diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 43454a56..12680b1c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -21,13 +21,13 @@ name: Build
 
 jobs:
   build_ubuntu_x86_64:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - name: Build trimAl for Linux x86_64
         run: cd source && make all && file trimal && file readal && file statal && cd .. && tar -cvf source_bin.tar -C source trimal readal statal
       - name: Upload build binaries for Linux x86_64
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v7
         with:
           name: trimal_linux_x86_64
           path: source_bin.tar
@@ -37,9 +37,9 @@ jobs:
 
   build_ubuntu_aarch64:
     if: endsWith(github.head_ref, 'release')
-    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - name: Build trimAl for Linux aarch64
         uses: uraimo/run-on-arch-action@v3
         with:
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ jobs:
           run: |
             cd /trimal/source && make all && file trimal && file readal && file statal && cd .. && tar -cvf source_bin.tar -C source trimal readal statal
       - name: Upload build binaries for Linux aarch64
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v7
         with:
           name: trimal_linux_aarch64
           path: source_bin.tar
@@ -63,10 +63,10 @@ jobs:
           if-no-files-found: error
 
   test_ubuntu_x86_64:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     needs: build_ubuntu_x86_64
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - name: Download build binaries for Linux x86_64
         uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
         with:
@@ -77,10 +77,10 @@ jobs:
 
   test_ubuntu_aarch64:
     if: endsWith(github.head_ref, 'release')
-    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     needs: build_ubuntu_aarch64
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - name: Download build binaries for Linux aarch64
         uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
         with:
@@ -97,12 +97,13 @@ jobs:
           run: tar -xvf source/source_bin.tar -C source && source/trimal && ./scripts/generate_trimmed_msas.sh && ./scripts/compare_trimmed_msas.sh
 
   build_macos:
+    if: endsWith(github.head_ref, 'release')
     strategy:
       matrix:
         version: [macos-14, macos-15-intel]
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.version }}
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - name: Build trimAl for ${{ matrix.version }}
         run: cd source && make all && file trimal && file readal && file statal && cd .. && tar -cvf source_bin.tar -C source trimal readal statal
       - name: Upload build binaries for ${{ matrix.version }}
@@ -115,13 +116,14 @@ jobs:
           if-no-files-found: error
   
   test_macos:
+    if: endsWith(github.head_ref, 'release')
     strategy:
       matrix:
         version: [macos-14, macos-15-intel]
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.version }}
     needs: build_macos
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - name: Download build binaries for ${{ matrix.version }}
         uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
         with:
@@ -133,9 +135,10 @@ jobs:
           ./scripts/generate_trimmed_msas.sh && ./scripts/compare_trimmed_msas.sh
 
   build_windows:
+    if: endsWith(github.head_ref, 'release')
     runs-on: windows-2022
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - name: Set up MSYS2
         uses: msys2/setup-msys2@v2
         with:
@@ -164,10 +167,11 @@ jobs:
           if-no-files-found: error
 
   test_windows:
+    if: endsWith(github.head_ref, 'release')
     runs-on: windows-2022
     needs: build_windows
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - name: Download build binaries for Windows
         uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
         with:
diff --git a/docs/source/conf.py b/docs/source/conf.py
index 6e0012fe..f0f8b2b3 100644
--- a/docs/source/conf.py
+++ b/docs/source/conf.py
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@
 # https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/usage/configuration.html#project-information
 
 project = 'trimAl'
-copyright = '2025, trimAl team'
+copyright = '2026, trimAl team'
 author = 'trimAl team'
-release = '1.5.1'
+release = '1.5.2'
 version = release
 
 # -- General configuration ---------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/docs/source/installation.rst b/docs/source/installation.rst
index ca7ffa5e..57bdf1c3 100644
--- a/docs/source/installation.rst
+++ b/docs/source/installation.rst
@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@ Installation
 *************
 
 
-Version 1.5.1
+Version 1.5.2
 ========================
-The binaries can be downloaded for `Linux <https://github.com/inab/trimal/releases/download/v1.5.1/trimAl_Linux_x86-64.zip>`_,
-`MacOS <https://github.com/inab/trimal/releases/download/v1.5.1/trimAl_MacOS_x86-64.zip>`_ and `Windows <https://github.com/inab/trimal/releases/download/v1.5.1/trimAl_Windows_x86-64.zip>`_. You may also download
-the source code from `Github repository <https://github.com/inab/trimal/releases/tag/v1.5.1>`_ and then compile it yourself.
+The binaries can be downloaded for `Linux <https://github.com/inab/trimal/releases/download/v1.5.2/trimAl_Linux_x86-64.zip>`_,
+`MacOS <https://github.com/inab/trimal/releases/download/v1.5.2/trimAl_MacOS_x86-64.zip>`_ and `Windows <https://github.com/inab/trimal/releases/download/v1.5.2/trimAl_Windows_x86-64.zip>`_. You may also download
+the source code from `Github repository <https://github.com/inab/trimal/releases/tag/v1.5.2>`_ and then compile it yourself.
 The simplest way to compile this package is:
 
   1. Go to the directory containing the package's source code ('source').
diff --git a/source/alignment.cpp b/source/alignment.cpp
index 71b8e08a..1f686220 100644
--- a/source/alignment.cpp
+++ b/source/alignment.cpp
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    trimAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
+    trimAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
                  phylogenetics analyses.
 
-    readAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment conversion among different
+    readAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment conversion among different
                  formats.
 
-    statAl v1.5.1: a tool for getting stats about multiple sequence alignments.
+    statAl v1.5.2: a tool for getting stats about multiple sequence alignments.
 
 
     2009-2020
diff --git a/source/alignment.h b/source/alignment.h
index 517a2d59..1ba372c1 100644
--- a/source/alignment.h
+++ b/source/alignment.h
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    trimAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
+    trimAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
                  phylogenetics analyses.
 
-    readAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment conversion among different
+    readAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment conversion among different
                  formats.
 
     2009-2020
diff --git a/source/autAlignment.cpp b/source/autAlignment.cpp
index 39a3d694..d3923439 100644
--- a/source/autAlignment.cpp
+++ b/source/autAlignment.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    trimAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
+    trimAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
                  phylogenetics analyses.
 
     2009-2020
diff --git a/source/compareFiles.cpp b/source/compareFiles.cpp
index 44aea372..684359cc 100644
--- a/source/compareFiles.cpp
+++ b/source/compareFiles.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    trimAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
+    trimAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
                  phylogenetics analyses.
 
     2009-2020
diff --git a/source/compareFiles.h b/source/compareFiles.h
index a315b88c..fb3adf34 100644
--- a/source/compareFiles.h
+++ b/source/compareFiles.h
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    trimAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
+    trimAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
                  phylogenetics analyses.
 
     2009-2020
diff --git a/source/defines.h b/source/defines.h
index 8596f865..bca53b8f 100644
--- a/source/defines.h
+++ b/source/defines.h
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    trimAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
+    trimAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
                  phylogenetics analyses.
 
-    readAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment conversion among different
+    readAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment conversion among different
                  formats.
 
-    statAl v1.5.1: a tool for getting descriptive alignment features/scores.
+    statAl v1.5.2: a tool for getting descriptive alignment features/scores.
 
     2009-2020
         Fernandez-Rodriguez V.  (victor.fernandez@bsc.es)
diff --git a/source/main.cpp b/source/main.cpp
index b86f8301..7b51c492 100644
--- a/source/main.cpp
+++ b/source/main.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    trimAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
+    trimAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
                  phylogenetics analyses.
 
     2009-2020
diff --git a/source/readAl.cpp b/source/readAl.cpp
index 48d18e37..6f0335cb 100644
--- a/source/readAl.cpp
+++ b/source/readAl.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    readAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment conversion among different
+    readAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment conversion among different
                  formats.
 
     2009-2020
diff --git a/source/rwAlignment.cpp b/source/rwAlignment.cpp
index cf8e9bd2..54de89c6 100644
--- a/source/rwAlignment.cpp
+++ b/source/rwAlignment.cpp
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    trimAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
+    trimAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
                  phylogenetics analyses.
 
-    readAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment conversion among different
+    readAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment conversion among different
                  formats.
 
     2009-2020
@@ -1922,7 +1922,7 @@ bool alignment::alignmentSummaryHTML(char *destFile, int residues, int seqs, \
   /* Print HTML header into output file */
   file << "<!DOCTYPE html>" << endl << "<html><head>" << endl << "    <meta "
     << "http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1\" />"
-    << endl << "    <title>trimAl v1.5.1 Summary</title>" << endl
+    << endl << "    <title>trimAl v1.5.2 Summary</title>" << endl
     << "    <style type=\"text/css\" media=\"all\">" << endl
 
     << "    #b  { background-color: #3366ff; }\n"
@@ -2159,7 +2159,7 @@ bool alignment::alignmentColourHTML(ostream &file) {
   /* Print HTML header into output file */
   file << "<!DOCTYPE html>" << endl << "<html><head>" << endl << "    <meta "
     << "http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1\" />"
-    << endl << "    <title>readAl v1.5.1</title>" << endl
+    << endl << "    <title>readAl v1.5.2</title>" << endl
     << "    <style type=\"text/css\">" << endl
     << "    #b  { background-color: #3366ff; }\n"
     << "    #r  { background-color: #cc0000; }\n"
diff --git a/source/sequencesMatrix.cpp b/source/sequencesMatrix.cpp
index a39a8c98..ed713c7a 100644
--- a/source/sequencesMatrix.cpp
+++ b/source/sequencesMatrix.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    trimAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
+    trimAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
                  phylogenetics analyses.
 
     2009-2020
diff --git a/source/sequencesMatrix.h b/source/sequencesMatrix.h
index 2a8450da..08769468 100644
--- a/source/sequencesMatrix.h
+++ b/source/sequencesMatrix.h
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    trimAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
+    trimAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
                  phylogenetics analyses.
 
     2009-2020
diff --git a/source/similarityMatrix.cpp b/source/similarityMatrix.cpp
index 21849d6b..968e0132 100644
--- a/source/similarityMatrix.cpp
+++ b/source/similarityMatrix.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    trimAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
+    trimAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
                  phylogenetics analyses.
 
     2009-2020
diff --git a/source/similarityMatrix.h b/source/similarityMatrix.h
index ef726933..3fee994d 100644
--- a/source/similarityMatrix.h
+++ b/source/similarityMatrix.h
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    trimAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
+    trimAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
                  phylogenetics analyses.
 
     2009-2020
diff --git a/source/statAl.cpp b/source/statAl.cpp
index 0dbc3059..b7d431a0 100644
--- a/source/statAl.cpp
+++ b/source/statAl.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    statAl v1.5.1: a tool for getting descriptive alignment features/scores.
+    statAl v1.5.2: a tool for getting descriptive alignment features/scores.
 
     2009-2020
         Fernandez-Rodriguez V.  (victor.fernandez@bsc.es)
diff --git a/source/statisticsConservation.cpp b/source/statisticsConservation.cpp
index 03cc5c11..6faba252 100644
--- a/source/statisticsConservation.cpp
+++ b/source/statisticsConservation.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    trimAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
+    trimAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
                  phylogenetics analyses.
 
     2009-2020
diff --git a/source/statisticsConservation.h b/source/statisticsConservation.h
index 9786b036..8c09333e 100644
--- a/source/statisticsConservation.h
+++ b/source/statisticsConservation.h
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    trimAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
+    trimAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
                  phylogenetics analyses.
 
     2009-2020
diff --git a/source/statisticsFiles.cpp b/source/statisticsFiles.cpp
index d0b88d9f..642e145d 100644
--- a/source/statisticsFiles.cpp
+++ b/source/statisticsFiles.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    trimAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
+    trimAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
                  phylogenetics analyses.
 
     2009-2020
diff --git a/source/statisticsFiles.h b/source/statisticsFiles.h
index 8688a065..3985ced6 100644
--- a/source/statisticsFiles.h
+++ b/source/statisticsFiles.h
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    trimAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
+    trimAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
                  phylogenetics analyses.
 
     2009-2020
diff --git a/source/statisticsGaps.cpp b/source/statisticsGaps.cpp
index d31fa684..1e4eb6df 100644
--- a/source/statisticsGaps.cpp
+++ b/source/statisticsGaps.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    trimAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
+    trimAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
                  phylogenetics analyses.
 
     2009-2020
diff --git a/source/statisticsGaps.h b/source/statisticsGaps.h
index e8f5c6e3..2df49ddb 100644
--- a/source/statisticsGaps.h
+++ b/source/statisticsGaps.h
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    trimAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
+    trimAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
                  phylogenetics analyses.
 
     2009-2020
diff --git a/source/utils.cpp b/source/utils.cpp
index 53d40605..18fd51ce 100644
--- a/source/utils.cpp
+++ b/source/utils.cpp
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    trimAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
+    trimAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
                  phylogenetics analyses.
 
-    readAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment conversion among different
+    readAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment conversion among different
                  formats.
 
     2009-2020
diff --git a/source/utils.h b/source/utils.h
index ad493d94..e18645b9 100644
--- a/source/utils.h
+++ b/source/utils.h
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    trimAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
+    trimAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
                  phylogenetics analyses.
 
-    readAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment conversion among different
+    readAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment conversion among different
                  formats.
 
     2009-2020
diff --git a/source/values.h b/source/values.h
index 61ca7a44..a35cec9f 100644
--- a/source/values.h
+++ b/source/values.h
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /* ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
    ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
-    trimAl v1.5.1: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
+    trimAl v1.5.2: a tool for automated alignment trimming in large-scale
                  phylogenetics analyses.
 
     2009-2020