diff --git a/argocd/manifests/forgejo-runner/deployment.yaml b/argocd/manifests/forgejo-runner/deployment.yaml
index 28d2c65..9720033 100644
--- a/argocd/manifests/forgejo-runner/deployment.yaml
+++ b/argocd/manifests/forgejo-runner/deployment.yaml
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ spec:
         - name: runner
           image: code.forgejo.org/forgejo/runner:6.3.1
           env:
+            - name: TZ
+              value: America/Los_Angeles
             - name: DOCKER_HOST
               value: tcp://localhost:2375
           command:
diff --git a/docs/changelog.d/fix-runner-timezone.bugfix.md b/docs/changelog.d/fix-runner-timezone.bugfix.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b7bcacb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/changelog.d/fix-runner-timezone.bugfix.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Set Forgejo runner timezone to America/Los_Angeles. The runner previously used UTC, causing towncrier changelog entries to show tomorrow's date when releases were cut in the evening. Note: the v1.6.2 changelog entry shows 2026-02-12 due to this bug; dates may appear non-sequential as a result.