diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..faadfb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+name: Release
+
+on:
+  push:
+    tags:
+      - 'v*'  # Trigger on version tags like v1.0.0, v0.1.0, etc.
+
+env:
+  REGISTRY: ghcr.io
+  IMAGE_NAME: ${{ github.repository }}
+
+jobs:
+  build-and-release:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+      packages: write
+      
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout code
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Set up Node.js
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version: '22.x'
+          cache: 'npm'
+
+      - name: Install dependencies
+        run: npm ci
+
+      - name: Run tests
+        run: npm test
+
+      - name: Build TypeScript
+        run: npm run build
+
+      - name: Verify build output
+        run: |
+          if [ ! -d "dist" ]; then
+            echo "Error: dist directory not found after build"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          echo "Build successful, dist directory contains:"
+          ls -la dist/
+
+      - name: Create build artifact
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p release-artifacts
+          tar -czf release-artifacts/odette-${{ github.ref_name }}.tar.gz \
+            dist/ \
+            views/ \
+            public/ \
+            package.json \
+            package-lock.json \
+            README.md \
+            LICENSE.txt
+
+      - name: Set up Docker Buildx
+        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3
+
+      - name: Log in to GitHub Container Registry
+        uses: docker/login-action@v3
+        with:
+          registry: ${{ env.REGISTRY }}
+          username: ${{ github.actor }}
+          password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+      - name: Extract metadata for Docker
+        id: meta
+        uses: docker/metadata-action@v5
+        with:
+          images: ${{ env.REGISTRY }}/${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}
+          tags: |
+            type=semver,pattern={{version}}
+            type=semver,pattern={{major}}.{{minor}}
+            type=raw,value=latest,enable=${{ !contains(github.ref_name, '-') }}
+
+      - name: Build and push Docker image
+        uses: docker/build-push-action@v5
+        with:
+          context: .
+          push: true
+          tags: ${{ steps.meta.outputs.tags }}
+          labels: ${{ steps.meta.outputs.labels }}
+          cache-from: type=gha
+          cache-to: type=gha,mode=max
+          platforms: linux/amd64,linux/arm64
+
+      - name: Create GitHub Release
+        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v1
+        with:
+          files: release-artifacts/*
+          generate_release_notes: true
+          draft: false
+          prerelease: ${{ contains(github.ref_name, '-') }}
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+  # Optional: Publish to Docker Hub
+  # Uncomment this job and add DOCKERHUB_USERNAME and DOCKERHUB_TOKEN secrets
+  # docker-hub:
+  #   runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+  #   needs: build-and-release
+  #   if: github.event_name == 'push' && startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v')
+  #   
+  #   steps:
+  #     - name: Checkout code
+  #       uses: actions/checkout@v4
+  #
+  #     - name: Set up Docker Buildx
+  #       uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3
+  #
+  #     - name: Log in to Docker Hub
+  #       uses: docker/login-action@v3
+  #       with:
+  #         username: ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_USERNAME }}
+  #         password: ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_TOKEN }}
+  #
+  #     - name: Extract metadata for Docker
+  #       id: meta
+  #       uses: docker/metadata-action@v5
+  #       with:
+  #         images: ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_USERNAME }}/odette
+  #         tags: |
+  #           type=semver,pattern={{version}}
+  #           type=semver,pattern={{major}}.{{minor}}
+  #           type=raw,value=latest,enable=${{ !contains(github.ref_name, '-') }}
+  #
+  #     - name: Build and push to Docker Hub
+  #       uses: docker/build-push-action@v5
+  #       with:
+  #         context: .
+  #         push: true
+  #         tags: ${{ steps.meta.outputs.tags }}
+  #         labels: ${{ steps.meta.outputs.labels }}
+  #         cache-from: type=gha
+  #         platforms: linux/amd64,linux/arm64
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 837c9a4..f1b6731 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -29,6 +29,26 @@ npm run dev
 
 See [README.md](README.md) for more details.
 
+## Release Process
+
+Releases are automated via GitHub Actions:
+
+1. Update version in `package.json` (follow [semantic versioning](https://semver.org/))
+2. Commit the version change
+3. Create and push a git tag:
+   ```bash
+   git tag -a v0.2.0 -m "Release v0.2.0"
+   git push origin v0.2.0
+   ```
+4. GitHub Actions will automatically:
+   - Run tests
+   - Build the application
+   - Create a GitHub release with build artifacts
+   - Build and push Docker images to `ghcr.io/cdanis/odette`
+   - Tag Docker images with the version number (and `latest` for stable releases only)
+
+Release artifacts include a compressed tarball with the built application files.
+
 ## Code Style
 
 - Use TypeScript
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6b23d52..1865c4d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -54,6 +54,19 @@ npm start
 
 ### Docker
 
+**Using pre-built image:**
+
+```bash
+docker run -p 3000:3000 \
+  -v /path/to/data:/data \
+  -e SMTP_USER=your-email@gmail.com \
+  -e SMTP_PASS=your-app-password \
+  -e SESSION_SECRET=random-secret-here \
+  ghcr.io/cdanis/odette:latest
+```
+
+**Building locally:**
+
 ```bash
 docker build -t odette .
 docker run -p 3000:3000 \
@@ -66,6 +79,8 @@ docker run -p 3000:3000 \
 
 Database and uploaded files persist in the `/data` volume.
 
+Docker images are automatically built and published to GitHub Container Registry on each release.
+
 ## Configuration
 
 Environment variables: