diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0f600fe..8061133 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,15 @@ Follows [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/) · versioned wi
---
+## [1.26.9] — 2026-09-10
+
+### Fixed
+- **PyMuPDF Ingestion Requirement.** Provided actionable installation guidance when `pymupdf` is missing in runtime.
+- **Drag & Drop Upload Target & Feedback.** Made the magazine upload dropzone fully clickable, added file selection feedback showing filename and file size, and added active loading states with spinners and disabled controls during upload.
+- **Optional Title & Auto-Fill.** Relabeled Title input to optional and auto-fills title from document filename if left blank.
+
+---
+
## [1.26.8] — 2026-09-09
### Added
@@ -3896,7 +3905,8 @@ Initial feature-complete release.
---
-[Unreleased]: https://github.com/mARTin-B78/tts-voice-creator-clone-and-design-2/compare/v1.26.1...HEAD
+[Unreleased]: https://github.com/mARTin-B78/tts-voice-creator-clone-and-design-2/compare/v1.26.9...HEAD
+[1.26.9]: https://github.com/mARTin-B78/tts-voice-creator-clone-and-design-2/compare/v1.26.8...v1.26.9
[1.26.1]: https://github.com/mARTin-B78/tts-voice-creator-clone-and-design-2/compare/v1.26.0...v1.26.1
[1.26.0]: https://github.com/mARTin-B78/tts-voice-creator-clone-and-design-2/compare/v1.25.3...v1.26.0
[1.22.3]: https://github.com/mARTin-B78/tts-voice-creator-clone-and-design-2/compare/v1.22.2...v1.22.3
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 25691b4..3cd33cd 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.26.8
+1.26.9
diff --git a/core/magazine.py b/core/magazine.py
index 79001fe..6b378e4 100644
--- a/core/magazine.py
+++ b/core/magazine.py
@@ -728,7 +728,8 @@ def _require_fitz():
return fitz
except ImportError as exc: # pragma: no cover - environment guard
raise RuntimeError(
- "PyMuPDF is required for magazine ingestion; install pymupdf"
+ "PyMuPDF is required for magazine ingestion; install pymupdf (pip install pymupdf) "
+ "or rebuild your Docker container."
) from exc
diff --git a/static/index.html b/static/index.html
index dfcd611..7464c9b 100644
--- a/static/index.html
+++ b/static/index.html
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
-
+
@@ -27,12 +27,12 @@
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
+
+
+
+
+
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ window.toggleNavTree = function(treeId, chevronId) {
-
+