diff --git a/.ci/bwcVersions b/.ci/bwcVersions
index 09e8acf54090e..7fc76dc8c6c04 100644
--- a/.ci/bwcVersions
+++ b/.ci/bwcVersions
@@ -19,4 +19,5 @@ BWC_VERSION:
   - "2.7.0"
   - "2.7.1"
   - "2.8.0"
+  - "2.8.1"
   - "2.9.0"
diff --git a/libs/core/src/main/java/org/opensearch/Version.java b/libs/core/src/main/java/org/opensearch/Version.java
index 79ccef4063d9b..c399f7f3e1b1c 100644
--- a/libs/core/src/main/java/org/opensearch/Version.java
+++ b/libs/core/src/main/java/org/opensearch/Version.java
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ public class Version implements Comparable<Version>, ToXContentFragment {
     public static final Version V_2_7_0 = new Version(2070099, org.apache.lucene.util.Version.LUCENE_9_5_0);
     public static final Version V_2_7_1 = new Version(2070199, org.apache.lucene.util.Version.LUCENE_9_5_0);
     public static final Version V_2_8_0 = new Version(2080099, org.apache.lucene.util.Version.LUCENE_9_6_0);
+    public static final Version V_2_8_1 = new Version(2080199, org.apache.lucene.util.Version.LUCENE_9_6_0);
     public static final Version V_2_9_0 = new Version(2090099, org.apache.lucene.util.Version.LUCENE_9_6_0);
     public static final Version V_3_0_0 = new Version(3000099, org.apache.lucene.util.Version.LUCENE_9_7_0);
     public static final Version CURRENT = V_3_0_0;