diff --git a/docs/authoring/brand.qmd b/docs/authoring/brand.qmd
index e0d2a9f14..626909d7d 100644
--- a/docs/authoring/brand.qmd
+++ b/docs/authoring/brand.qmd
@@ -332,6 +332,17 @@ logo:
   small: quarto-logo
 ``` 
 
+#### Light and Dark Logos {#light-and-dark-logos}
+
+Specify different logos for light and dark mode with `light` and `dark` options under `small`, `medium`, or `large`:
+
+``` {.yaml filename="_brand.yml"}
+logo:
+  medium:
+    light: logo.png
+    dark: logo-white.png
+```
+
 #### Document logo customization
 
 You can further customize the logo at the document level with the `logo` option.
diff --git a/docs/blog/posts/2025-10-13-1.8-release/_contribs.md b/docs/blog/posts/2025-10-13-1.8-release/_contribs.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3124a5c4d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/blog/posts/2025-10-13-1.8-release/_contribs.md
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+[Aariq](https://github.com/Aariq), 
+[AndreasThinks](https://github.com/AndreasThinks), 
+[ArthurData](https://github.com/ArthurData), 
+[Blake-Madden](https://github.com/Blake-Madden), 
+[ColinFay](https://github.com/ColinFay), 
+[DCEW](https://github.com/DCEW), 
+[DanStuder](https://github.com/DanStuder), 
+[Data-Wise](https://github.com/Data-Wise), 
+[EllaKaye](https://github.com/EllaKaye), 
+[EmilHvitfeldt](https://github.com/EmilHvitfeldt), 
+[FrankwaP](https://github.com/FrankwaP), 
+[GabrielCoffee9](https://github.com/GabrielCoffee9), 
+[GeorgRamer](https://github.com/GeorgRamer), 
+[Gewerd-Strauss](https://github.com/Gewerd-Strauss), 
+[GuillaumeDehaene](https://github.com/GuillaumeDehaene), 
+[HarunCelikOtto](https://github.com/HarunCelikOtto), 
+[HayesJohnD](https://github.com/HayesJohnD), 
+[Joao-O-Santos](https://github.com/Joao-O-Santos), 
+[MateusMolina](https://github.com/MateusMolina), 
+[MichaelHatherly](https://github.com/MichaelHatherly), 
+[PeteArm](https://github.com/PeteArm), 
+[Selbosh](https://github.com/Selbosh), 
+[SergeCroise](https://github.com/SergeCroise), 
+[SrShelo](https://github.com/SrShelo), 
+[VisruthSK](https://github.com/VisruthSK), 
+[Vistales](https://github.com/Vistales), 
+[abhiaagarwal](https://github.com/abhiaagarwal), 
+[aborruso](https://github.com/aborruso), 
+[adamblake](https://github.com/adamblake), 
+[adamiturabi](https://github.com/adamiturabi), 
+[alastairrushworth](https://github.com/alastairrushworth), 
+[albertomercurio](https://github.com/albertomercurio), 
+[alecloudenback](https://github.com/alecloudenback), 
+[alex-r-bigelow](https://github.com/alex-r-bigelow), 
+[allefeld](https://github.com/allefeld), 
+[alyst](https://github.com/alyst), 
+[andrewheiss](https://github.com/andrewheiss), 
+[andrewpbray](https://github.com/andrewpbray), 
+[austin-hoover](https://github.com/austin-hoover), 
+[batpigandme](https://github.com/batpigandme), 
+[bauerj](https://github.com/bauerj), 
+[benkeks](https://github.com/benkeks), 
+[benz0li](https://github.com/benz0li), 
+[bkowshik](https://github.com/bkowshik), 
+[blackerby](https://github.com/blackerby), 
+[boshek](https://github.com/boshek), 
+[brandonmontez](https://github.com/brandonmontez), 
+[bryce-carson](https://github.com/bryce-carson), 
+[carschandler](https://github.com/carschandler), 
+[christopherkenny](https://github.com/christopherkenny), 
+[cl-roberts](https://github.com/cl-roberts), 
+[cmadland](https://github.com/cmadland), 
+[co1emi11er2](https://github.com/co1emi11er2), 
+[coatless](https://github.com/coatless), 
+[cpcloud](https://github.com/cpcloud), 
+[daxkellie](https://github.com/daxkellie), 
+[dixslyf](https://github.com/dixslyf), 
+[dkapitan](https://github.com/dkapitan), 
+[econmaett](https://github.com/econmaett), 
+[edavidaja](https://github.com/edavidaja), 
+[edvinsyk](https://github.com/edvinsyk), 
+[ethanwhite](https://github.com/ethanwhite), 
+[fermarsan](https://github.com/fermarsan), 
+[fredguth](https://github.com/fredguth), 
+[fuhrmanator](https://github.com/fuhrmanator), 
+[gadenbuie](https://github.com/gadenbuie), 
+[georgestagg](https://github.com/georgestagg), 
+[ghisvail](https://github.com/ghisvail), 
+[ghost](https://github.com/ghost), 
+[github-actions[bot]](https://github.com/apps/github-actions), 
+[glin](https://github.com/glin), 
+[gregswinehart](https://github.com/gregswinehart), 
+[gwbrck](https://github.com/gwbrck), 
+[halleysfifthinc](https://github.com/halleysfifthinc), 
+[hansfn](https://github.com/hansfn), 
+[hchulkim](https://github.com/hchulkim), 
+[holtzy](https://github.com/holtzy), 
+[htbunn](https://github.com/htbunn), 
+[hturner](https://github.com/hturner), 
+[hugetim](https://github.com/hugetim), 
+[hutch3232](https://github.com/hutch3232), 
+[iagopinal](https://github.com/iagopinal), 
+[ihrke](https://github.com/ihrke), 
+[jameslairdsmith](https://github.com/jameslairdsmith), 
+[jdfoote](https://github.com/jdfoote), 
+[jeremy9959](https://github.com/jeremy9959), 
+[jfy133](https://github.com/jfy133), 
+[jkrumbiegel](https://github.com/jkrumbiegel), 
+[jmgirard](https://github.com/jmgirard), 
+[jonpeake](https://github.com/jonpeake), 
+[jvcarli](https://github.com/jvcarli), 
+[jxpeng98](https://github.com/jxpeng98), 
+[kandolfp](https://github.com/kandolfp), 
+[kapsner](https://github.com/kapsner), 
+[kathsherratt](https://github.com/kathsherratt), 
+[kazuyanagimoto](https://github.com/kazuyanagimoto), 
+[kevinah95](https://github.com/kevinah95), 
+[kippandrew](https://github.com/kippandrew), 
+[koldle](https://github.com/koldle), 
+[lachlansimpson](https://github.com/lachlansimpson), 
+[lbm364dl](https://github.com/lbm364dl), 
+[leovuong](https://github.com/leovuong), 
+[lostmygithubaccount](https://github.com/lostmygithubaccount), 
+[lu-kas](https://github.com/lu-kas), 
+[lukmanaj](https://github.com/lukmanaj), 
+[lwjohnst86](https://github.com/lwjohnst86), 
+[maelle](https://github.com/maelle), 
+[mahmudstat](https://github.com/mahmudstat), 
+[masud90](https://github.com/masud90), 
+[melaniewalsh](https://github.com/melaniewalsh), 
+[mfisher87](https://github.com/mfisher87), 
+[mipmip](https://github.com/mipmip), 
+[mpr1255](https://github.com/mpr1255), 
+[multimeric](https://github.com/multimeric), 
+[musvaage](https://github.com/musvaage), 
+[mvuorre](https://github.com/mvuorre), 
+[nathanj3](https://github.com/nathanj3), 
+[nessan](https://github.com/nessan), 
+[nichtich](https://github.com/nichtich), 
+[odysseu](https://github.com/odysseu), 
+[ofkoru](https://github.com/ofkoru), 
+[olivroy](https://github.com/olivroy), 
+[oyvindbso](https://github.com/oyvindbso), 
+[pagiraud](https://github.com/pagiraud), 
+[parmsam](https://github.com/parmsam), 
+[peter-gy](https://github.com/peter-gy), 
+[pm-gusmano](https://github.com/pm-gusmano), 
+[produnis](https://github.com/produnis), 
+[rabyj](https://github.com/rabyj), 
+[raffaem](https://github.com/raffaem), 
+[randyzwitch](https://github.com/randyzwitch), 
+[rben01](https://github.com/rben01), 
+[rossbowen](https://github.com/rossbowen), 
+[rundel](https://github.com/rundel), 
+[ryanzomorrodi](https://github.com/ryanzomorrodi), 
+[ryjohnson09](https://github.com/ryjohnson09), 
+[s2t2](https://github.com/s2t2), 
+[salim-b](https://github.com/salim-b), 
+[samcarter](https://github.com/samcarter), 
+[serialc](https://github.com/serialc), 
+[sgelzenleuchter](https://github.com/sgelzenleuchter), 
+[skriptum](https://github.com/skriptum), 
+[spaette](https://github.com/spaette), 
+[stragu](https://github.com/stragu), 
+[sun123zxy](https://github.com/sun123zxy), 
+[sverrirarnors](https://github.com/sverrirarnors), 
+[tecosaur](https://github.com/tecosaur), 
+[temospena](https://github.com/temospena), 
+[thatchermo](https://github.com/thatchermo), 
+[topepo](https://github.com/topepo), 
+[tylere](https://github.com/tylere), 
+[winniehell](https://github.com/winniehell), 
+[wklimowicz](https://github.com/wklimowicz), 
+[yogabonito](https://github.com/yogabonito), 
+[youcc](https://github.com/youcc), 
+[yves-amevoin](https://github.com/yves-amevoin), 
+[yyzeng](https://github.com/yyzeng).
diff --git a/docs/blog/posts/2025-10-13-1.8-release/get-contribs.R b/docs/blog/posts/2025-10-13-1.8-release/get-contribs.R
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cc62b7807
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/blog/posts/2025-10-13-1.8-release/get-contribs.R
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+# Run using `quarto run get-contribs.R`
+
+library(tidyverse)
+library(gh)
+library(glue)
+
+last_release <- "2024-04-28T00:00:00Z"
+milestone <- "v1.8"
+
+quarto_staff_vec <-
+  c("allenmanning", "cderv", "cscheid", "cwickham", "dragonstyle",
+    "jjallaire", "jooyoungseo", "kevinushey", "mcanouil",
+    "rich-iannone", "gordonwoodhull", "tarleb", "vezwork", "mine-cetinkaya-rundel")
+
+# Get milestone number -----
+
+milestones <- gh("/repos/{owner}/{repo}/milestones",
+  owner = "quarto-dev",
+  repo = "quarto-cli")
+
+milestone_number <- map_int(milestones, "number")[map_chr(milestones, "title") == milestone]
+
+# Get cli issues tagged with current milestone -----
+
+quarto_issues <-
+  gh(
+    endpoint = "/repos/quarto-dev/quarto-cli/issues",
+    .limit = 2000,
+    .progress = FALSE,
+    .params = list(
+      state = "all",
+      milestone = milestone_number
+    )
+  )
+
+quarto_issues_tbl <- map(quarto_issues, \(x) data.frame(login = x$user$login, html_url = x$user$html_url)) |> 
+  list_rbind() 
+  
+# Get web issues since last release -----
+
+quarto_web_issues <-
+  gh(
+    endpoint = "/repos/quarto-dev/quarto-web/issues",
+    .limit = 1500,
+    .progress = FALSE,
+    .params = list(
+      state = "all",
+      since = last_release
+    )
+  )
+
+quarto_web_issues_tbl <- map(quarto_web_issues, \(x) data.frame(login = x$user$login, html_url = x$user$html_url)) |> 
+  list_rbind() 
+
+# Put together, exclude staff and write to file -----
+
+cli_and_web_users <- bind_rows(quarto_web_issues_tbl, quarto_issues_tbl) |> 
+  filter(!(login %in% quarto_staff_vec)) |> 
+  arrange(login) |> 
+  distinct() 
+
+strings <- cli_and_web_users |> 
+  glue_data("[{login}]({html_url}), ") 
+
+strings[length(strings)] <- str_c(str_sub(strings[length(strings)], 1, -3), ".")
+  
+strings |> write_lines("_contribs.md")
+  
diff --git a/docs/blog/posts/2025-10-13-1.8-release/index.qmd b/docs/blog/posts/2025-10-13-1.8-release/index.qmd
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4d411dabe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/blog/posts/2025-10-13-1.8-release/index.qmd
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+---
+title: Quarto 1.8 
+description: |
+  Quarto 1.8 improves brand support, introduces brand extensions, adds HTML accessibility checks, and gives access to execution context.
+categories:
+  - Quarto 1.8
+  - Releases
+author: Charlotte Wickham
+date: "2025-10-13"
+draft: false
+image: thumbnail.png
+image-alt: "Quarto 1.8 with a lightbulb emoji"
+css: /docs/output-formats/autodark.css
+---
+
+Quarto 1.8 is available! You can get the current release from the [download page](/docs/download/index.qmd).
+
+Quarto 1.8 improves support for light and dark brand colors and logos, brand extensions for sharing brands across Quarto projects, HTML accessibility checks powered by Axe-core, and access to more information about execution context from your code cells.
+You can read about these improvements and some other highlights below. You can find all the changes in this version in the [Release Notes](/docs/download/changelog/1.8/).
+
+## Dark and light colors and logos in brand
+
+You can now specify `light` and `dark` versions of any colors or logo in a brand specification:
+
+```{.yaml filename="_brand.yml"}
+color:
+  foreground:
+    light: "#333333"
+    dark: "#EEEEEE"
+  background:
+    light: "#EEEEEE"
+    dark: "#333333"
+logos:
+  medium:
+    light: logo.png
+    dark: logo-white.png         
+```
+
+This works in `_brand.yml` files as well as `brand` specified directly in document metadata. 
+You can also present in dark mode by specifying `brand-mode: dark` in your `format: revealjs`  presentations.
+
+Read more in the updated [Guide > Brand](/docs/authoring/brand.qmd):
+
+- [Light and dark colors](/docs/authoring/brand.qmd#light-and-dark-colors)
+- [Light and dark logos](/docs/authoring/brand.qmd#light-and-dark-logos)
+- [Brand mode](/docs/authoring/brand.qmd#brand-mode)
+
+## Brand extensions
+
+Share brand definitions and assets across Quarto projects with a brand extension.
+
+Get started with:
+
+```{.default filename="Terminal"}
+quarto create extension brand
+```
+
+Read more in [Extensions > Brand](/docs/extensions/brand.qmd), and keep an eye out for other ways to reuse and share your brand in future releases.
+
+## Accessibility checks for HTML
+
+You can add accessibility checks using the [Axe-core engine](https://github.com/dequelabs/axe-core) to HTML documents (`format`: `html`, `revealjs` and `dashboard`) with the new `axe` option.
+
+For example, you can get a summary of violations right in your document preview:
+
+::: {.light-content}
+![A rendered webpage with an accessibility violation warning](/docs/output-formats/images/axe-violation.png){.border fig-alt="A webpage with a box in the bottom left that warns 'Serious: Ensure the contrast between foreground and background colors meets WCAG 2 AA minimum contrast ratio thresholds'."}
+:::
+
+::: {.dark-content}
+![A rendered webpage with an accessibility violation warning](/docs/output-formats/images/axe-violation.png){.border .autodark fig-alt="A webpage with a box in the bottom left that warns 'Serious: Ensure the contrast between foreground and background colors meets WCAG 2 AA minimum contrast ratio thresholds'."}
+:::
+
+Read about your options in [HTML Accessibility Checks](/docs/output-formats/html-accessibility.qmd)
+
+We know accessability is a big concern for many of our users, and more improvements will be coming in future releases. 
+
+## Accessing execution information
+
+Quarto sets the `QUARTO_EXECUTE_INFO` environment variable, which allows you to access information about execution context from code cells.
+
+Read the JSON file located at `QUARTO_EXECUTE_INFO` and access properties such as `document-path`, `format`, `metadata` and more:
+
+::: {.panel-tabset}
+
+## R
+
+```{.r}
+library(jsonlite)
+execute_info <- read_json(Sys.getenv("QUARTO_EXECUTE_INFO"))
+execute_info$`document-path`
+```
+
+## Python
+
+```{.python}
+import json
+import os
+
+with open(os.getenv("QUARTO_EXECUTE_INFO")) as f:
+    execute_info = json.load(f)
+execute_info["document-path"]
+```
+
+## Julia
+
+```{.julia}
+using JSON
+
+execute_info = JSON.parsefile(ENV["QUARTO_EXECUTE_INFO"])
+execute_info["document-path"]
+```
+
+:::
+
+Read more in [Access execution settings from code cells](/docs/advanced/quarto-execute-info.qmd).
+
+## Other Highlights
+
+-  Access [metadata](/docs/extensions/lua-api.qmd#metadata-access) and [variables](/docs/extensions/lua-api.qmd#variables-access) in filters and shortcodes: Use the new `quarto.variables.get()` and `quarto.metadata.get()` APIs.
+
+- The default LaTeX engine is now `lualatex`.
+
+Dependency updates:
+
+- `mermaidjs` updated to 11.6.0.
+- Bootstrap icons updated to v1.13.1
+- `QuartoNotebookRunner` in `julia` engine updated to 0.17.3
+
+## Acknowledgements
+
+We'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who contributed to this release by opening issues and pull requests:
+
+{{< include _contribs.md >}}
+
+The lightbulb emoji in the [listing and social card image](thumbnail.png) for this post comes from [OpenMoji](https://openmoji.org/){.external}– the open-source emoji and icon project. License: [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/#){.external}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/blog/posts/2025-10-13-1.8-release/thumbnail.png b/docs/blog/posts/2025-10-13-1.8-release/thumbnail.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..753861f64
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/blog/posts/2025-10-13-1.8-release/thumbnail.png differ
diff --git a/docs/download/prerelease.qmd b/docs/download/prerelease.qmd
index 0f359f6ee..4c35aafb0 100644
--- a/docs/download/prerelease.qmd
+++ b/docs/download/prerelease.qmd
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ anchor-sections: false
 editor: source
 image: /images/hero_right.png
 aliases:
-  - changelog/1.8/
+  - changelog/1.9/
 ---
 
 ::: {.content-visible when-profile="prerelease"}
diff --git a/docs/download/release.qmd b/docs/download/release.qmd
index d669612df..4359d25c0 100644
--- a/docs/download/release.qmd
+++ b/docs/download/release.qmd
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ anchor-sections: false
 editor: source
 image: /images/hero_right.png
 aliases:
-  - changelog/1.7/
+  - changelog/1.8/
 ---
 
 {{< include _download.md >}}
diff --git a/docs/prerelease/1.8/_highlights.qmd b/docs/prerelease/1.8/_highlights.qmd
index e700520ad..bb28c3811 100644
--- a/docs/prerelease/1.8/_highlights.qmd
+++ b/docs/prerelease/1.8/_highlights.qmd
@@ -1 +1,21 @@
-We're working on this highlight document right now! Check back soon.
\ No newline at end of file
+Quarto 1.8 includes the following new features:
+
+-  Improvements to brand support:
+    - [Light and dark colors](/docs/authoring/brand.qmd#light-and-dark-colors): Specify `light` and `dark` for any color in a brand specification.
+    - [Light and dark logos](/docs/authoring/brand.qmd#light-and-dark-logos): Specify `light` and `dark` versions of logos in a brand specification.
+    - [Brand extensions](/docs/extensions/brand.qmd): Share brand definitions and assets across Quarto projects.
+    -  [Dark brand for `format: revealjs`](/docs/authoring/brand.qmd#brand-mode): Specify `brand-mode: dark` to apply your dark brand to your presentation.
+
+-  [HTML Accessibility Checks](/docs/output-formats/html-accessibility.qmd): Add the `axe` option to HTML formats to perform accessibility checks with the [Axe-core engine](https://github.com/dequelabs/axe-core).
+
+-  [Access execution settings from code cells](/docs/advanced/quarto-execute-info.qmd): Read the `QUARTO_EXECUTE_INFO` environment variable to access information about execution context.
+
+-  Access [metadata](/docs/extensions/lua-api.qmd#metadata-access) and [variables](/docs/extensions/lua-api.qmd#variables-access) in filters and shortcodes: Use the new `quarto.variables.get()` and `quarto.metadata.get()` APIs.
+
+- The default LaTeX engine is now `lualatex`.
+
+Dependency updates:
+
+- `mermaidjs` updated to 11.6.0.
+- Bootstrap icons updated to v1.13.1
+- `QuartoNotebookRunner` in `julia` engine updated to 0.17.3
\ No newline at end of file