diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 3901428151..505801db29 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,8 +6,56 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/)
 
 > **Note:** Releases are sorted in reverse chronological order (newest first).
 
+## [Stable Release 7.1.0] - 2026-09-17
+
+General availability of Microsoft.Data.SqlClient 7.1. The sections below list the changes since [7.1.0-preview3](release-notes/7.1/7.1.0-preview3.md). See the [7.1.0 release notes](release-notes/7.1/7.1.0.md) for the cumulative list of changes since the 7.0.3 stable release.
+
+### Added
+
+- Added a `RegisteredApplication` enum and a matching `SqlConnection.RegisteredApplication` property that let a library or tool identify itself to SQL Server through version 2 of the TDS USERAGENT feature extension. The payload also carries a new driver-owned 64-bit *Driver Properties* flag field; bit 0 reports whether connection pool V2 is enabled for the process. Application identity is client-supplied telemetry and must never be used for authorization or any other security decision. The value must be set before `Open`/`OpenAsync` and is not part of the connection pool key.
+  ([#3201](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/3201), [#4632](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4632))
+
+### Changed
+
+- `SqlConnectionStringBuilder.TransparentNetworkIPResolution` is now marked `[Obsolete]`, directing callers to `MultiSubnetFailover`. There is no runtime behavior change: connection string defaults are untouched and no new AppContext switches were introduced. The only visible effect is a `CS0618` build warning for code that references the property.
+  ([#4494](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/4494), [#4576](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4576))
+
+- Unified the exception message raised when conflicting token-based and SSPI authentication properties are set on the same `SqlConnection`, and documented the complete set of properties that conflict with `AccessToken`.
+  ([#4629](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4629))
+
+- Documentation corrections for `SqlDataRecord`, `SqlMetaData`, and the LCID 1033 locale name.
+  ([#1805](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/1805),
+   [#4440](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4440),
+   [#4646](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4646))
+
+- Updated `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SNI` and `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SNI.runtime` to v7.1.0 (was v7.1.0-preview3.26226.3).
+  ([#4698](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4698))
+
+### Fixed
+
+- Fixed a pooled connection being returned to the pool in a broken state after a `TransactionScope` rollback — for example, when distributed transaction promotion fails on .NET 8+ where implicit distributed transactions are disabled by default. Connection reset now preserves the transaction when the pooled connection is either a delegated transaction root or enlisted in a transaction.
+  ([#4001](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/4001), [#4557](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4557))
+
+- Fixed `GetSchema("DataTypes")` never reporting the SQL Server 2025 `json` type against Azure SQL. The decision now uses the `json` support flag negotiated through the TDS `FEATUREEXTACK` token instead of a server version string comparison.
+  ([#4592](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/4592), [#4682](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4682))
+
+- Fixed a malformed UNC pipe path being composed for IPv6 literal server names over Named Pipes in managed SNI, which could trigger an access violation inside LSASS on Windows and force a reboot. IPv6 literals are now transcribed to their `.ipv6-literal.net` form. (net8.0/net9.0 only)
+  ([#4523](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/4523), [#4558](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4558))
+
+- Fixed configurable retry logic installing a permanent, process-wide assembly-resolution handler that could interfere with unrelated assembly loading. The handler is now installed only while an explicitly configured custom retry provider is resolved and constructed, and probes `AppContext.BaseDirectory` instead of the current working directory. (net8.0/net9.0 only)
+  ([#2214](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/2214), [#4547](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4547))
+
+- Fixed open/close throughput regressions in the opt-in connection pool V2 (`Switch.Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.UseConnectionPoolV2`). The default pool is unaffected.
+  ([#4543](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4543))
+
+### Companion packages
+
+- Released `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Azure` 7.1.0 with an internal Entra ID authority parsing clarification and no behavior change. See [release notes](release-notes/Extensions/Azure/7.1/7.1.0.md).
+- Released version-aligned `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.AlwaysEncrypted.AzureKeyVaultProvider`, `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Abstractions`, and `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Internal.Logging` 7.1.0 with no functional or API changes since preview3. See the [Azure Key Vault provider](release-notes/add-ons/AzureKeyVaultProvider/7.1/7.1.0.md), [Abstractions](release-notes/Extensions/Abstractions/7.1/7.1.0.md), and [Logging](release-notes/Internal/Logging/7.1/7.1.0.md) release notes.
+
 ## [Stable Release 7.0.3] - 2026-09-10
 
+
 ### Changed
 
 - Updated the `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SNI` and `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SNI.runtime` dependencies to 6.0.3 (was 6.0.2).
@@ -227,7 +275,7 @@ See the [full release notes](release-notes/7.1/7.1.0-preview2.md) for detailed d
 - `SqlVector<float>` now serializes and deserializes multibyte values as little-endian explicitly.
   ([#3861](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/3861))
 
-- Updated the bundled .NET 10 SDK to `10.0.300`.
+- Updated the .NET 10 SDK used to build the repository to `10.0.300`.
   ([#4287](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4287))
 
 - Re-shipped `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Azure` as `7.1.0-preview2`, adding Windows Account Manager (WAM) broker support for Entra ID authentication on Windows. See [release notes](release-notes/Extensions/Azure/7.1/7.1.0-preview2.md).
diff --git a/release-notes/7.1/7.1.0-preview2.md b/release-notes/7.1/7.1.0-preview2.md
index 5f4a65bb78..df45fe0d7a 100644
--- a/release-notes/7.1/7.1.0-preview2.md
+++ b/release-notes/7.1/7.1.0-preview2.md
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ This update brings the following changes since the [7.1.0-preview1](7.1.0-previe
 - Reduced allocations by avoiding lock acquisition on `SqlErrorCollection` counters when no errors exist, and by avoiding stack-trace materialization for expected `null`-return paths. ([#4157](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4157), [#4099](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4099), [#4102](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4102))
 - Improved `EnclaveDiffieHellmanInfo.Size` accuracy. ([#4346](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4346))
 - `SqlVector<float>` now serializes and deserializes little-endian multibyte values explicitly for consistent behavior across architectures. ([#3861](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/3861))
-- Updated the bundled .NET 10 SDK to `10.0.300`. ([#4287](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4287))
+- Updated the .NET 10 SDK used to build the repository to `10.0.300`. ([#4287](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4287))
 
 ### Fixed
 
diff --git a/release-notes/7.1/7.1.0.md b/release-notes/7.1/7.1.0.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c955e6c5c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release-notes/7.1/7.1.0.md
@@ -0,0 +1,435 @@
+# Release Notes
+
+## Stable Release 7.1.0 - 2026-09-17
+
+This is the general availability release of **Microsoft.Data.SqlClient 7.1**. It closes out the `7.1` preview cycle with application identity reporting for telemetry, the deprecation of `TransparentNetworkIPResolution`, and a set of connection, transaction, and Named Pipes fixes.
+
+> **Important — package version alignment:** Starting with the [7.0.2](../7.0/7.0.2.md) release, the `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient` driver and its companion packages share a single aligned version. The `7.1.0` GA release continues this alignment; the following packages ship together as `7.1.0`:
+>
+> - `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient`
+> - `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.AlwaysEncrypted.AzureKeyVaultProvider`
+> - `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Azure`
+> - `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Abstractions`
+> - `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Internal.Logging`
+>
+> (`Microsoft.SqlServer.Server` continues to version independently and remains at `1.0.0`.)
+>
+> Applications must reference the same versions of `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient` and its extensions for best compatibility. In particular, applications that reference `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Azure` must upgrade it to `7.1.0` when upgrading `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient` to `7.1.0`.
+>
+> **Compatibility guarantee:** All aligned assemblies ship with `FileVersion 7.1.0.x` and `AssemblyVersion 7.0.0.0`. The `AssemblyVersion` is unchanged from [7.0.2](../7.0/7.0.2.md), so upgrading from `7.0.2`, `7.0.3`, or any `7.1` preview to `7.1.0` does **not** require any new .NET Framework strong-name binding redirects. Applications upgrading from `7.0.0` or `7.0.1` should note that `Extensions.Azure`, `Extensions.Abstractions`, and `Internal.Logging` raised their `AssemblyVersion` from `1.0.0.0` to `7.0.0.0` in [7.0.2](../7.0/7.0.2.md); see those release notes for the one-time .NET Framework impact.
+
+### Companion package release notes
+
+- [Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.AlwaysEncrypted.AzureKeyVaultProvider 7.1.0](../add-ons/AzureKeyVaultProvider/7.1/7.1.0.md)
+- [Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Azure 7.1.0](../Extensions/Azure/7.1/7.1.0.md)
+- [Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Abstractions 7.1.0](../Extensions/Abstractions/7.1/7.1.0.md)
+- [Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Internal.Logging 7.1.0](../Internal/Logging/7.1/7.1.0.md)
+
+## Changes Since [7.1.0-preview3](7.1.0-preview3.md)
+
+### Added
+
+#### Application Identity in the USERAGENT Payload
+
+*What Changed:*
+
+- Added a `RegisteredApplication` enum and a matching `SqlConnection.RegisteredApplication` property that let a library or tool identify itself to SQL Server through version 2 of the TDS USERAGENT feature extension. The payload also carries a new driver-owned 64-bit *Driver Properties* flag field; bit 0 reports whether connection pool V2 is enabled for the process. Both fields are emitted as unpadded uppercase hexadecimal.
+  ([#3201](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/3201), [#4632](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4632))
+
+*Who Benefits:*
+
+- Middleware and tooling built on top of the driver — Entity Framework Core, Semantic Kernel, SQL Server Management Studio, SqlPackage, Data API Builder, and similar — can be distinguished in server-side telemetry without the driver accepting arbitrary user-supplied user-agent text. This originated as a request from the Entity Framework Core team.
+- Service operators gain a more accurate picture of which client stacks are connecting, which helps when diagnosing workload-specific behavior.
+
+*Impact:*
+
+- Purely additive from the application's perspective: a newly created physical connection whose `RegisteredApplication` is unset reports `Unknown` (`0`). On the wire the field itself is new — USERAGENT payload v1 carried no application identifier, while v2 always emits one.
+- Set the property before calling `Open` or `OpenAsync`. Assigning it while the connection is connecting or open throws `InvalidOperationException`.
+
+```c#
+using var connection = new SqlConnection(connectionString);
+connection.RegisteredApplication = RegisteredApplication.EntityFrameworkCore;
+await connection.OpenAsync();
+```
+
+- The enum is `ushort`-backed and marked `[CLSCompliant(false)]`. Values are partitioned by range: `0x0001`–`0x7FFF` for Microsoft-defined large-scale applications, `0x8000`–`0xBFFF` for small-scale use, and `0xC000`–`0xFFFF` for public/developer use. Applications that are not yet registered can cast an unassigned value from the appropriate range.
+- Application identity is **client-supplied telemetry and must never be used for authorization or any other security decision.**
+- The value is not part of the connection pool key. A pooled physical connection reports the application that originally created it, and background `Min Pool Size` connections report `Unknown`. Cloned connections preserve the value.
+
+### Changed
+
+#### `TransparentNetworkIPResolution` Is Now Obsolete
+
+*What Changed:*
+
+- `SqlConnectionStringBuilder.TransparentNetworkIPResolution` is now marked `[Obsolete]`. The obsoletion message directs callers to `MultiSubnetFailover` and notes that Transparent Network IP Resolution (TNIR) is a .NET Framework-only feature.
+  ([#4494](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/4494), [#4576](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4576))
+
+*Who Benefits:*
+
+- Applications still relying on TNIR get a compile-time signal to move to `MultiSubnetFailover`, which addresses the same "connect quickly across multiple DNS-resolved addresses" goal, works consistently on every supported target framework, and is the documented strategy for Always On availability group listeners.
+
+*Impact:*
+
+- **No runtime behavior change.** TNIR still defaults to `true` on .NET Framework, and `MultiSubnetFailover` still defaults to `false`. The property remains .NET Framework-only and is not exposed on modern .NET, where a connection string containing the `Transparent Network IP Resolution` keyword still throws `NotSupportedException`. No new AppContext switches were introduced.
+- The only visible effect is a new `CS0618` build warning for code that references the property. Suppress it, or migrate to `MultiSubnetFailover`, at your own pace. Flipping the TNIR and `MultiSubnetFailover` defaults is deferred to a future major version.
+
+#### Other changes
+
+- Updated `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SNI` and `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SNI.runtime` to v7.1.0 (was v7.1.0-preview3.26226.3).
+  ([#4698](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4698))
+
+- Unified the exception message raised when conflicting token-based and SSPI authentication properties are set on the same `SqlConnection`, and documented the complete set of properties that conflict with `AccessToken`.
+  ([#4629](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4629))
+
+- Documentation corrections:
+  - Rewrote the `SqlDataRecord` and `SqlMetaData` documentation, which incorrectly described the SQL CLR-only `SqlContext` and `SqlPipe` types, and clarified whether `SqlDataRecord` instances can be reused.
+    ([#1805](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/1805), [#4440](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4440))
+  - Corrected the LCID 1033 sample comment to use the official Windows locale name `English (United States)`.
+    ([#4646](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4646))
+
+### Fixed
+
+- Fixed a pooled connection being returned to the pool in a broken state after a `TransactionScope` rollback — for example, when distributed transaction promotion fails on .NET 8+ where implicit distributed transactions are disabled by default. A subsequent `Open()` succeeded but `BeginTransaction()` threw `InvalidOperationException` ("the connection has been broken"). Connection reset now preserves the transaction when the pooled connection is either a delegated transaction root **or** enlisted in a transaction, instead of only the latter.
+  ([#4001](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/4001), [#4557](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4557))
+
+- Fixed `GetSchema("DataTypes")` never reporting the SQL Server 2025 `json` type against Azure SQL. The row was filtered by a string comparison against a minimum server version of `17.00.000.0`, which Azure SQL can never satisfy because it always reports `12.00.xxxx`. The decision now uses the `json` support flag negotiated through the TDS `FEATUREEXTACK` token, which is accurate on both Azure SQL and on-premises SQL Server 2025+.
+  ([#4592](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/4592), [#4682](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4682))
+
+- Fixed a malformed UNC pipe path being composed for IPv6 literal server names over Named Pipes in managed SNI (for example `Server=np:::1`, `Server=np:[::1]`, or `Server=\\::1\pipe\sql\query`). A UNC path component may not contain a colon, and handing such a path to the OS could trigger an access violation inside LSASS on Windows, forcing a reboot. IPv6 literals are now transcribed to their `.ipv6-literal.net` form as defined by [MS-DTYP 2.2.57](https://learn.microsoft.com/openspecs/windows_protocols/ms-dtyp/62e862f4-2a51-452e-8eeb-dc4ff5ee33cc), and a colon-bearing host with no valid IPv6 interpretation now fails with the standard invalid-connection-string error. Colon-free host names, LocalDB, `localhost`, `.`, and IPv6 over TCP are unaffected. (net8.0/net9.0 only — this is the managed SNI counterpart to the native SNI fix)
+  ([#4523](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/4523), [#4558](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4558))
+
+- Fixed configurable retry logic installing a permanent, process-wide assembly-resolution handler that could interfere with unrelated assembly loading. The handler is now installed only while an explicitly configured custom retry provider is being resolved and constructed, and it probes `AppContext.BaseDirectory` instead of the current working directory. Place custom retry assemblies in the application base directory; dependencies loaded after provider construction must be resolvable through normal application dependency resolution or an application-supplied handler. (net8.0/net9.0 only — the .NET Framework path does not use `AssemblyLoadContext`)
+  ([#2214](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/2214), [#4547](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4547))
+
+- Fixed open/close throughput regressions in the opt-in connection pool V2 (`Switch.Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.UseConnectionPoolV2`). Acquiring an already-pooled connection no longer dispatches to the thread pool before attempting an inline, non-blocking acquisition, no longer allocates a timer-backed `CancellationTokenSource` before it is known that the caller will wait, and no longer allocates a `Task` on the synchronous completion path. The default pool is unaffected.
+  ([#4543](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4543))
+
+## Cumulative Changes Since [7.0.3](../7.0/7.0.3.md)
+
+This section summarizes all changes across the `7.1` preview cycle for users upgrading from the latest `7.0` stable release. Changes that were also serviced into `7.0.1`, `7.0.2`, or `7.0.3` are omitted — they are already present for `7.0.x` users.
+
+### Added
+
+#### `SqlBatch` Support on .NET Framework (net462 only)
+
+*What Changed:*
+
+- `SqlBatch`, `SqlBatchCommand`, and the related execution methods are now available on the .NET Framework target, so the batching API spans the full supported platform matrix.
+  ([#3926](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/3926))
+
+*Who Benefits:*
+
+- Libraries and applications that multi-target .NET Framework and modern .NET can use a single data-access surface instead of maintaining separate batching strategies.
+
+*Impact:*
+
+- Purely additive; existing `SqlCommand` code is unchanged.
+
+#### `SqlConnection.GetSchemaAsync`
+
+*What Changed:*
+
+- Added asynchronous overloads of `SqlConnection.GetSchema` that mirror the existing synchronous shapes and honor a supplied `CancellationToken`. The .NET Framework schema code paths were unified with the .NET implementation in the process.
+  ([#3005](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/3005))
+
+*Who Benefits:*
+
+- Applications that enumerate database metadata as part of a request pipeline no longer block a thread on synchronous I/O.
+
+*Impact:*
+
+- Additive; existing `GetSchema(...)` calls are unchanged.
+
+#### Asynchronous Key Store Provider APIs for Always Encrypted
+
+*What Changed:*
+
+- Added four `virtual` asynchronous counterparts to the synchronous methods on `SqlColumnEncryptionKeyStoreProvider`: `DecryptColumnEncryptionKeyAsync`, `EncryptColumnEncryptionKeyAsync`, `SignColumnMasterKeyMetadataAsync`, and `VerifyColumnMasterKeyMetadataAsync`. Each accepts an optional `CancellationToken`, and the default implementations delegate to the existing synchronous methods.
+  ([#3672](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/3672), [#3673](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/3673))
+
+*Who Benefits:*
+
+- Authors of custom key store providers backed by network-bound stores such as HSMs or cloud key vaults can implement genuinely asynchronous key operations.
+
+*Impact:*
+
+- Purely additive; existing providers compile and run unmodified.
+- **Introduced, but not yet consumed by the driver.** The driver's own column encryption key resolution path still invokes the synchronous provider methods on both the synchronous and asynchronous command paths. **A future release will enable their use from the driver's own asynchronous APIs.**
+- The in-box `SqlColumnEncryptionAzureKeyVaultProvider` overrides all four methods. See the [AzureKeyVaultProvider 7.1.0](../add-ons/AzureKeyVaultProvider/7.1/7.1.0.md) release notes. ([#4540](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4540))
+
+#### Configurable Idle Connection Timeout
+
+*What Changed:*
+
+- Added a `Connection Idle Timeout` connection-string keyword and matching `SqlConnectionStringBuilder.IdleTimeout` property that let the pool evict connections whose idle time exceeds the configured value. The default is `300` seconds; `0` disables idle expiration and negative values throw `ArgumentException`. Enforcement is gated on `Switch.Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.UseLegacyIdleTimeoutBehavior`, which defaults to `true` to preserve historical pooling behavior.
+  ([#4295](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4295))
+
+*Who Benefits:*
+
+- Applications running against Azure SQL Database and other elastic backends can bound connection idle time to align with server-side session recycling and reduce stale-connection failures.
+
+*Impact:*
+
+- Default behavior is unchanged: the keyword is parsed but not enforced until the legacy switch is set to `false`.
+
+#### Connection Pool V2 Feature Completeness
+
+*What Changed:*
+
+- Substantially expanded `ChannelDbConnectionPool`, the opt-in pool behind `Switch.Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.UseConnectionPoolV2`, bringing it to parity with the default `WaitHandleDbConnectionPool`: transaction support, broken-connection replacement, background warmup and replenishment to `Min Pool Size`, idle pruning derived from `Connection Idle Timeout`, optional connection-creation rate limiting, leaked-connection reclamation, and metrics/tracing parity.
+  ([#4395](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4395),
+   [#4396](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4396),
+   [#4429](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4429),
+   [#4452](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4452),
+   [#4463](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4463),
+   [#4487](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4487),
+   [#4504](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4504),
+   [#4529](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4529),
+   [#4543](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4543))
+- `SqlConnection.ClearPool(SqlConnection)` and `SqlConnection.ClearAllPools()` now work correctly under pool V2.
+  ([#4194](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4194))
+
+*Who Benefits:*
+
+- Applications evaluating the V2 pool can exercise transaction-enlisted workloads, broken-connection recovery, leaked-connection reclamation, and pool warmup, and can observe the pool through the existing performance counters and EventSource traces.
+
+*Impact:*
+
+- No change to default behavior. Connection pool V2 remains **in evaluation** and is used only when the AppContext switch is enabled.
+
+#### Other additions
+
+- Added application identity reporting through `SqlConnection.RegisteredApplication` and USERAGENT payload version 2 (see *Changes Since 7.1.0-preview3* above).
+  ([#4632](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4632))
+
+- `SqlBulkCopy` column mappings now accept the SQL Graph pseudo-column aliases `$node_id`, `$edge_id`, `$from_id`, and `$to_id` as destination column names.
+  ([#3677](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/3677))
+
+- `SqlBatchCommand.CommandBehavior` is now honored inside a `SqlBatch`, and `SqlBatch.ExecuteReader` respects the `CommandBehavior` passed to it. Batches that previously set the property and relied on it being ignored will now see it applied.
+  ([#4125](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4125))
+
+- Added connection-string synonyms for better compatibility with other SQL Server drivers: `ColumnEncryption`, `ConnectTimeout`, `FailoverPartner`, `PacketSize`, and `WorkstationId`.
+  ([#4192](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4192))
+
+- Added the SQL Server 2025 `json` data type to the `DataTypes` collection returned by `SqlConnection.GetSchema`.
+  ([#3858](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/3858))
+
+### Changed
+
+#### Connection Timeout Can Now Propagate Through the Pool
+
+*What Changed:*
+
+- Replaced raw `TimeSpan` timeouts with a shared `TimeoutTimer` across `SqlConnection.Open[Async]`, pool acquisition, and physical connection creation, so the `Connect Timeout` budget can be deducted while a request waits in the pool. Enforcement is gated on `Switch.Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.UseOverallConnectTimeoutForPoolWait`, which defaults to `false`. Introduces a dependency on `Microsoft.Bcl.TimeProvider`.
+  ([#4270](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4270))
+
+*Who Benefits:*
+
+- Applications that observe pool contention can opt in to having the configured `Connect Timeout` respected end-to-end instead of the budget effectively restarting when a physical connection is eventually opened.
+
+*Impact:*
+
+- Default behavior is unchanged. When the switch is enabled, `Open`/`OpenAsync` under heavy pool contention may surface timeouts sooner than before; successful opens are unaffected.
+
+#### `TransparentNetworkIPResolution` Is Now Obsolete
+
+- See *Changes Since 7.1.0-preview3* above.
+  ([#4494](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/4494), [#4576](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4576))
+
+#### Other changes
+
+- Windows-only native SNI types are now removed cleanly by the IL trimmer on Linux and macOS, and `LocalAppContextSwitches.UseManagedNetworking` is substituted for a constant. The driver builds a single OS-agnostic assembly for all platforms; NuGet package structure and contents are unchanged.
+  ([#4207](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4207),
+   [#4239](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/4239),
+   [#4465](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4465),
+   [#4474](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4474))
+
+- Performance and allocation improvements:
+  - Restored reuse of `PacketData` linked-list nodes via a bounded free list on `StateSnapshot`, returning `SqlCommand/ExecuteReaderAsync` from +120.9% allocated against the 6.1.6 baseline to +0.1%.
+    ([#4536](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4536))
+  - `SqlBulkCopy` no longer builds SQL Graph column alias mapping tables when neither the source nor destination table contains graph pseudo-columns.
+    ([#4535](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4535))
+  - Reduced allocations when sending large string values to SQL Server, when reading `SqlErrorCollection` counters with no errors present, and on expected `null`-return paths that previously materialized stack traces.
+    ([#4072](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4072),
+     [#4157](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4157),
+     [#4099](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4099),
+     [#4102](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4102))
+  - Use hardcoded LCID mappings when decoding strings, avoiding repeated culture lookups.
+    ([#4212](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4212))
+
+- Internal hardening and refactoring:
+  - `SqlConnection` internal state transitions now use `Interlocked.CompareExchange` guards.
+    ([#4267](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4267))
+  - Removed legacy connection-options inheritance from internal APIs and refactored `ForceNewConnection` handling.
+    ([#4235](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4235),
+     [#4237](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4237),
+     [#4261](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4261),
+     [#4415](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4415))
+  - Added async generic helpers to reduce duplication across sync/async code paths.
+    ([#4334](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4334))
+
+- `SqlVector<float>` now serializes and deserializes little-endian multibyte values explicitly for consistent behavior across architectures.
+  ([#3861](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/3861))
+
+- Improved `EnclaveDiffieHellmanInfo.Size` accuracy.
+  ([#4346](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4346))
+
+- Documentation corrections for `SqlDataRecord`, `SqlMetaData`, server certificate configuration, and the LCID 1033 locale name.
+  ([#4408](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4408),
+   [#4440](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4440),
+   [#4646](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4646))
+
+- Updated Dependencies:
+  - Updated `Microsoft.Bcl.Cryptography`, `Microsoft.Extensions.Caching.Memory`, `System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager`, and `System.Security.Cryptography.Pkcs` to v9.0.18 for the `net9.0` target framework. Non-`net9.0` targets keep their existing `8.0.x` pins.
+    ([#4507](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4507))
+  - Added `System.Threading.RateLimiting` and `Microsoft.Bcl.TimeProvider` to the packaged dependency metadata.
+    ([#4270](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4270),
+     [#4507](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4507))
+  - Updated `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SNI` and `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SNI.runtime` to v7.1.0 (was v6.0.3).
+    ([#4564](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4564),
+     [#4698](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4698))
+
+### Fixed
+
+- Fixed Always Encrypted reads of `CekMdVersion` and `EkValueCount` to align with the TDS specification.
+  ([#4240](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4240))
+
+- Fixed an `OverflowException` when sending large `decimal` values (for example `decimal.MaxValue`) as a parameter with explicit `Precision` and `Scale`. This primarily affected Always Encrypted scenarios, where both must always be set.
+  ([#1655](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/1655), [#4443](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4443))
+
+- Fixed a TDS stream error when passing a `DateOnly` value as a parameter with `SqlDbType.Variant`, and fixed `DateOnly` values written to a `sql_variant` column of a table-valued parameter being sent as `datetime` instead of `date` (which also caused overflows for values valid for `date` but out of range for `datetime`). Reading continues to return `DateTime` instances by default for backwards compatibility. (net8.0/net9.0 only — .NET Framework has no `DateOnly` type)
+  ([#3953](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/3953),
+   [#3934](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/3934),
+   [#4294](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4294),
+   [#4439](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4439))
+
+- Fixed a `SqlConnectionFactory` timer that woke the process every 30 seconds for the lifetime of the application even when no connection pools existed — including with `Pooling=False` and after `ClearAllPools()`. The pruning timer is now armed on demand and disarmed once there is nothing left to prune. A missing .NET Framework unload hook was also added.
+  ([#1881](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/1881), [#4479](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4479))
+
+- Fixed connection pool performance counter defects affecting the **default** pool as well as pool V2. `active-soft-connects` and `number-of-active-connections` could go negative after a failed connection activation, and `active-soft-connects`, `active-hard-connections`, and `number-of-pooled-connections` drifted upward permanently after a broken connection was replaced.
+  ([#4504](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4504))
+
+- Fixed a pooled connection being returned to the pool in a broken state after a `TransactionScope` rollback, which caused a later `BeginTransaction()` to throw `InvalidOperationException`.
+  ([#4001](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/4001), [#4557](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4557))
+
+- Fixed `GetSchema("DataTypes")` never reporting the `json` type against Azure SQL.
+  ([#4592](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/4592), [#4682](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4682))
+
+- Fixed a malformed UNC pipe path being composed for IPv6 literal server names over Named Pipes in managed SNI, which could trigger an LSASS access violation and a forced reboot on Windows. (net8.0/net9.0 only)
+  ([#4523](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/issues/4523), [#4558](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4558))
+
+- Fixed several async entry points in `SqlBulkCopy`, `SqlDataReader.InvokeAsyncCall`, `SqlCommand.Reader`, and `SqlCommand.Xml` that captured fatal exceptions such as `OutOfMemoryException` into faulted `Task`s instead of letting them propagate.
+  ([#4437](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4437))
+
+- Fixed a `SqlDataReader` streaming bug where calling `IsDBNull()` before reading a streamed value could skip column data.
+  ([#4082](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4082))
+
+- Fixed a race in `SqlConnection.TryOpenInner` that could surface as `InvalidCastException`; the same race now returns a deterministic `InvalidOperationException`.
+  ([#4179](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4179))
+
+- Fixed `LoginWithFailover` to validate parser state before continuing, preventing null-reference failures during failover login.
+  ([#4140](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4140))
+
+- Fixed the SPN used during login to use the resolved port instead of the instance name when `Protocol=None` or `Protocol=Admin` is specified.
+  ([#4180](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4180))
+
+- Fixed several `CancellationTokenSource` leaks in `SqlDataReader`, `SqlConnection`, the `SqlCommand` reconnect paths, and the sequential-stream helpers.
+  ([#4009](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4009))
+
+### Removed
+
+#### SQL Server 7.0 and 2000 Support
+
+*What Changed:*
+
+- Removed dead protocol-level code paths for SQL Server 7.0 and SQL Server 2000, along with the now-orphaned `SQL Server 2000` type-system compatibility option. The `TypeSystem.SQLServer2000` enum value and the `Type System Version=SQL Server 2000` connection-string branch are gone.
+  ([#4015](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4015))
+
+*Who Benefits:*
+
+- The driver no longer carries dead legacy code, and the documented connection-string surface (`Latest`, `SQL Server 2005`, `SQL Server 2008`, `SQL Server 2012`) now matches the implementation exactly.
+
+*Impact:*
+
+- **Breaking:** A connection string that specifies `Type System Version=SQL Server 2000` now throws `ArgumentException` when the connection is opened. Switch to a supported value such as `Latest`. There is no change to which servers the driver connects to — SQL Server 7.0 and 2000 were already rejected during login version negotiation.
+
+## Contributors
+
+We thank the following public contributors. Their efforts toward this project are very much appreciated.
+
+- [edwardneal](https://github.com/edwardneal)
+- [Mahdigln](https://github.com/Mahdigln)
+
+## Target Platform Support
+
+- .NET Framework 4.6.2+ (Windows x86, Windows x64, Windows ARM64)
+- .NET 8.0+ (Windows x86, Windows x64, Windows ARM, Windows ARM64, Linux, macOS)
+
+### Dependencies
+
+#### .NET 9.0
+
+- Microsoft.Bcl.Cryptography 9.0.18
+- Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Abstractions 7.1.0
+- Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Internal.Logging 7.1.0
+- Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SNI.runtime 7.1.0
+- Microsoft.Extensions.Caching.Memory 9.0.18
+- Microsoft.IdentityModel.JsonWebTokens 8.16.0
+- Microsoft.IdentityModel.Protocols.OpenIdConnect 8.16.0
+- Microsoft.SqlServer.Server 1.0.0
+- System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager 9.0.18
+- System.Security.Cryptography.Pkcs 9.0.18
+- System.Threading.RateLimiting 9.0.18
+
+#### .NET 8.0
+
+- Microsoft.Bcl.Cryptography 8.0.0
+- Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Abstractions 7.1.0
+- Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Internal.Logging 7.1.0
+- Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SNI.runtime 7.1.0
+- Microsoft.Extensions.Caching.Memory 8.0.1
+- Microsoft.IdentityModel.JsonWebTokens 8.16.0
+- Microsoft.IdentityModel.Protocols.OpenIdConnect 8.16.0
+- Microsoft.SqlServer.Server 1.0.0
+- System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager 8.0.1
+- System.Security.Cryptography.Pkcs 8.0.1
+- System.Threading.RateLimiting 8.0.0
+
+#### .NET Standard 2.0
+
+- Microsoft.Bcl.Cryptography 8.0.0
+- Microsoft.Bcl.TimeProvider 8.0.1
+- Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Abstractions 7.1.0
+- Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Internal.Logging 7.1.0
+- Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SNI.runtime 7.1.0
+- Microsoft.Extensions.Caching.Memory 8.0.1
+- Microsoft.IdentityModel.JsonWebTokens 8.16.0
+- Microsoft.IdentityModel.Protocols.OpenIdConnect 8.16.0
+- Microsoft.SqlServer.Server 1.0.0
+- System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager 8.0.1
+- System.Security.Cryptography.Pkcs 8.0.1
+- System.Text.Json 10.0.3
+- System.Threading.Channels 10.0.3
+- System.Threading.RateLimiting 8.0.0
+
+#### .NET Framework 4.6.2+
+
+- Microsoft.Bcl.Cryptography 8.0.0
+- Microsoft.Bcl.TimeProvider 8.0.1
+- Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Abstractions 7.1.0
+- Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Internal.Logging 7.1.0
+- Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.SNI 7.1.0
+- Microsoft.Extensions.Caching.Memory 8.0.1
+- Microsoft.IdentityModel.JsonWebTokens 8.16.0
+- Microsoft.IdentityModel.Protocols.OpenIdConnect 8.16.0
+- System.Buffers 4.6.1
+- System.Data.Common 4.3.0
+- System.Diagnostics.DiagnosticSource 10.0.3
+- System.Memory 4.6.3
+- System.Runtime.InteropServices.RuntimeInformation 4.3.0
+- System.Security.Cryptography.Pkcs 8.0.1
+- System.Text.Json 10.0.3
+- System.Threading.Channels 10.0.3
+- System.Threading.RateLimiting 8.0.0
+- System.ValueTuple 4.6.2
diff --git a/release-notes/7.1/README.md b/release-notes/7.1/README.md
index 0b7de8156d..b2c03f09f3 100644
--- a/release-notes/7.1/README.md
+++ b/release-notes/7.1/README.md
@@ -7,3 +7,4 @@ The following Microsoft.Data.SqlClient 7.1 releases have been shipped:
 | 2026-04-29   | 7.1.0-preview1 | [Release Notes](7.1.0-preview1.md) |
 | 2026-07-09   | 7.1.0-preview2 | [Release Notes](7.1.0-preview2.md) |
 | 2026-08-26   | 7.1.0-preview3 | [Release Notes](7.1.0-preview3.md) |
+| 2026-09-17   | 7.1.0          | [Release Notes](7.1.0.md)          |
diff --git a/release-notes/Extensions/Abstractions/7.1/7.1.0.md b/release-notes/Extensions/Abstractions/7.1/7.1.0.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f5572308c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release-notes/Extensions/Abstractions/7.1/7.1.0.md
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# Release Notes
+
+## Stable Release 7.1.0 - 2026-09-17
+
+This release continues version-alignment of `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Abstractions` with the core `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient` driver version (`7.1.0`). The previous release of this package was [7.1.0-preview3](7.1.0-preview3.md), and the previous stable release was [7.0.3](../7.0/7.0.3.md).
+
+There are no functional or API changes in this release. See the core [Microsoft.Data.SqlClient 7.1.0](../../../7.1/7.1.0.md) release notes for the driver-family changes shipped alongside this version.
+
+> **Version alignment:** This package's version continues to track the core `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient` driver version. See the [7.0.2 release notes](../../../7.0/7.0.2.md) for the initial alignment announcement. This assembly ships with `FileVersion 7.1.0.x`. The `AssemblyVersion 7.0.0.0` remains unchanged from the `7.0.2` release, so upgrading from `7.0.2`, `7.0.3`, or any `7.1` preview does not require new .NET Framework strong-name binding redirects. This package's `AssemblyVersion` was raised from `1.0.0.0` to `7.0.0.0` in `7.0.2`, so applications moving from the earlier `1.0.0` package may still need the one-time .NET Framework binding redirect described in those notes.
+
+## Changes Since [7.1.0-preview3](7.1.0-preview3.md)
+
+There are no functional or API changes in this release.
+
+## Cumulative Changes Since [7.0.3](../7.0/7.0.3.md)
+
+There are no functional or API changes in this package across the `7.1` preview cycle. Every `7.1` release of this package has been a version-alignment release.
+
+## Target Platform Support
+
+- .NET Standard 2.0
+
+### Dependencies
+
+#### .NET Standard 2.0
+
+- Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Internal.Logging 7.1.0
diff --git a/release-notes/Extensions/Abstractions/7.1/README.md b/release-notes/Extensions/Abstractions/7.1/README.md
index 9d1374bdb6..20ba3ecff0 100644
--- a/release-notes/Extensions/Abstractions/7.1/README.md
+++ b/release-notes/Extensions/Abstractions/7.1/README.md
@@ -7,3 +7,4 @@ The following `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Abstractions`
 | :-- | :-- | :--: |
 | 2026-07-09 | 7.1.0-preview2 | [Release Notes](7.1.0-preview2.md) |
 | 2026-08-26 | 7.1.0-preview3 | [Release Notes](7.1.0-preview3.md) |
+| 2026-09-17 | 7.1.0 | [Release Notes](7.1.0.md) |
diff --git a/release-notes/Extensions/Azure/7.1/7.1.0.md b/release-notes/Extensions/Azure/7.1/7.1.0.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3c73bb6631
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release-notes/Extensions/Azure/7.1/7.1.0.md
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+# Release Notes
+
+## Stable Release 7.1.0 - 2026-09-17
+
+This release continues version-alignment of `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Azure` with the core `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient` driver version (`7.1.0`). The previous release of this package was [7.1.0-preview3](7.1.0-preview3.md), and the previous stable release was [7.0.3](../7.0/7.0.3.md). See the core [Microsoft.Data.SqlClient 7.1.0](../../../7.1/7.1.0.md) release notes for the driver-family changes shipped alongside this version.
+
+> **Version alignment:** This package's version continues to track the core `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient` driver version. See the [7.0.2 release notes](../../../7.0/7.0.2.md) for the initial alignment announcement. This assembly ships with `FileVersion 7.1.0.x`. The `AssemblyVersion 7.0.0.0` remains unchanged from the `7.0.2` release, so upgrading from `7.0.2`, `7.0.3`, or any `7.1` preview does not require new .NET Framework strong-name binding redirects. This package's `AssemblyVersion` was raised from `1.0.0.0` to `7.0.0.0` in `7.0.2`, so applications moving from the earlier `1.0.0` package may still need the one-time .NET Framework binding redirect described in those notes.
+
+## Changes Since [7.1.0-preview3](7.1.0-preview3.md)
+
+### Changed
+
+- Clarified the internal Entra ID authority handling in `ActiveDirectoryAuthenticationProvider` by keeping the server-supplied STSURL, the Azure Identity authority URL, and the normalized MSAL authority distinct, and by composing the MSAL authority only on the MSAL-based code paths. There is no behavior change and no public API change.
+  ([#4630](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4630))
+
+## Cumulative Changes Since [7.0.3](../7.0/7.0.3.md)
+
+There are no additional cumulative changes since [7.0.3](../7.0/7.0.3.md).
+
+## Target Platform Support
+
+- .NET Standard 2.0
+- .NET Framework 4.6.2+
+
+### Dependencies
+
+#### .NET Standard 2.0
+
+- Azure.Core 1.51.1
+- Azure.Identity 1.18.0
+- Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Abstractions 7.1.0
+- Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Internal.Logging 7.1.0
+- Microsoft.Extensions.Caching.Memory 8.0.1
+- Microsoft.Identity.Client 4.84.2
+- Microsoft.Identity.Client.Broker 4.84.2
+
+#### .NET Framework 4.6.2+
+
+- Azure.Core 1.51.1
+- Azure.Identity 1.18.0
+- Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Abstractions 7.1.0
+- Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Internal.Logging 7.1.0
+- Microsoft.Extensions.Caching.Memory 8.0.1
+- Microsoft.Identity.Client 4.84.2
+- Microsoft.Identity.Client.Broker 4.84.2
diff --git a/release-notes/Extensions/Azure/7.1/README.md b/release-notes/Extensions/Azure/7.1/README.md
index b3f93b7931..7cb63309db 100644
--- a/release-notes/Extensions/Azure/7.1/README.md
+++ b/release-notes/Extensions/Azure/7.1/README.md
@@ -7,3 +7,4 @@ The following `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Azure`
 | :-- | :-- | :--: |
 | 2026-07-09 | 7.1.0-preview2 | [Release Notes](7.1.0-preview2.md) |
 | 2026-08-26 | 7.1.0-preview3 | [Release Notes](7.1.0-preview3.md) |
+| 2026-09-17 | 7.1.0 | [Release Notes](7.1.0.md) |
diff --git a/release-notes/Internal/Logging/7.1/7.1.0.md b/release-notes/Internal/Logging/7.1/7.1.0.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..797e5b9050
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release-notes/Internal/Logging/7.1/7.1.0.md
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# Release Notes
+
+## Stable Release 7.1.0 - 2026-09-17
+
+> **Note:** This package is for internal use by other Microsoft.Data.SqlClient packages only
+> and should not be referenced directly by application code.
+
+This release continues version-alignment of `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Internal.Logging` with the core `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient` driver version (`7.1.0`). The previous release of this package was [7.1.0-preview3](7.1.0-preview3.md), and the previous stable release was [7.0.3](../7.0/7.0.3.md).
+
+There are no functional or API changes in this release. See the core [Microsoft.Data.SqlClient 7.1.0](../../../7.1/7.1.0.md) release notes for the driver-family changes shipped alongside this version.
+
+> **Version alignment:** This package's version continues to track the core `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient` driver version. See the [7.0.2 release notes](../../../7.0/7.0.2.md) for the initial alignment announcement. This assembly ships with `FileVersion 7.1.0.x`. The `AssemblyVersion 7.0.0.0` remains unchanged from the `7.0.2` release, so upgrading from `7.0.2`, `7.0.3`, or any `7.1` preview does not require new .NET Framework strong-name binding redirects. This package's `AssemblyVersion` was raised from `1.0.0.0` to `7.0.0.0` in `7.0.2`, so applications moving from the earlier `1.0.0` package may still need the one-time .NET Framework binding redirect described in those notes.
+
+## Changes Since [7.1.0-preview3](7.1.0-preview3.md)
+
+There are no functional or API changes in this release.
+
+## Cumulative Changes Since [7.0.3](../7.0/7.0.3.md)
+
+There are no functional or API changes in this package across the `7.1` preview cycle. Every `7.1` release of this package has been a version-alignment release.
+
+## Target Platform Support
+
+- .NET Standard 2.0
+
+### Dependencies
+
+#### .NET Standard 2.0
+
+- None
diff --git a/release-notes/Internal/Logging/7.1/README.md b/release-notes/Internal/Logging/7.1/README.md
index 25caeccaba..005fe0e118 100644
--- a/release-notes/Internal/Logging/7.1/README.md
+++ b/release-notes/Internal/Logging/7.1/README.md
@@ -10,3 +10,4 @@ The following `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Internal.Logging`
 | :-- | :-- | :--: |
 | 2026-07-09 | 7.1.0-preview2 | [Release Notes](7.1.0-preview2.md) |
 | 2026-08-26 | 7.1.0-preview3 | [Release Notes](7.1.0-preview3.md) |
+| 2026-09-17 | 7.1.0 | [Release Notes](7.1.0.md) |
diff --git a/release-notes/README.md b/release-notes/README.md
index c32e0bc2be..600cad636f 100644
--- a/release-notes/README.md
+++ b/release-notes/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Microsoft.Data.SqlClient Release Notes
 
-The latest stable release is [Microsoft.Data.SqlClient 7.0](7.0).
+The latest stable release is [Microsoft.Data.SqlClient 7.1](7.1).
 
 ## Release Information
 
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ The latest stable release is [Microsoft.Data.SqlClient 7.0](7.0).
 # Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.AlwaysEncrypted.AzureKeyVaultProvider Release Notes
 
 The latest stable release is
-[Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.AlwaysEncrypted.AzureKeyVaultProvider 7.0](add-ons/AzureKeyVaultProvider/7.0).
+[Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.AlwaysEncrypted.AzureKeyVaultProvider 7.1](add-ons/AzureKeyVaultProvider/7.1).
 
 ## Release Information
 
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ The latest stable release is
 # Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Abstractions Release Notes
 
 The latest release is
-[Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Abstractions 7.0](Extensions/Abstractions/7.0).
+[Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Abstractions 7.1](Extensions/Abstractions/7.1).
 
 ## Release Information
 
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ The latest release is
 # Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Azure Release Notes
 
 The latest release is
-[Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Azure 7.0](Extensions/Azure/7.0).
+[Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Extensions.Azure 7.1](Extensions/Azure/7.1).
 
 ## Release Information
 
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ The latest release is
 # Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Internal.Logging Release Notes
 
 The latest release is
-[Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Internal.Logging 7.0](Internal/Logging/7.0).
+[Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Internal.Logging 7.1](Internal/Logging/7.1).
 
 ## Release Information
 
diff --git a/release-notes/add-ons/AzureKeyVaultProvider/7.1/7.1.0.md b/release-notes/add-ons/AzureKeyVaultProvider/7.1/7.1.0.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..67d99ba296
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release-notes/add-ons/AzureKeyVaultProvider/7.1/7.1.0.md
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+# Release Notes
+
+## Stable Release 7.1.0 - 2026-09-17
+
+This release continues version-alignment of `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.AlwaysEncrypted.AzureKeyVaultProvider` with the core `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient` driver version (`7.1.0`). The previous release of this package was [7.1.0-preview3](7.1.0-preview3.md), and the previous stable release was [7.0.3](../7.0/7.0.3.md).
+
+There are no functional or API changes since [7.1.0-preview3](7.1.0-preview3.md). See the core [Microsoft.Data.SqlClient 7.1.0](../../../7.1/7.1.0.md) release notes for the driver-family changes shipped alongside this version.
+
+> **Version alignment:** This package's version continues to track the core `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient` driver version. See the [7.0.2 release notes](../../../7.0/7.0.2.md) for the initial alignment announcement. This assembly ships with `FileVersion 7.1.0.x`. The `AssemblyVersion 7.0.0.0` remains unchanged from the `7.0.2` release, so upgrading from any `7.0.x` release does not require new .NET Framework strong-name binding redirects.
+
+## Changes Since [7.1.0-preview3](7.1.0-preview3.md)
+
+There are no functional or API changes in this release.
+
+## Cumulative Changes Since [7.0.3](../7.0/7.0.3.md)
+
+### Added
+
+#### Asynchronous key store provider APIs
+
+*What Changed:*
+
+- `SqlColumnEncryptionAzureKeyVaultProvider` now overrides the four asynchronous key store provider methods introduced on the base class in [#3673](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/3673): `EncryptColumnEncryptionKeyAsync`, `DecryptColumnEncryptionKeyAsync`, `SignColumnMasterKeyMetadataAsync`, and `VerifyColumnMasterKeyMetadataAsync`. These call the Azure SDK's own asynchronous methods and flow the supplied `CancellationToken` to them, rather than completing synchronous work on a returned task.
+- Concurrent cache misses for the same key are gated so a burst of callers issues a single Key Vault request. The gate is only ever awaited, so no thread blocks, and misses for different keys still proceed in parallel. The gate applies only while caching is enabled — setting `ColumnEncryptionKeyCacheTtl` to zero disables caching and bypasses the gate, so concurrent operations for the same key may issue parallel Key Vault requests.
+  ([#4540](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4540))
+
+*Who Benefits:*
+
+- Applications using Always Encrypted with Azure Key Vault can await column encryption key operations rather than blocking a thread pool thread on network-bound key vault I/O, when they call the provider directly.
+
+*Impact:*
+
+- No public API was removed or changed. The column encryption key and signature caches are shared between the synchronous and asynchronous paths, so a key resolved by one is visible to the other.
+- **Introduced, but not yet consumed by the driver.** `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient`'s own key resolution path still invokes the synchronous provider methods on both synchronous and asynchronous command execution, so these overrides do not by themselves make Always Encrypted query execution non-blocking. **A future release will enable their use from the driver's own asynchronous APIs.** See the core [7.1.0](../../../7.1/7.1.0.md) release notes.
+- **Behavior change:** `VerifyColumnMasterKeyMetadata` and `VerifyColumnMasterKeyMetadataAsync` now reject a null or empty `signature` with `ArgumentNullException` / `ArgumentException` instead of passing it through to the Azure SDK. In-product callers are unaffected because `SqlSecurityUtility.VerifyColumnMasterKeySignature` already rejects those values upstream.
+- **Runtime requirement:** this version requires `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient` `7.1.0-preview3` or later at runtime, because the asynchronous base-class methods it overrides first shipped in that release. Pairing it with the aligned stable `7.1.0` is recommended, and the NuGet dependency floor resolves there. Because assembly versions unify at `major.0.0.0`, the provider also binds against a `7.1` preview driver, but running it against a driver older than `7.1.0-preview3` produces a `TypeLoadException`.
+
+### Fixed
+
+- Fixed the 2000-entry column master key signature cache being able to stop compacting and grow unbounded. `LocalCache.GetOrCreate` compacted only when `Count == maxSize`, and under concurrency that equality test could be stepped past, permanently disabling compaction. It now compacts on `Count >= maxSize`.
+  ([#4540](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4540))
+
+- Fixed concurrent callers ending up with different `CryptographyClient` instances for the same key, which produced redundant clients and duplicated Key Vault handshakes. `GetCryptographyClient` now uses `GetOrAdd` instead of `TryGetValue` followed by `TryAdd`.
+  ([#4540](https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/pull/4540))
+
+## Target Platform Support
+
+- .NET Standard 2.0
+
+### Dependencies
+
+#### .NET Standard 2.0
+
+- Azure.Core 1.51.1
+- Azure.Security.KeyVault.Keys 4.9.0
+- Microsoft.Data.SqlClient 7.1.0
+- Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.Internal.Logging 7.1.0
+- Microsoft.Extensions.Caching.Memory 8.0.1
diff --git a/release-notes/add-ons/AzureKeyVaultProvider/7.1/README.md b/release-notes/add-ons/AzureKeyVaultProvider/7.1/README.md
index 07fffc069b..6232931b72 100644
--- a/release-notes/add-ons/AzureKeyVaultProvider/7.1/README.md
+++ b/release-notes/add-ons/AzureKeyVaultProvider/7.1/README.md
@@ -7,3 +7,4 @@ The following `Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.AlwaysEncrypted.AzureKeyVaultProvider`
 | :-- | :-- | :--: |
 | 2026-07-09 | 7.1.0-preview2 | [Release Notes](7.1.0-preview2.md) |
 | 2026-08-26 | 7.1.0-preview3 | [Release Notes](7.1.0-preview3.md) |
+| 2026-09-17 | 7.1.0 | [Release Notes](7.1.0.md) |