diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index a196332da..995a37e2c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -138,8 +138,8 @@ jobs:
       run: |
         cd sc
         git fetch --tags
-        # git checkout v2.8.5
-        git checkout -b test-branch 6ea37fc09367d99382e7250798771ad3b63442e5
+        git checkout v2.8.6
+        # git checkout -b test-branch 2c1496904c485d4ca6f844c396b32f608b72438c
 
     - name: Run bootstrap script
       run: ./bootstrap
diff --git a/config/p4est_soversion.in b/config/p4est_soversion.in
index 68a68b634..b7f0269da 100644
--- a/config/p4est_soversion.in
+++ b/config/p4est_soversion.in
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@
 
 # This file is included by src/Makefile.am and parsed by cmake/config.cmake.
 
-P4EST_SOVERSION = 2:0:0
+P4EST_SOVERSION = 3:0:0
diff --git a/doc/release_notes.txt b/doc/release_notes.txt
index 1ea7598ef..dd9301be0 100644
--- a/doc/release_notes.txt
+++ b/doc/release_notes.txt
@@ -9,16 +9,16 @@
    the next release version.  Please also note if there have been A*I
    extensions, in which case we'll bump the libtool minor version.
 
-## 2.9
-
-This release will be considered stable and long-time supported.
-
 ## 2.8.6
 
-This is the upcoming release with lots of small additions throughout.
+There have been breaking changes, very strictly speaking.
 
 ### Build system
 
+ - Bump libsc under subdirectory sc/ to v2.8.6.
+ - Bump libtool library version of p4est and libsc to 3:0:0.
+ - Enhance CMake build script in accordance with changes under sc/.
+
 ### Documentation
 
  - Create a page of examples for users to get familiar with the software.
diff --git a/sc b/sc
index 6ea37fc09..2c1496904 160000
--- a/sc
+++ b/sc
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 6ea37fc09367d99382e7250798771ad3b63442e5
+Subproject commit 2c1496904c485d4ca6f844c396b32f608b72438c