Messages sent to new imessage groups will not send

Just upgraded to iOS 26.1.

When I create a new group to send a message to, I get a "Cannot send message. iMessage needs to be enabled to send this message"

iMessage IS turned on.

If I response to an already created group, it works fine.

I turned imessages off then on and it connected to the network fine.

Rebooted my phone - no change.

Tried the stuff on the support page - no help.

Ugh...

Any ideas from anyone on this? Thanks