diff --git a/.ci/bwcVersions b/.ci/bwcVersions
index 0da7f8b223fb3..27f7cf020ea44 100644
--- a/.ci/bwcVersions
+++ b/.ci/bwcVersions
@@ -67,3 +67,4 @@ BWC_VERSION:
   - "2.7.0"
   - "2.7.1"
   - "2.8.0"
+  - "2.8.1"
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/Version.java b/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/Version.java
index 91444eecf2ae4..8f11594a2c5d6 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/Version.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/Version.java
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ 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 CURRENT = V_2_9_0;