diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 2f0d9fe..bd19ec8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -11,6 +11,11 @@ on:
         description: 'Lock onto Braintrust services version (e.g., 1.2.3)'
         required: false
         type: string
+      force_republish:
+        description: 'Re-publish an existing version'
+        required: false
+        type: boolean
+        default: false
 
 env:
   CHART_PATH: ./braintrust
@@ -38,6 +43,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/checkout@34e114876b0b11c390a56381ad16ebd13914f8d5 # v4.3.1
         with:
           token: ${{ steps.bot-token.outputs.token }}
+          fetch-tags: true
 
       - name: Configure Git
         run: |
@@ -75,10 +81,19 @@ jobs:
             exit 1
           fi
 
-          if git tag | grep -q "^$VERSION$"; then
-            echo "❌ Error: Version $VERSION already exists"
-            echo "Please use a different version number"
-            exit 1
+          if [[ "${{ github.event.inputs.force_republish }}" != "true" ]]; then
+            if [[ -n "$(git tag --list "$VERSION")" ]]; then
+              echo "❌ Error: Version $VERSION already exists"
+              echo "Please use a different version number"
+              exit 1
+            fi
+          else
+            if [[ -z "$(git tag --list "$VERSION")" ]]; then
+              echo "❌ Error: force_republish=true but tag $VERSION does not exist"
+              echo "There is no existing release to republish"
+              exit 1
+            fi
+            echo "⚠️  force_republish=true — will republish from existing tag $VERSION"
           fi
 
           # Store the cleaned version for later use
@@ -97,12 +112,50 @@ jobs:
             echo "SERVICES_VERSION=$SERVICES_VERSION" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           fi
 
-      - name: Update versions
+      - name: Prepare release branch
         run: |
-          git fetch origin main
-          git checkout main
+          if [[ "${{ github.event.inputs.force_republish }}" == "true" ]]; then
+            # Capture the SHA from the existing (broken) tag before we delete anything
+            START_POINT=$(git rev-parse $CHART_VERSION)
+            echo "ℹ️  Republishing from existing tag $CHART_VERSION @ $START_POINT"
+
+            # Delete the existing GitHub release if present
+            if gh release view $CHART_VERSION &>/dev/null; then
+              echo "⚠️  Deleting existing release $CHART_VERSION"
+              gh release delete $CHART_VERSION --yes
+            fi
+
+            # Always delete the tag explicitly
+            if git ls-remote --exit-code origin refs/tags/$CHART_VERSION &>/dev/null; then
+              echo "⚠️  Deleting existing tag $CHART_VERSION"
+              git push origin --delete refs/tags/$CHART_VERSION
+            fi
+
+            # Delete old release branch if it exists
+            if git ls-remote --exit-code origin refs/heads/release/$CHART_VERSION &>/dev/null; then
+              echo "⚠️  Deleting existing release branch release/$CHART_VERSION"
+              git push origin --delete release/$CHART_VERSION
+            fi
+          else
+            # Normal flow publishes from main
+            START_POINT=origin/main
+
+            # Refresh origin/main — it's both the branch point (START_POINT)
+            # and the fast-forward target at the end of this step.
+            git fetch origin main
+
+            # Fail fast if release branch already exists — indicates a partial release
+            if git ls-remote --exit-code origin refs/heads/release/$CHART_VERSION &>/dev/null; then
+              echo "❌ Error: release/$CHART_VERSION already exists — this release may be partially complete"
+              echo "Use force_republish=true to redo it from scratch"
+              exit 1
+            fi
+          fi
+
+          # Create the release branch from the chosen starting point
+          git checkout -b release/$CHART_VERSION $START_POINT
 
-          # Update services versions if provided
+          # Apply services version lock if provided
           if [ "$SERVICES_VERSION" != "" ]; then
             ./lock_versions $SERVICES_VERSION
             git add .
@@ -119,14 +172,23 @@ jobs:
           if ! git diff --staged --quiet; then
             git commit -m "Update Chart version to $CHART_VERSION"
           else
-            echo "No changes to commit for Chart version update"
+            echo "ℹ️  Chart.yaml already at version $CHART_VERSION"
           fi
 
-          git push origin main
+          git push origin release/$CHART_VERSION
+
+          # In normal mode, fast-forward main to include the version bumps.
+          # (Skipped for force_republish: the release branch diverges from main.)
+          if [[ "${{ github.event.inputs.force_republish }}" != "true" ]]; then
+            git push origin release/$CHART_VERSION:main
+          fi
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ steps.bot-token.outputs.token }}
 
       - name: Create GitHub Release
         run: |
           gh release create $CHART_VERSION \
+            --target release/$CHART_VERSION \
             --draft \
             --title "$CHART_VERSION" \
             --generate-notes