diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 52e66b44..65adf95b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ jobs:
           release_version=$(grep "^ext.tempto_version" build.gradle | cut -d"'" -f2 | sed 's/-SNAPSHOT//')
           echo "release_version=$release_version"
           echo "release_version=$release_version" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          echo "next_release_msg=Update build.gradle to next development version" >> $GITHUB_ENV
 
       - name: Get last release version
         id: advance_version          
@@ -76,26 +75,27 @@ jobs:
           echo "last_version=$last_version"
           echo "next_version=$next_version"
 
-      - name: Generate CHANGELOG.md
-        id: generate_changelog
-        run: |
-          # Get commits between the latest version and HEAD, excluding changelog commits
-          changelog=$(git log $last_version..HEAD --pretty=format:"- [%h](https://github.com/${{ github.repository }}/commit/%H) %s" | grep -v "${{ env.next_release_msg }}")
-          echo "Generating CHANGELOG.md"
-          echo -e "## Changelog for ${{ env.release_version }}\n\n$changelog\n" > CHANGELOG.md
-          cat CHANGELOG.md
-
       - name: Update release version and commit
         run: |
           # Update the version in build.gradle
           sed -i "s/ext.tempto_version = '.*'/ext.tempto_version = '${{ env.release_version }}'/" build.gradle
-          git add CHANGELOG.md build.gradle
-          git commit -m "Update CHANGELOG.md and build.gradle for version ${{ env.release_version }}"
+          git add build.gradle
+          git commit -m "[release-action] release version ${{ env.release_version }}"
 
       - name: Add release tag
         run: |
+          git checkout -b release-${{ env.release_version }}
           git tag -a ${{ env.release_version }} -m "Release ${{ env.release_version }}"
 
+      - name: Update release version in build.gradle
+        run: |
+          git checkout master
+          # Update the version in build.gradle
+          sed -i "s/ext.tempto_version = '.*'/ext.tempto_version = '${{ env.next_version}}'/" build.gradle
+          git add build.gradle
+          git commit -m "[release-action] prepare for next development iteration"
+          git checkout release-${{ env.release_version }}
+
       - name: Set up GPG key
         run: |
           echo "${{ secrets.GPG_SECRET }}" > ${{ env.GPG_KEY_FILE }}
@@ -119,17 +119,11 @@ jobs:
           cat gradle.properties
           export NEXUS_USERNAME="${{ secrets.NEXUS_USERNAME }}"
           export NEXUS_PASSWORD="${{ secrets.NEXUS_PASSWORD }}"
-          ./gradlew sign publish
+          ./gradlew sign publish publishToMavenCentral
         env:
           GPG_TTY: $(tty)
-      
-      - name: Update release version in build.gradle
-        run: |
-          # Update the version in build.gradle
-          sed -i "s/ext.tempto_version = '.*'/ext.tempto_version = '${{ env.next_version}}'/" build.gradle
-          git add build.gradle
-          git commit -m "${{ env.next_release_msg }}"
 
       - name: Push changes and tags
         run: |
+          git checkout master
           git push origin master --tags
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 98761cc7..54489cd3 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -197,10 +197,10 @@ configure(subprojects - expected_result_generator - tempto_examples) {
                 }
             }
         }
-
         repositories {
             maven {
-                url = uri('https://oss.sonatype.org/service/local/staging/deploy/maven2/')
+                name = 'ossrh-staging-api'
+                url = 'https://ossrh-staging-api.central.sonatype.com/service/local/staging/deploy/maven2/'
                 credentials {
                     username = System.getenv('NEXUS_USERNAME')
                     password = System.getenv('NEXUS_PASSWORD')
@@ -210,3 +210,43 @@ configure(subprojects - expected_result_generator - tempto_examples) {
     }
 }
 
+tasks.register('publishToMavenCentral') {
+    group = 'publishing'
+    description = 'Publishes all Maven publications produced by this project to Maven Central.'
+    dependsOn subprojects.collect { it.tasks.matching { it.name == 'publish' } }.flatten()
+    doLast {
+        def username = System.getenv('NEXUS_USERNAME')
+        def password = System.getenv('NEXUS_PASSWORD')
+
+        if (!username || !password) {
+            throw new org.gradle.api.GradleException(
+                "NEXUS_USERNAME and NEXUS_PASSWORD environment variables must be set to publish to Maven Central."
+            )
+        }
+
+        def namespace = System.getenv('NEXUS_NAMESPACE') ?: "io.prestodb"
+        def credentials = "${username}:${password}"
+        def token = credentials.bytes.encodeBase64().toString()
+
+        def url = "https://ossrh-staging-api.central.sonatype.com/manual/upload/defaultRepository/${namespace}?publishing_type=automatic"
+        def connection = new URL(url).openConnection()
+        connection.connectTimeout = 30_000
+        connection.readTimeout = 30_000
+        connection.setRequestMethod('POST')
+        connection.setRequestProperty('Authorization', "Bearer ${token}")
+        connection.setRequestProperty('Content-Type', 'application/json')
+        connection.setRequestProperty('Accept', 'application/json')
+        connection.setDoOutput(true)
+
+        def responseCode = connection.getResponseCode()
+        def responseBody = responseCode < 400 ?
+            connection.getInputStream().text :
+            connection.getErrorStream().text
+
+        if (responseCode < 400) {
+            logger.lifecycle("Successfully triggered automatic Maven Central publishing: ${responseBody}")
+        } else {
+            throw new org.gradle.api.GradleException("Failed to publish to Maven Central. HTTP ${responseCode}: ${responseBody}")
+        }
+    }
+}