diff --git a/doc/APIchanges b/doc/APIchanges
index 081483b130..f3b0c68575 100644
--- a/doc/APIchanges
+++ b/doc/APIchanges
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@ The last version increases of all libraries were on 2025-03-28
 
 API changes, most recent first:
 
+2026-03-07 - xxxxxxxxxx - lavc 62.26.100 - codec_desc.h
+  Add AV_CODEC_PROP_ENHANCEMENT.
+
 2026-03-07 - xxxxxxxxxx - lavc 62.25.100 - avcodec.h
   Deprecate AVCodecContext.intra_dc_precision.
 
diff --git a/libavcodec/allcodecs.c b/libavcodec/allcodecs.c
index ad22162b0e..695214f192 100644
--- a/libavcodec/allcodecs.c
+++ b/libavcodec/allcodecs.c
@@ -28,11 +28,13 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include "config.h"
+#include "libavutil/avassert.h"
 #include "libavutil/thread.h"
 #include "avcodec.h"
 #include "codec.h"
 #include "codec_id.h"
 #include "codec_internal.h"
+#include "codec_desc.h"
 
 extern const FFCodec ff_a64multi_encoder;
 extern const FFCodec ff_a64multi5_encoder;
@@ -1018,6 +1020,7 @@ static enum AVCodecID remap_deprecated_codec_id(enum AVCodecID id)
 static const AVCodec *find_codec(enum AVCodecID id, int (*x)(const AVCodec *))
 {
     const AVCodec *p, *experimental = NULL;
+    av_unused const AVCodecDescriptor *desc = avcodec_descriptor_get(id);
     void *i = 0;
 
     id = remap_deprecated_codec_id(id);
@@ -1026,6 +1029,7 @@ static const AVCodec *find_codec(enum AVCodecID id, int (*x)(const AVCodec *))
         if (!x(p))
             continue;
         if (p->id == id) {
+            av_assert1(!desc || !(desc->props & AV_CODEC_PROP_ENHANCEMENT));
             if (p->capabilities & AV_CODEC_CAP_EXPERIMENTAL && !experimental) {
                 experimental = p;
             } else
diff --git a/libavcodec/codec_desc.h b/libavcodec/codec_desc.h
index 96afd20208..1186433c90 100644
--- a/libavcodec/codec_desc.h
+++ b/libavcodec/codec_desc.h
@@ -96,6 +96,14 @@ typedef struct AVCodecDescriptor {
  */
 #define AV_CODEC_PROP_FIELDS        (1 << 4)
 
+/**
+ * Video codec contains enhancement information meant to be applied to other
+ * existing frames, and can't generate usable image data on its own.
+ * A standalone decoder is unlikely to be available for it and should not
+ * be expected.
+ */
+#define AV_CODEC_PROP_ENHANCEMENT   (1 << 5)
+
 /**
  * Subtitle codec is bitmap based
  * Decoded AVSubtitle data can be read from the AVSubtitleRect->pict field.
diff --git a/libavcodec/version.h b/libavcodec/version.h
index a744e7469f..26ee41eb1f 100644
--- a/libavcodec/version.h
+++ b/libavcodec/version.h
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 
 #include "version_major.h"
 
-#define LIBAVCODEC_VERSION_MINOR  25
+#define LIBAVCODEC_VERSION_MINOR  26
 #define LIBAVCODEC_VERSION_MICRO 100
 
 #define LIBAVCODEC_VERSION_INT  AV_VERSION_INT(LIBAVCODEC_VERSION_MAJOR, \