diff --git a/.release-please-manifest-beta.json b/.release-please-manifest-beta.json
index d3ce1179..2655c6f1 100644
--- a/.release-please-manifest-beta.json
+++ b/.release-please-manifest-beta.json
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {
-  ".": "3.42.5-beta.0"
+  ".": "3.42.6-beta.0"
 }
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f11dc9f6..ef86f19d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,14 @@ All notable changes to PicPeak will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## [3.42.6-beta.0](https://github.com/the-luap/picpeak/compare/v3.42.5-beta.0...v3.42.6-beta.0) (2026-05-09)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **external-media:** pre-generate thumbnails so reference-mode galleries load fast ([#423](https://github.com/the-luap/picpeak/issues/423)) ([e2ffd9f](https://github.com/the-luap/picpeak/commit/e2ffd9f93d228f9e16408fe424c65b26db67ac8e))
+* **external-media:** pre-generate thumbnails so reference-mode galleries load fast ([#423](https://github.com/the-luap/picpeak/issues/423)) ([f3d0f16](https://github.com/the-luap/picpeak/commit/f3d0f161c9e554a5149e6b4eafdb0ac42bebf277))
+
 ## [3.42.5-beta.0](https://github.com/the-luap/picpeak/compare/v3.42.4-beta.0...v3.42.5-beta.0) (2026-05-08)
 
 
diff --git a/backend/package.json b/backend/package.json
index 94b1c8b3..7523ba86 100644
--- a/backend/package.json
+++ b/backend/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "picpeak-backend",
-  "version": "3.42.5-beta.0",
+  "version": "3.42.6-beta.0",
   "description": "Backend for PicPeak event photo sharing platform",
   "main": "server.js",
   "scripts": {
diff --git a/frontend/package.json b/frontend/package.json
index 08efffa8..db723e16 100644
--- a/frontend/package.json
+++ b/frontend/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "picpeak-frontend",
   "private": true,
-  "version": "3.42.5-beta.0",
+  "version": "3.42.6-beta.0",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "vite",