diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index c8c65807c..f99447672 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,13 @@
+# 2026-02-XX
+
+## conduwuit has been removed from the playbook
+
+[conduwuit](./docs/configuring-playbook-conduwuit.md) has been removed from the playbook, as it has been abandoned.
+
+The playbook will let you know if you're using any `matrix_conduwuit_*` variables. You'll need to remove them from `vars.yml` and potentially [uninstall the service manually](./docs/configuring-playbook-conduwuit.md#uninstalling-the-service-manually).
+
+Since [Continuwuity](configuring-playbook-continuwuity.md) is a drop-in replacement for conduwuit, migration is possible. Please refer to [this section](./configuring-playbook-continuwuity.md#migrating-from-conduwuit) for details.
+
 # 2026-02-09
 
 ## (BC Break) matrix-media-repo datastore IDs are now required in `vars.yml`
diff --git a/roles/custom/matrix-continuwuity/tasks/migrate_from_conduwuit.yml b/roles/custom/matrix-continuwuity/tasks/migrate_from_conduwuit.yml
index bd2eda127..dd967b255 100644
--- a/roles/custom/matrix-continuwuity/tasks/migrate_from_conduwuit.yml
+++ b/roles/custom/matrix-continuwuity/tasks/migrate_from_conduwuit.yml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 - name: Check existence of conduwuit directory
   ansible.builtin.stat:
     path: "{{ matrix_base_data_path }}/conduwuit"
-  register: matrix_conduwuit_directory_stat
+  register: matrix_removed_conduwuit_directory_stat
 
 - name: Check existence of continuwuity directory
   ansible.builtin.stat:
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
   register: matrix_continuwuity_directory_stat
 
 - when: >
-        matrix_conduwuit_directory_stat.stat.exists | bool and
+        matrix_removed_conduwuit_directory_stat.stat.exists | bool and
         matrix_continuwuity_directory_stat.stat.exists | bool
   block:
     - name: Ensure matrix-continuwuity.service systemd service is stopped
diff --git a/roles/custom/matrix_playbook_migration/tasks/validate_config.yml b/roles/custom/matrix_playbook_migration/tasks/validate_config.yml
index 0598279a3..bb3f96895 100644
--- a/roles/custom/matrix_playbook_migration/tasks/validate_config.yml
+++ b/roles/custom/matrix_playbook_migration/tasks/validate_config.yml
@@ -595,6 +595,18 @@
       The following variables in your configuration need to be renamed: {{ lookup('ansible.builtin.varnames', '^matrix_client_cinny_.+', wantlist=True) | join(', ') }}
   when: "lookup('ansible.builtin.varnames', '^matrix_client_cinny_.+', wantlist=True) | length > 0"
 
+- name: (Deprecation) Catch and report matrix-conduwuit variables
+  ansible.builtin.fail:
+    msg: |-
+      matrix-conduwuit was completely removed from the playbook in February 2026.
+
+      Please remove all `matrix_conduwuit*` variables from your configuration file (vars.yml).
+
+      You may wish to migrate to Continuwuity, a drop-in replacement for conduwuit. See `docs/configuring-playbook-continuwuity.md` for more information.
+
+      The following variables in your configuration need to be removed: {{ lookup('ansible.builtin.varnames', '^matrix_conduwuit.+', wantlist=True) | join(', ') }}
+  when: "lookup('ansible.builtin.varnames', '^matrix_conduwuit.+', wantlist=True) | length > 0"
+
 - name: (Deprecation) Catch and report matrix-dynamic-dns variables
   ansible.builtin.fail:
     msg: |-