diff --git a/changelog.rst b/changelog.rst
index a48b292a..41566f3d 100644
--- a/changelog.rst
+++ b/changelog.rst
@@ -1,6 +1,25 @@
 ZoiteChat ChangeLog
 =================
 
+2.18.0~pre3 (2026-03-13)
+------------------------
+
+- Added a major GTK3 theming overhaul with improved theme importing, inheritance, rollback safety, and caching.
+- Merged theme settings into Appearance and added a new Advanced section.
+- Added a full color editor and improved widget, chat text, userlist, and tab color handling.
+- Added `colors.conf` import support and improved compatibility with older themes.
+- Improved chat background image handling and switched to a native file picker.
+- Bundled more built-in icons, including OK/Cancel, and improved emoji fallback support.
+- Embedded the app SVG icon and improved headerbar icon handling.
+- Fixed KDE Wayland alert flashing.
+- Fixed tray hide/restore labels so they stay in sync with the real window state.
+- Fixed several GTK3 styling issues, warning spam, and imported CSS cleanup problems.
+- Removed menubar icons and simplified Away menu behavior.
+- Improved Flatpak behavior on KDE and enabled Python/Perl plugin support.
+- Manual addons now persist properly by being copied into the user addon directory.
+- Updated `servlist.c` to remove dead servers and added a checker script.
+
+
 2.18.0~pre2 (2026-02-25)
 ------------------------
 
diff --git a/data/misc/net.zoite.Zoitechat.appdata.xml.in b/data/misc/net.zoite.Zoitechat.appdata.xml.in
index e80cefeb..55983580 100644
--- a/data/misc/net.zoite.Zoitechat.appdata.xml.in
+++ b/data/misc/net.zoite.Zoitechat.appdata.xml.in
@@ -29,6 +29,27 @@
     <id>zoitechat.desktop</id>
   </provides>
 <releases>
+  <release date="2026-03-13" version="2.18.0~pre3">
+    <description>
+      <p>GTK3 theming, UI, and platform improvements:</p>
+      <ul>
+        <li>Added a major GTK3 theming overhaul with improved theme importing, inheritance, rollback safety, and caching.</li>
+        <li>Merged theme settings into Appearance and added a new Advanced section.</li>
+        <li>Added a full color editor and improved widget, chat text, userlist, and tab color handling.</li>
+        <li>Added <code>colors.conf</code> import support and improved compatibility with older themes.</li>
+        <li>Improved chat background image handling and switched to a native file picker.</li>
+        <li>Bundled more built-in icons, including OK/Cancel, and improved emoji fallback support.</li>
+        <li>Embedded the app SVG icon and improved headerbar icon handling.</li>
+        <li>Fixed KDE Wayland alert flashing.</li>
+        <li>Fixed tray hide/restore labels so tray state stays in sync with the real window state.</li>
+        <li>Fixed several GTK3 styling issues, warning spam, and imported CSS cleanup problems.</li>
+        <li>Removed menubar icons and simplified Away menu behavior.</li>
+        <li>Improved Flatpak behavior on KDE and enabled Python/Perl plugin support.</li>
+        <li>Manual addons now persist properly by being copied into the user addon directory.</li>
+        <li>Updated the bundled server list and added a checker script for server list maintenance.</li>
+      </ul>
+    </description>
+  </release>
   <release date="2026-02-25" version="2.18.0~pre2">
     <description>
       <p>Compatibility and UI improvements:</p>
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 72131ff7..85d47e83 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 project('zoitechat', 'c',
-  version: '2.18.0~pre2',
+  version: '2.18.0~pre3',
   meson_version: '>= 0.55.0',
   default_options: [
     'c_std=c17',
diff --git a/plugins/python/python.py b/plugins/python/python.py
index ec90f3a8..99df9911 100644
--- a/plugins/python/python.py
+++ b/plugins/python/python.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ else:
 if not hasattr(sys, 'argv'):
     sys.argv = ['<zoitechat>']
 
-VERSION = b'2.18.0~pre2'
+VERSION = b'2.18.0~pre3'
 PLUGIN_NAME = ffi.new('char[]', b'Python')
 PLUGIN_DESC = ffi.new('char[]', b'Python %d.%d scripting interface' % (sys.version_info[0], sys.version_info[1]))
 PLUGIN_VERSION = ffi.new('char[]', VERSION)
diff --git a/win32/version.txt b/win32/version.txt
index 4d4d58e0..f8e5e4ce 100644
--- a/win32/version.txt
+++ b/win32/version.txt
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.18.0~pre2
+2.18.0~pre3