diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 6387dbf..984619d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -305,6 +305,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     permissions:
       contents: write
+      pull-requests: read
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
         with:
@@ -324,10 +325,14 @@ jobs:
           done
           cp artifacts/vsix-*/*.vsix dist/ 2>/dev/null || true
 
-      # The notes come from the PRs merged since the previous tag, grouped by `.github/release.yml`;
-      # edit them on the release page afterwards if needed.
+      # The notes open with the release PR's body, followed by the PRs merged since the previous tag,
+      # grouped by `.github/release.yml`; edit them on the release page afterwards if needed.
       - name: Create GitHub Release
-        run: gh release create "$TAG" --verify-tag --generate-notes dist/*
+        run: |
+          gh api "repos/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY/commits/$GITHUB_SHA/pulls" |
+            jq -r --arg ref "chore/release-${TAG#v}" '.[] | select(.merged_at != null and .head.ref == $ref) | .body // ""' \
+            > "$RUNNER_TEMP/release-pr-body.md"
+          gh release create "$TAG" --verify-tag --notes-file "$RUNNER_TEMP/release-pr-body.md" --generate-notes dist/*
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
           TAG: ${{ needs.verify.outputs.tag }}