diff --git a/release-please-manifest.json b/release-please-manifest.json
index 5ae07206de..7d27780e2f 100644
--- a/release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/release-please-manifest.json
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "v2": "2.0.0-rc.248",
+  "v2": "2.0.0-rc.249",
   "execution": "1.7.0"
 }
diff --git a/v2/CHANGELOG.md b/v2/CHANGELOG.md
index fc37975ea2..14834ed823 100644
--- a/v2/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/v2/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [2.0.0-rc.249](https://github.com/wundergraph/graphql-go-tools/compare/v2.0.0-rc.248...v2.0.0-rc.249) (2026-02-13)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* ensure GC safety for arena-allocated string values ([#1383](https://github.com/wundergraph/graphql-go-tools/issues/1383)) ([608be72](https://github.com/wundergraph/graphql-go-tools/commit/608be72c12b7e308a4134d3a7fe1205f7f491bf5))
+
 ## [2.0.0-rc.248](https://github.com/wundergraph/graphql-go-tools/compare/v2.0.0-rc.247...v2.0.0-rc.248) (2026-02-11)