diff --git a/.changes/1.26.161.json b/.changes/1.26.161.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dd272a4c0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changes/1.26.161.json
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+[
+  {
+    "category": "``connect``",
+    "description": "[``botocore``] This release provides a way to search for existing tags within an instance. Before tagging a resource, ensure consistency by searching for pre-existing key:value pairs.",
+    "type": "api-change"
+  },
+  {
+    "category": "``glue``",
+    "description": "[``botocore``] Timestamp Starting Position For Kinesis and Kafka Data Sources in a Glue Streaming Job",
+    "type": "api-change"
+  },
+  {
+    "category": "``guardduty``",
+    "description": "[``botocore``] Add support for user.extra.sessionName in Kubernetes Audit Logs Findings.",
+    "type": "api-change"
+  },
+  {
+    "category": "``iam``",
+    "description": "[``botocore``] Support for a new API \"GetMFADevice\" to present MFA device metadata such as device certifications",
+    "type": "api-change"
+  },
+  {
+    "category": "``pinpoint``",
+    "description": "[``botocore``] Added time zone estimation support for journeys",
+    "type": "api-change"
+  }
+]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.rst b/CHANGELOG.rst
index f166c7a361..3e833ccff4 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.rst
+++ b/CHANGELOG.rst
@@ -2,6 +2,16 @@
 CHANGELOG
 =========
 
+1.26.161
+========
+
+* api-change:``connect``: [``botocore``] This release provides a way to search for existing tags within an instance. Before tagging a resource, ensure consistency by searching for pre-existing key:value pairs.
+* api-change:``glue``: [``botocore``] Timestamp Starting Position For Kinesis and Kafka Data Sources in a Glue Streaming Job
+* api-change:``guardduty``: [``botocore``] Add support for user.extra.sessionName in Kubernetes Audit Logs Findings.
+* api-change:``iam``: [``botocore``] Support for a new API "GetMFADevice" to present MFA device metadata such as device certifications
+* api-change:``pinpoint``: [``botocore``] Added time zone estimation support for journeys
+
+
 1.26.160
 ========
 
diff --git a/boto3/__init__.py b/boto3/__init__.py
index 5c75355d02..d58a5a8704 100644
--- a/boto3/__init__.py
+++ b/boto3/__init__.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 from boto3.session import Session
 
 __author__ = 'Amazon Web Services'
-__version__ = '1.26.160'
+__version__ = '1.26.161'
 
 
 # The default Boto3 session; autoloaded when needed.
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index ec0b4cebdb..39a17ed27f 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ universal = 0
 
 [metadata]
 requires_dist =
-    botocore>=1.29.160,<1.30.0
+    botocore>=1.29.161,<1.30.0
     jmespath>=0.7.1,<2.0.0
     s3transfer>=0.6.0,<0.7.0
 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index e45c31ae99..e3cc5ab796 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 
 
 requires = [
-    'botocore>=1.29.160,<1.30.0',
+    'botocore>=1.29.161,<1.30.0',
     'jmespath>=0.7.1,<2.0.0',
     's3transfer>=0.6.0,<0.7.0',
 ]