diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
index 34d7b40a88..501aa6784a 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -5,6 +5,6 @@
 - [ ] Changes has been tested on an Android device or Android emulator with API 21
 - [ ] UI change has been tested on both light and dark themes
 - [ ] Pull request is based on the develop branch
-- [ ] Pull request updates [CHANGES.md](https://github.com/vector-im/element-android/blob/develop/CHANGES.md)
+- [ ] Pull request includes a new file under ./newsfragment. See https://github.com/vector-im/element-android/blob/develop/CONTRIBUTING.md#changelog
 - [ ] Pull request includes screenshots or videos if containing UI changes
 - [ ] Pull request includes a [sign off](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md#sign-off)
diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index a28b84410e..97beae1dbe 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -1379,36 +1379,3 @@ Changes in RiotX 0.1.0 (2019-07-11)
 First release!
 
 Mode details here: https://medium.com/@RiotChat/introducing-the-riotx-beta-for-android-b17952e8f771
-
-
-=======================================================
-+        TEMPLATE WHEN PREPARING A NEW RELEASE        +
-=======================================================
-
-
-Changes in Element 1.1.X (2021-XX-XX)
-===================================================
-
-Features ✨:
- -
-
-Improvements 🙌:
- -
-
-Bugfix 🐛:
- -
-
-Translations 🗣:
- -
-
-SDK API changes ⚠️:
- - 
-
-Build 🧱:
- -
-
-Test:
- -
-
-Other changes:
- -
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index dd32991051..4b61777d3f 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -51,9 +51,21 @@ If an issue does not exist yet, it may be relevant to open a new issue and let u
 
 This project is full Kotlin. Please do not write Java classes.
 
-### CHANGES.md
+### Changelog
 
-Please add a line to the top of the file `CHANGES.md` describing your change.
+Please create at least one file under ./newsfragment containing details about your change. Towncrier will be used when preparing the release.
+
+Towncrier says to use the PR number for the filename, but the issue number is also fine.
+
+Supported filename extensions are:
+
+- ``.feature``: Signifying a new feature in Element Android or in the Matrix SDK.
+- ``.bugfix``: Signifying a bug fix.
+- ``.doc``: Signifying a documentation improvement.
+- ``.removal``: Signifying a deprecation or removal of public API. Can be used to notifying about API change in the Matrix SDK
+- ``.misc``: A ticket has been closed, but it is not of interest to users. Note that in this case, the content of the file will not be output, but just the issue/PR number.
+
+See https://github.com/twisted/towncrier#news-fragments if you need more details.
 
 ### Code quality
 
diff --git a/newsfragment/3293.misc b/newsfragment/3293.misc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..66de1440e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/newsfragment/3293.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Setup towncrier tool
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tools/towncrier/template.md b/tools/towncrier/template.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fd160682b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/towncrier/template.md
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+{% if top_line %}
+{{ top_line }}
+{{ top_underline * ((top_line)|length)}}
+{% elif versiondata.name %}
+{{ versiondata.name }} {{ versiondata.version }} ({{ versiondata.date }})
+{{ top_underline * ((versiondata.name + versiondata.version + versiondata.date)|length + 4)}}
+{% else %}
+{{ versiondata.version }} ({{ versiondata.date }})
+{{ top_underline * ((versiondata.version + versiondata.date)|length + 3)}}
+{% endif %}
+{% for section, _ in sections.items() %}
+{% set underline = underlines[0] %}{% if section %}{{section}}
+{{ underline * section|length }}{% set underline = underlines[1] %}
+{% endif %}
+
+{% if sections[section] %}
+{% for category, val in definitions.items() if category in sections[section]%}
+{% if definitions[category]['name'] == "Features" %}
+Features ✨:
+{% elif definitions[category]['name'] == "Bugfixes" %}
+Bugfixes 🐛:
+{% elif definitions[category]['name'] == "Deprecations and Removals" %}
+SDK API changes ⚠️:
+{% elif definitions[category]['name'] == "Improved Documentation" %}
+Improved Documentation 📚:
+{% elif definitions[category]['name'] == "Misc" %}
+Other changes:
+{% else %}
+{{ definitions[category]['name'] }}
+{% endif %}
+{% if definitions[category]['showcontent'] %}
+{% for text, values in sections[section][category].items() %}
+ - {{ text }} ({{ values|join(', ') }})
+{% endfor %}
+{% else %}
+ - {{ sections[section][category]['']|join(', ') }}
+{% endif %}
+{% if sections[section][category]|length == 0 %}
+No significant changes.
+{% else %}
+{% endif %}
+
+{% endfor %}
+{% else %}
+No significant changes.
+{% endif %}
+{% endfor %}
diff --git a/tools/travis/check_pr.sh b/tools/travis/check_pr.sh
index 4c0d9611f0..b797244e55 100755
--- a/tools/travis/check_pr.sh
+++ b/tools/travis/check_pr.sh
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ branch=${TRAVIS_BRANCH}
 # If not on develop, exit, else we cannot get the list of modified files
 # It is ok to check only when on develop branch
 if [[ "${branch}" -eq 'develop' ]]; then
-    echo "Check that the file 'CHANGES.md' has been modified"
+    echo "Check that a file has been added to /newsfragment"
 else
     echo "Not on develop branch"
     exit 0
@@ -37,9 +37,9 @@ listOfModifiedFiles=`git diff --name-only HEAD ${branch}`
 # echo ${listOfModifiedFiles}
 
 
-if [[ ${listOfModifiedFiles} = *"CHANGES.md"* ]]; then
-  echo "CHANGES.md has been modified!"
+if [[ ${listOfModifiedFiles} = *"newsfragment"* ]]; then
+  echo "A file has been added to /newsfragment!"
 else
-  echo "❌ Please add a line describing your change in CHANGES.md"
+  echo "❌ Please add a file describing your changes in /newsfragment. See https://github.com/vector-im/element-android/blob/develop/CONTRIBUTING.md#changelog"
   exit 1
 fi
diff --git a/towncrier.toml b/towncrier.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..09a927b77f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/towncrier.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+[tool.towncrier]
+directory = "newsfragment"
+filename = "CHANGES.md"
+name = "Changes in Element"
+# Note: there is a bug, if I use title_format, the title is printed twice
+# title_format = "Changes in Element {version} ({project_date})"
+template="tools/towncrier/template.md"