diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 91ac42e5..fdd3e520 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ optional-dependencies.dev = [
     "yamlfix==1.19.1",
     "zizmor==1.25.2",
 ]
-optional-dependencies.release = [ "check-wheel-contents==0.6.3" ]
+optional-dependencies.release = [ "check-wheel-contents==0.6.3", "towncrier==25.8.0" ]
 urls.Documentation = "https://vws-python.github.io/vws-python/"
 urls.Source = "https://github.com/VWS-Python/vws-python"