diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0373069a..15a61bd5 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 <!--next-version-placeholder-->
 
+## v0.51.0 (2024-05-07)
+
+### Feature
+
+* **utils:** Added plugin helper to find and load ([`5ece269`](https://gitlab.psi.ch/bec/bec_widgets/-/commit/5ece269adb0e9b0c2a468f1dfbaa6212e86d3561))
+
 ## v0.50.2 (2024-04-30)
 
 ### Fix
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 4d4c63bd..d423fe29 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # pylint: disable= missing-module-docstring
 from setuptools import find_packages, setup
 
-__version__ = "0.50.2"
+__version__ = "0.51.0"
 
 # Default to PyQt6 if no other Qt binding is installed
 QT_DEPENDENCY = "PyQt6>=6.7"