diff --git a/docs/changelog.md b/docs/changelog.md
index 67ccb29e3..e2c5d46a5 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/changelog.md
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 2.8.0a1 - 2024-12-11
+
+### Internal changes
+
+* make S3 dependencies optional in #2359
+
 ## 2.8.0a0 - 2024-12-11
 
 ### What's Changed
diff --git a/umap/__init__.py b/umap/__init__.py
index e22554f8b..ce72005b3 100644
--- a/umap/__init__.py
+++ b/umap/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-VERSION = "2.8.0a0"
+VERSION = "2.8.0a1"