Added missing patch annotations to the `Compression` struct for proper `Merge`.
+
+other changes: |
+  Updated Envoy Proxy to v1.34.7.
+  Updated Ratelimit tag version to `e74a664a`.
diff --git a/site/content/en/news/releases/notes/v1.4.4.md b/site/content/en/news/releases/notes/v1.4.4.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7a0f1c0ffa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/site/content/en/news/releases/notes/v1.4.4.md
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+---
+title: "v1.4.4"
+publishdate: 2025-09-17
+---
+
+Date: September 17, 2025
+
+## Security updates
+
+- Updated the Go module package `xz` to fix CVE-2025-58058.
+- Updated the distroless image to resolve glibc CVEs.
+
+## Bug fixes
+
+- Fixed an issue in handling context-related transient errors to prevent incorrect state reconciliation and unintended behavior.
+- Fixed an issue where the `exclusiveMaximum` field in the CRD was set incorrectly.
+- Fixed validation for gRPC routes with extension ref filters.
+- Fixed an issue where route status had dangling conditions and was not cleaned up.
+- Added missing patch annotations to the `Compression` struct for proper `Merge`.
+
+## Other changes
+
+- Updated Envoy Proxy to v1.34.7.
+- Updated Ratelimit tag version to `e74a664a`.