diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ddbb48cdd..3087ec408 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,7 +5,11 @@ All notable changes to this project 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).
 
-# [Unreleased](https://github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach-operator/compare/v2.17.0...master)
+# [Unreleased](https://github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach-operator/compare/v2.18.0...master)
+
+# [v2.18.0](https://github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach-operator/compare/v2.17.0...v2.18.0)
+* Added support for skipping innovative releases post 24.x
+* Added support for QoS on init containers.
 
 # [v2.17.0](https://github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach-operator/compare/v2.16.1...v2.17.0)
 * Added support for linux/arm64 images.
diff --git a/config/manager/patches/image.yaml b/config/manager/patches/image.yaml
index 3a70a70b4..df490065c 100644
--- a/config/manager/patches/image.yaml
+++ b/config/manager/patches/image.yaml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ spec:
     spec:
       containers:
         - name: cockroach-operator
-          image: cockroachdb/cockroach-operator:v2.17.0
+          image: cockroachdb/cockroach-operator:v2.18.0
           env:
             - name: RELATED_IMAGE_COCKROACH_v21_1_0
               value: cockroachdb/cockroach:v21.1.0
diff --git a/install/operator.yaml b/install/operator.yaml
index b523cbf84..cebec009e 100644
--- a/install/operator.yaml
+++ b/install/operator.yaml
@@ -711,7 +711,7 @@ spec:
           valueFrom:
             fieldRef:
               fieldPath: metadata.namespace
-        image: cockroachdb/cockroach-operator:v2.17.0
+        image: cockroachdb/cockroach-operator:v2.18.0
         imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
         name: cockroach-operator
         resources:
diff --git a/version.txt b/version.txt
index 6618ab545..5b8407389 100644
--- a/version.txt
+++ b/version.txt
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.17.0
\ No newline at end of file
+2.18.0
\ No newline at end of file