diff --git a/.github/release-please-manifest.json b/.github/release-please-manifest.json
index f97891a..c775f94 100644
--- a/.github/release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/.github/release-please-manifest.json
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {
-  ".": "1.26.0"
+  ".": "1.27.0"
 }
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 9eb21ae..4d0a125 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [1.27.0](https://github.com/Emerging-Patterns/bolt/compare/v1.26.0...v1.27.0) (2026-11-01)
+
+
+### Features
+
+* **rules:** empty (U018), a kept length compared to zero is is_empty ([22835b9](https://github.com/Emerging-Patterns/bolt/commit/22835b95370e594df901a1e038847d7be45eb03f))
+
 ## [1.26.0](https://github.com/Emerging-Patterns/bolt/compare/v1.25.0...v1.26.0) (2026-11-01)
 
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c9f3424..b4c0448 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ The VS Code extension, from the same checkout:
 
 ```
 cd editors/vscode && npm install && npx --yes @vscode/vsce package
-code --install-extension bolt-1.26.0.vsix   # x-release-please-version or: Extensions > ... > Install from VSIX
+code --install-extension bolt-1.27.0.vsix   # x-release-please-version or: Extensions > ... > Install from VSIX
 ```
 
 Over Remote-SSH, install it from the remote window, so it lands on the
diff --git a/editors/vscode/README.md b/editors/vscode/README.md
index 369b80e..6f2d744 100644
--- a/editors/vscode/README.md
+++ b/editors/vscode/README.md
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ README's Install). Then install the extension from a VSIX:
 
 ```
 cd editors/vscode && npm install && npx --yes @vscode/vsce package
-code --install-extension bolt-1.26.0.vsix       # x-release-please-version or: Extensions > ... > Install from VSIX
+code --install-extension bolt-1.27.0.vsix       # x-release-please-version or: Extensions > ... > Install from VSIX
 ```
 
 Over Remote-SSH, install the VSIX from the remote window, so it lands on the
diff --git a/editors/vscode/package-lock.json b/editors/vscode/package-lock.json
index b91e2d9..f05fc45 100644
--- a/editors/vscode/package-lock.json
+++ b/editors/vscode/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "bolt",
-  "version": "1.26.0",
+  "version": "1.27.0",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "bolt",
-      "version": "1.26.0",
+      "version": "1.27.0",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "vscode-languageclient": "^9.0.1"
diff --git a/editors/vscode/package.json b/editors/vscode/package.json
index 44021d1..fe3c9d5 100644
--- a/editors/vscode/package.json
+++ b/editors/vscode/package.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "name": "bolt",
   "displayName": "Bend",
   "description": "Bend 2: highlighting, diagnostics, hover, definition, completion, references, rename, semantic tokens and lint through bolt",
-  "version": "1.26.0",
+  "version": "1.27.0",
   "publisher": "ngngardner",
   "private": true,
   "license": "MIT",
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index f58eaa5..bbc8675 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
           boltPkg = ez.mkPackage {
             inherit bend;
             src = self;
-            version = "1.26.0"; # x-release-please-version
+            version = "1.27.0"; # x-release-please-version
             # the runtime's options go between +RTS and -RTS (bend 2.0.38)
             wrapFlags = [ "+RTS" "--gpu" "off" "-RTS" ];
             meta = {
diff --git a/src/version.bend b/src/version.bend
index 643d5c3..c109019 100644
--- a/src/version.bend
+++ b/src/version.bend
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@ import Base
 
 # the release number
 def text() -> String:
-  "1.26.0" # x-release-please-version
+  "1.27.0" # x-release-please-version