diff --git a/.changes/adaptive-stream-manual-quality-merge b/.changes/adaptive-stream-manual-quality-merge
deleted file mode 100644
index 083a3def6..000000000
--- a/.changes/adaptive-stream-manual-quality-merge
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-patch type="improved" "Allow manual video quality selection with adaptive stream enabled"
diff --git a/.changes/adaptive-stream-pixel-density b/.changes/adaptive-stream-pixel-density
deleted file mode 100644
index 94de7146f..000000000
--- a/.changes/adaptive-stream-pixel-density
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-patch type="fixed" "Fix adaptive stream dimensions on high-density displays"
diff --git a/.changes/align-screenshare-simulcast-defaults b/.changes/align-screenshare-simulcast-defaults
deleted file mode 100644
index 5ef6b9d5a..000000000
--- a/.changes/align-screenshare-simulcast-defaults
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-patch type="fixed" "Align screen share simulcast default low layer"
diff --git a/.changes/clamp-simulcast-lower-layers b/.changes/clamp-simulcast-lower-layers
deleted file mode 100644
index 2426b13b7..000000000
--- a/.changes/clamp-simulcast-lower-layers
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-patch type="fixed" "Clamp simulcast lower layers to the top layer"
diff --git a/.changes/fix-buffer-status-busy-wait b/.changes/fix-buffer-status-busy-wait
deleted file mode 100644
index 9f048b1d1..000000000
--- a/.changes/fix-buffer-status-busy-wait
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-patch type="fixed" "Fix waitForBufferStatusLow busy-wait after engine close"
diff --git a/.changes/fix-connected-server-address b/.changes/fix-connected-server-address
deleted file mode 100644
index e55d6ccea..000000000
--- a/.changes/fix-connected-server-address
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-patch type="fixed" "Fix connected server address using wrong peer connection"
diff --git a/.changes/fix-deferred-track-listener-leak b/.changes/fix-deferred-track-listener-leak
deleted file mode 100644
index fa6955d75..000000000
--- a/.changes/fix-deferred-track-listener-leak
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-patch type="fixed" "Fix deferred track listener leak across reconnects"
diff --git a/.changes/fix-log-interpolation b/.changes/fix-log-interpolation
deleted file mode 100644
index 8919c3a8e..000000000
--- a/.changes/fix-log-interpolation
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-patch type="fixed" "Fix string interpolation in forceRelay log messages"
diff --git a/.changes/fix-premature-publication-dispose b/.changes/fix-premature-publication-dispose
deleted file mode 100644
index e97a95a32..000000000
--- a/.changes/fix-premature-publication-dispose
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-patch type="fixed" "Fix premature publication dispose during unpublish"
diff --git a/.changes/fix-reconnect-counter b/.changes/fix-reconnect-counter
deleted file mode 100644
index 7291fd827..000000000
--- a/.changes/fix-reconnect-counter
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-patch type="fixed" "Fix reconnect counter null assertion on first reconnect attempt"
diff --git a/.changes/fix-region-failover-condition b/.changes/fix-region-failover-condition
deleted file mode 100644
index 722a10933..000000000
--- a/.changes/fix-region-failover-condition
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-patch type="fixed" "Fix region failover condition allowing null provider dereference"
diff --git a/.changes/fix-send-sync-state-return-type b/.changes/fix-send-sync-state-return-type
deleted file mode 100644
index ed91cbb36..000000000
--- a/.changes/fix-send-sync-state-return-type
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-patch type="fixed" "Fix sendSyncState using async void and swallowing sync-state preparation errors"
diff --git a/.changes/fix-session-start-reentrance b/.changes/fix-session-start-reentrance
deleted file mode 100644
index 286024ba9..000000000
--- a/.changes/fix-session-start-reentrance
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-patch type="fixed" "Guard Session.start() against concurrent calls"
diff --git a/.changes/simplify-session-e2ee b/.changes/simplify-session-e2ee
deleted file mode 100644
index d63c8d54c..000000000
--- a/.changes/simplify-session-e2ee
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-minor type="added" "Simplify enabling E2EE with Session API"
diff --git a/.changes/update-protocol-v1-45-8 b/.changes/update-protocol-v1-45-8
deleted file mode 100644
index 6760a419c..000000000
--- a/.changes/update-protocol-v1-45-8
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-patch type="changed" "Update generated protocol definitions to v1.45.8"
diff --git a/.version b/.version
index 24ba9a38d..834f26295 100644
--- a/.version
+++ b/.version
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.7.0
+2.8.0
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ce2b2620c..0f1778128 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,24 @@
 # CHANGELOG
 
+## 2.8.0
+
+* Added: Session API support for simpler E2EE setup
+* Changed: Manual video quality selection can be used with adaptive stream enabled
+* Changed: Generated protocol definitions for LiveKit protocol v1.45.8
+* Fixed: waitForBufferStatusLow busy-waiting after engine close
+* Fixed: Simulcast lower layers exceeding the top layer
+* Fixed: forceRelay log message interpolation
+* Fixed: sendSyncState error handling so sync-state preparation failures are not swallowed
+* Fixed: Screen share simulcast default low layer alignment
+* Fixed: Region failover null-provider dereference
+* Fixed: Android builds with dependencies that require compileSdk 36
+* Fixed: Deferred track listener leaks across reconnects
+* Fixed: Adaptive stream dimensions on high-density displays
+* Fixed: Session.start() reentrancy during concurrent calls
+* Fixed: Connected server address resolving from the wrong peer connection
+* Fixed: Reconnect counter null assertion on the first reconnect attempt
+* Fixed: Premature publication disposal during unpublish
+
 ## 2.7.0
 
 * Added: Add setVideoDimensions for remote track publications
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1bbbce27f..9a80d3dfb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ Include this package to your `pubspec.yaml`
 ```yaml
 ---
 dependencies:
-  livekit_client: ^2.7.0
+  livekit_client: ^2.8.0
 ```
 
 ### iOS
diff --git a/ios/livekit_client.podspec b/ios/livekit_client.podspec
index ff758ac38..e9b3032eb 100644
--- a/ios/livekit_client.podspec
+++ b/ios/livekit_client.podspec
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 Pod::Spec.new do |s|
   s.name                = 'livekit_client'
-  s.version             = '2.7.0'
+  s.version             = '2.8.0'
   s.summary             = 'Open source platform for real-time audio and video.'
   s.description         = 'Open source platform for real-time audio and video.'
   s.homepage            = 'https://livekit.io/'
diff --git a/lib/src/livekit.dart b/lib/src/livekit.dart
index 413774285..6cdc2cba8 100644
--- a/lib/src/livekit.dart
+++ b/lib/src/livekit.dart
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import 'support/platform.dart' show lkPlatformIsMobile;
 /// Main entry point to connect to a room.
 /// {@category Room}
 class LiveKitClient {
-  static const version = '2.7.0';
+  static const version = '2.8.0';
 
   /// Initialize the WebRTC plugin. If this is not manually called, will be
   /// initialized with default settings.
diff --git a/macos/livekit_client.podspec b/macos/livekit_client.podspec
index 10cbd676c..16c318b85 100644
--- a/macos/livekit_client.podspec
+++ b/macos/livekit_client.podspec
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 Pod::Spec.new do |s|
   s.name                = 'livekit_client'
-  s.version             = '2.7.0'
+  s.version             = '2.8.0'
   s.summary             = 'Open source platform for real-time audio and video.'
   s.description         = 'Open source platform for real-time audio and video.'
   s.homepage            = 'https://livekit.io/'
diff --git a/pubspec.lock b/pubspec.lock
index 9a7a4b124..39350a0a9 100644
--- a/pubspec.lock
+++ b/pubspec.lock
@@ -452,10 +452,10 @@ packages:
     dependency: "direct main"
     description:
       name: meta
-      sha256: "23f08335362185a5ea2ad3a4e597f1375e78bce8a040df5c600c8d3552ef2394"
+      sha256: "1741988757a65eb6b36abe716829688cf01910bbf91c34354ff7ec1c3de2b349"
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
-    version: "1.17.0"
+    version: "1.18.0"
   mime:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
@@ -737,10 +737,10 @@ packages:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
       name: test_api
-      sha256: "8161c84903fd860b26bfdefb7963b3f0b68fee7adea0f59ef805ecca346f0c7a"
+      sha256: "949a932224383300f01be9221c39180316445ecb8e7547f70a41a35bf421fb9e"
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
-    version: "0.7.10"
+    version: "0.7.11"
   timing:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
diff --git a/pubspec.yaml b/pubspec.yaml
index a72f7b8eb..2c8783473 100644
--- a/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/pubspec.yaml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 name: livekit_client
 description: Flutter Client SDK for LiveKit. Build real-time video and audio
   into your apps. Supports iOS, Android, and Web.
-version: 2.7.0
+version: 2.8.0
 homepage: https://github.com/livekit/client-sdk-flutter
 
 environment:
diff --git a/scripts/create_version.dart b/scripts/create_version.dart
index ec4d96f0d..26e176d2b 100755
--- a/scripts/create_version.dart
+++ b/scripts/create_version.dart
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import 'dart:io';
 ///
 /// Where:
 /// - level: One of [patch, minor, major] indicating the version bump level
-/// - kind: One of [added, changed, fixed, refactor, performance, security, deprecated, removed, docs, chore]
+/// - kind: One of [added, changed, fixed, refactor, performance, security, deprecated, removed, docs]
 /// - description: A detailed description of the change
 ///
 /// Examples:
@@ -103,6 +103,10 @@ class Change {
   });
 }
 
+String _allowedChangeKinds() => ChangeKind.values.map((e) => e.name).join(', ');
+
+String _allowedChangeLevels() => ChangeLevel.values.map((e) => e.name).join(', ');
+
 class SemanticVersion {
   final int major;
   final int minor;
@@ -154,39 +158,55 @@ List<Change> parseChanges() {
   }
 
   final changes = <Change>[];
+  final errors = <String>[];
   final files = changesDir.listSync().whereType<File>().where((f) => !f.path.split('/').last.startsWith('.'));
 
   for (final file in files) {
     final content = file.readAsStringSync();
     final lines = content.split('\n');
 
-    for (final line in lines) {
+    for (var i = 0; i < lines.length; i++) {
+      final rawLine = lines[i];
+      final line = rawLine.trim();
+      final location = '${file.path}:${i + 1}';
+
       // Skip empty lines
-      if (line.trim().isEmpty) continue;
+      if (line.isEmpty) continue;
 
       // Parse format: level type="kind" "description"
-      final parts = line.split(RegExp(r'\s+'));
-      if (parts.length < 3) continue;
+      final match = RegExp(r'^(\w+)\s+type="([^"]+)"\s+"([^"]+)"$').firstMatch(line);
+      if (match == null) {
+        errors.add('$location: expected `level type="kind" "description"`, found `$rawLine`');
+        continue;
+      }
 
       // Extract level
-      final level = ChangeLevel.fromString(parts[0]);
-      if (level == null) continue;
+      final levelName = match.group(1)!;
+      final level = ChangeLevel.fromString(levelName);
+      if (level == null) {
+        errors.add('$location: unsupported level `$levelName`; expected one of: ${_allowedChangeLevels()}');
+        continue;
+      }
 
       // Extract type from type="kind" format
-      final typeMatch = RegExp(r'type="(\w+)"').firstMatch(parts[1]);
-      if (typeMatch == null) continue;
-      final kind = ChangeKind.fromString(typeMatch.group(1)!);
-      if (kind == null) continue;
+      final kindName = match.group(2)!;
+      final kind = ChangeKind.fromString(kindName);
+      if (kind == null) {
+        errors.add('$location: unsupported type `$kindName`; expected one of: ${_allowedChangeKinds()}');
+        continue;
+      }
 
       // Extract description from the last quoted string
-      final descMatch = RegExp(r'"([^"]+)"$').firstMatch(line);
-      if (descMatch == null) continue;
-      final description = descMatch.group(1)!;
+      final description = match.group(3)!;
 
       changes.add(Change(level: level, kind: kind, description: description));
     }
   }
 
+  if (errors.isNotEmpty) {
+    throw Exception('Invalid change entries:\n${errors.map((e) => '  - $e').join('\n')}');
+  }
+
   if (changes.isEmpty) {
     throw Exception('No changes found in ${_Path.changes}');
   }