diff --git a/logstash-output-opensearch.gemspec b/logstash-output-opensearch.gemspec
index caf42f23..5d36af8e 100644
--- a/logstash-output-opensearch.gemspec
+++ b/logstash-output-opensearch.gemspec
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ signing_key_path = "gem-private_key.pem"
 
 Gem::Specification.new do |s|
   s.name            = 'logstash-output-opensearch'
-  s.version         = '1.2.0'
+  s.version         = '1.3.0'
 
   s.licenses        = ['Apache-2.0']
   s.summary         = "Stores logs in OpenSearch"
diff --git a/release-notes/logstash-output-opensearch.release-notes-1.3.0.md b/release-notes/logstash-output-opensearch.release-notes-1.3.0.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8610f906
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release-notes/logstash-output-opensearch.release-notes-1.3.0.md
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+## Version 1.3.0 Release Notes
+
+Compatible with OpenSearch 1.3.4, 2.1.0
+
+### Features
+
+
+### Enhancements
+
+* Support for Logstash 8.x ([#152](https://github.com/opensearch-project/logstash-output-opensearch/pull/152)) 
+ 
+
+### Bugfixes
+
+* Use absolute path for template endpoint ('/_template' instead of '_template') ([#146](https://github.com/opensearch-project/logstash-output-opensearch/pull/146))
+  * Template management fails when AWS IAM authentication is used ([issue #124](https://github.com/opensearch-project/logstash-output-opensearch/issues/124))
+  * Cannot install index template ([issue #144](https://github.com/opensearch-project/logstash-output-opensearch/issues/144))
+* Add Default template for OpenSearch 2.x. ([#150](https://github.com/opensearch-project/logstash-output-opensearch/pull/150))
+  * Cannot install template for OpenSearch 2.x ([issue #145](https://github.com/opensearch-project/logstash-output-opensearch/issues/145)) 
+
+### Infrastructure
+
+* Update CI to use latest Logstash ([#152](https://github.com/opensearch-project/logstash-output-opensearch/pull/152))
+* Update CI to run against OpenSearch 2.x ([#153](https://github.com/opensearch-project/logstash-output-opensearch/pull/153))
+
+### Documentation