diff --git a/docs/release.rst b/docs/release.rst
index 5ca60b8166..59051bbf97 100644
--- a/docs/release.rst
+++ b/docs/release.rst
@@ -18,6 +18,23 @@ Release notes
    See `GH1777 <https://github.com/zarr-developers/zarr-python/issues/1777>`_ for more details on the upcoming
    3.0 release.
 
+.. _unreleased:
+
+Unreleased
+----------
+
+Enhancements
+~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Docs
+~~~~
+
+Maintenance
+~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Deprecations
+~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
 .. _release_2.18.1:
 
 2.18.1