diff --git a/packages/app/src/App.tsx b/packages/app/src/App.tsx
index 469f6a9f7..542bd8eba 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/App.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/App.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import userSettingsPlugin from '@backstage/plugin-user-settings/alpha';
 import catalogGraphPlugin from '@backstage/plugin-catalog-graph/alpha';
 import kubernetesPlugin from '@backstage/plugin-kubernetes/alpha';
 import apiDocsPlugin from '@backstage/plugin-api-docs/alpha';
+import notificationsPlugin from '@backstage/plugin-notifications/alpha';
 import signalsPlugin from '@backstage/plugin-signals/alpha';
 import githubActionsPlugin from '@backstage-community/plugin-github-actions/alpha';
 import { createApp } from '@backstage/frontend-defaults';
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ const app = createApp({
     gsPlugin,
     scaffolderPlugin,
     scaffolderPluginOverrides,
+    notificationsPlugin,
     signalsPlugin,
     // Upstream NFS plugins (pages provided by routeOverrides or defaults):
     homePlugin,
diff --git a/packages/app/src/modules/nav/Sidebar.tsx b/packages/app/src/modules/nav/Sidebar.tsx
index 0de322be3..93cc70c1f 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/modules/nav/Sidebar.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/modules/nav/Sidebar.tsx
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import {
   UserSettingsSignInAvatar,
   Settings as SidebarSettings,
 } from '@backstage/plugin-user-settings';
+import { NotificationsSidebarItem } from '@backstage/plugin-notifications';
 
 export const SidebarContent = NavContentBlueprint.make({
   params: {
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ export const SidebarContent = NavContentBlueprint.make({
             {nav.take('page:scaffolder')}
           </SidebarGroup>
           <SidebarSpace />
+          <NotificationsSidebarItem />
           <SidebarDivider />
           <SidebarGroup
             label="Settings"
diff --git a/packages/backend/package.json b/packages/backend/package.json
index bf7529996..1799ada33 100644
--- a/packages/backend/package.json
+++ b/packages/backend/package.json
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
     "@giantswarm/backstage-plugin-auth-backend-module-gs": "^0.13.0",
     "@giantswarm/backstage-plugin-catalog-backend-module-gs": "^0.2.0",
     "@giantswarm/backstage-plugin-gs-backend": "^0.6.0",
+    "@giantswarm/backstage-plugin-notifications-backend-module-gs": "workspace:^",
     "@giantswarm/backstage-plugin-scaffolder-backend-module-gs": "^0.11.0",
     "@giantswarm/backstage-plugin-techdocs-backend-module-gs": "^0.10.0",
     "@internal/backend-common": "workspace:^",
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/index.ts b/packages/backend/src/index.ts
index a1e31b24b..fb2b2641a 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/index.ts
@@ -64,6 +64,9 @@ backend.add(import('@backstage/plugin-kubernetes-backend'));
 // notifications and signals plugins
 backend.add(import('@backstage/plugin-notifications-backend'));
 backend.add(import('@backstage/plugin-signals-backend'));
+backend.add(
+  import('@giantswarm/backstage-plugin-notifications-backend-module-gs'),
+);
 
 // giantswarm plugin
 backend.add(import('@giantswarm/backstage-plugin-gs-backend'));
diff --git a/plugins/notifications-backend-module-gs/package.json b/plugins/notifications-backend-module-gs/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a8442179e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/notifications-backend-module-gs/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{
+  "name": "@giantswarm/backstage-plugin-notifications-backend-module-gs",
+  "description": "A backend module for the notifications plugin that sends release notifications on startup.",
+  "version": "0.1.0",
+  "main": "src/index.ts",
+  "types": "src/index.ts",
+  "license": "Apache-2.0",
+  "private": true,
+  "publishConfig": {
+    "access": "public",
+    "main": "dist/index.cjs.js",
+    "types": "dist/index.d.ts"
+  },
+  "backstage": {
+    "role": "backend-plugin-module"
+  },
+  "scripts": {
+    "start": "backstage-cli package start",
+    "build": "backstage-cli package build",
+    "lint": "backstage-cli package lint",
+    "test": "backstage-cli package test",
+    "clean": "backstage-cli package clean",
+    "prepack": "backstage-cli package prepack",
+    "postpack": "backstage-cli package postpack"
+  },
+  "dependencies": {
+    "@backstage/backend-plugin-api": "backstage:^",
+    "@backstage/plugin-notifications-node": "backstage:^",
+    "semver": "^7.7.3"
+  },
+  "devDependencies": {
+    "@backstage/backend-test-utils": "backstage:^",
+    "@backstage/cli": "backstage:^",
+    "@types/semver": "^7"
+  },
+  "files": [
+    "dist"
+  ],
+  "bugs": "https://github.com/giantswarm/backstage/issues",
+  "author": "Giant Swarm"
+}
diff --git a/plugins/notifications-backend-module-gs/src/index.ts b/plugins/notifications-backend-module-gs/src/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cf504e54b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/notifications-backend-module-gs/src/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export { notificationsModuleGsReleaseNotifier as default } from './module';
diff --git a/plugins/notifications-backend-module-gs/src/module.ts b/plugins/notifications-backend-module-gs/src/module.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e6aae9d01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/notifications-backend-module-gs/src/module.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import {
+  coreServices,
+  createBackendModule,
+} from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
+import { notificationService } from '@backstage/plugin-notifications-node';
+import { sendReleaseNotification } from './releaseNotifier';
+
+export const notificationsModuleGsReleaseNotifier = createBackendModule({
+  pluginId: 'notifications',
+  moduleId: 'gs-release-notifier',
+  register(reg) {
+    reg.registerInit({
+      deps: {
+        notifications: notificationService,
+        lifecycle: coreServices.lifecycle,
+        logger: coreServices.logger,
+      },
+      async init({ notifications, lifecycle, logger }) {
+        const version = process.env.npm_package_version ?? '';
+
+        lifecycle.addStartupHook(async () => {
+          await sendReleaseNotification({
+            version,
+            notifications,
+            logger,
+          });
+        });
+      },
+    });
+  },
+});
diff --git a/plugins/notifications-backend-module-gs/src/releaseNotifier.test.ts b/plugins/notifications-backend-module-gs/src/releaseNotifier.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..59b896e22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/notifications-backend-module-gs/src/releaseNotifier.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+import { sendReleaseNotification } from './releaseNotifier';
+import { NotificationService } from '@backstage/plugin-notifications-node';
+import { LoggerService } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
+
+function createMockLogger(): jest.Mocked<LoggerService> {
+  return {
+    info: jest.fn(),
+    warn: jest.fn(),
+    error: jest.fn(),
+    debug: jest.fn(),
+    child: jest.fn().mockReturnThis(),
+  };
+}
+
+function createMockNotifications(): jest.Mocked<NotificationService> {
+  return {
+    send: jest.fn(),
+  };
+}
+
+describe('sendReleaseNotification', () => {
+  let logger: jest.Mocked<LoggerService>;
+  let notifications: jest.Mocked<NotificationService>;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    logger = createMockLogger();
+    notifications = createMockNotifications();
+    jest.clearAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  it('skips when version is empty', async () => {
+    await sendReleaseNotification({ version: '', notifications, logger });
+
+    expect(notifications.send).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(logger.warn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.stringContaining('not available'),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('skips when version is unparseable', async () => {
+    await sendReleaseNotification({
+      version: 'not-a-version',
+      notifications,
+      logger,
+    });
+
+    expect(notifications.send).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(logger.warn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.stringContaining('could not parse'),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('skips patch releases', async () => {
+    await sendReleaseNotification({
+      version: '0.115.1',
+      notifications,
+      logger,
+    });
+
+    expect(notifications.send).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(logger.info).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.stringContaining('patch release'),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('sends notification for minor release with link', async () => {
+    await sendReleaseNotification({
+      version: '0.115.0',
+      notifications,
+      logger,
+    });
+
+    expect(notifications.send).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      recipients: { type: 'broadcast' },
+      payload: {
+        title: 'Portal updated to v0.115.0',
+        description: 'Click to view the release notes.',
+        link: 'https://github.com/giantswarm/backstage/releases/tag/v0.115.0',
+        severity: 'normal',
+        topic: 'release',
+        scope: 'release-v0.115.0',
+      },
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('sends notification for major release', async () => {
+    await sendReleaseNotification({
+      version: '1.0.0',
+      notifications,
+      logger,
+    });
+
+    expect(notifications.send).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      recipients: { type: 'broadcast' },
+      payload: expect.objectContaining({
+        title: 'Portal updated to v1.0.0',
+        link: 'https://github.com/giantswarm/backstage/releases/tag/v1.0.0',
+        scope: 'release-v1.0.0',
+      }),
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/plugins/notifications-backend-module-gs/src/releaseNotifier.ts b/plugins/notifications-backend-module-gs/src/releaseNotifier.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0008445ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/notifications-backend-module-gs/src/releaseNotifier.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+import semver from 'semver';
+import { LoggerService } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
+import { NotificationService } from '@backstage/plugin-notifications-node';
+
+const RELEASE_URL_BASE = 'https://github.com/giantswarm/backstage/releases/tag';
+
+export interface ReleaseNotifierOptions {
+  version: string;
+  notifications: NotificationService;
+  logger: LoggerService;
+}
+
+export async function sendReleaseNotification(
+  options: ReleaseNotifierOptions,
+): Promise<void> {
+  const { version, notifications, logger } = options;
+
+  if (!version) {
+    logger.warn('Release notifier: app version not available, skipping.');
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const parsed = semver.parse(version);
+  if (!parsed) {
+    logger.warn(
+      `Release notifier: could not parse version "${version}", skipping.`,
+    );
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (parsed.patch !== 0) {
+    logger.info(
+      `Release notifier: patch release v${version} — skipping notification.`,
+    );
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const scope = `release-v${parsed.major}.${parsed.minor}.0`;
+
+  logger.info(
+    `Release notifier: sending broadcast notification for v${version}.`,
+  );
+
+  await notifications.send({
+    recipients: { type: 'broadcast' },
+    payload: {
+      title: `Portal updated to v${version}`,
+      description: 'Click to view the release notes.',
+      link: `${RELEASE_URL_BASE}/v${version}`,
+      severity: 'normal',
+      topic: 'release',
+      scope,
+    },
+  });
+}
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index e4b65bbd4..da0d83c5b 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -7107,7 +7107,7 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
-"@backstage/plugin-notifications-node@npm:^0.2.24":
+"@backstage/plugin-notifications-node@backstage:^::backstage=1.49.2&npm=0.2.24, @backstage/plugin-notifications-node@npm:^0.2.24":
   version: 0.2.24
   resolution: "@backstage/plugin-notifications-node@npm:0.2.24"
   dependencies:
@@ -10109,6 +10109,19 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: unknown
   linkType: soft
 
+"@giantswarm/backstage-plugin-notifications-backend-module-gs@workspace:^, @giantswarm/backstage-plugin-notifications-backend-module-gs@workspace:plugins/notifications-backend-module-gs":
+  version: 0.0.0-use.local
+  resolution: "@giantswarm/backstage-plugin-notifications-backend-module-gs@workspace:plugins/notifications-backend-module-gs"
+  dependencies:
+    "@backstage/backend-plugin-api": "backstage:^"
+    "@backstage/backend-test-utils": "backstage:^"
+    "@backstage/cli": "backstage:^"
+    "@backstage/plugin-notifications-node": "backstage:^"
+    "@types/semver": "npm:^7"
+    semver: "npm:^7.7.3"
+  languageName: unknown
+  linkType: soft
+
 "@giantswarm/backstage-plugin-scaffolder-backend-module-gs@npm:^0.11.0, @giantswarm/backstage-plugin-scaffolder-backend-module-gs@workspace:plugins/scaffolder-backend-module-gs":
   version: 0.0.0-use.local
   resolution: "@giantswarm/backstage-plugin-scaffolder-backend-module-gs@workspace:plugins/scaffolder-backend-module-gs"
@@ -23554,6 +23567,7 @@ __metadata:
     "@giantswarm/backstage-plugin-auth-backend-module-gs": "npm:^0.13.0"
     "@giantswarm/backstage-plugin-catalog-backend-module-gs": "npm:^0.2.0"
     "@giantswarm/backstage-plugin-gs-backend": "npm:^0.6.0"
+    "@giantswarm/backstage-plugin-notifications-backend-module-gs": "workspace:^"
     "@giantswarm/backstage-plugin-scaffolder-backend-module-gs": "npm:^0.11.0"
     "@giantswarm/backstage-plugin-techdocs-backend-module-gs": "npm:^0.10.0"
     "@internal/backend-common": "workspace:^"