docs: finalize v1.6.0 release notes

Author: eblackrps

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@ All notable changes to Viaduct should be documented in this file.
 
 This changelog tracks published releases and the major implementation milestones that shaped the current repository state.
 
-## [1.6.0] - Unreleased
+## [Unreleased]
+
+## [1.6.0] - 2026-04-11
 
 ### Workspace-First Operator Flow
 - added a first-class pilot workspace model that persists source connections, discovery snapshots, dependency graph output, target assumptions, readiness results, saved plans, approvals, notes, and exported reports

RELEASE.md

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ On Windows, `make release-gate` still builds `bin/viaduct.exe`, but it validates
 4. Verify `release-manifest.json`, `dependency-manifest.json`, and `SHA256SUMS.txt`.
 5. Smoke-test the packaged binary with `viaduct version` and `viaduct --help`.
 6. Confirm install docs, upgrade docs, rollback docs, deployment examples, and the pilot workspace guide still match the artifact layout.
-7. Confirm the release notes draft, changelog entry, and screenshot assets are present and aligned with the shipped workflow.
+7. Confirm the release notes entry, changelog entry, and screenshot assets are present and aligned with the shipped workflow.
 8. Verify the plugin manifest check and OpenAPI contract check remain green.
 9. Tag and publish only after the verification and smoke checks are clean.
 

docs/releases/README.md

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
-# Release Drafts
+# Release Notes
 
-This directory contains release-note drafts and other release-facing narrative assets that are prepared before a tag is published.
+This directory contains release notes and other release-facing narrative assets that support tagged Viaduct releases.
 
 ## Files
 
-- [v1.6.0 draft](v1.6.0-draft.md)
+- [v1.6.0 release notes](v1.6.0-draft.md)
 
-Keep these drafts aligned with:
+Keep these notes aligned with:
 - [CHANGELOG.md](../../CHANGELOG.md)
 - [OpenAPI reference](../reference/openapi.yaml)
 - [Screenshot assets](../operations/demo/screenshots/README.md)

docs/releases/v1.6.0-draft.md

@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-# Viaduct v1.6.0 Release Notes Draft
+# Viaduct v1.6.0 Release Notes
+
+Published 2026-04-11.
 
 Viaduct v1.6.0 turns the current repository into a more cohesive operator application for the assessment-to-pilot wedge without rewriting the stack.
 
@@ -37,6 +39,12 @@ This keeps the current story narrow and coherent: assessment, readiness reductio
 - Tenant keys remain the bootstrap and break-glass credential.
 - Loading, empty, retry, and error states now carry more support-grade detail for the workspace flow.
 
+## Release Artifacts
+
+- GitHub release bundles are available for Linux and Windows operator workstations.
+- The published release remains aligned to `make release-gate` as the canonical verification path.
+- The local `examples/lab` flow remains the default reproducible demo and evaluation path.
+
 ## Lab And Verification
 
 - The local `examples/lab` path remains the default demo and evaluation route.