diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index f769d499ed1..af51b569704 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.5.0 0.0.devel
+2.6.0devel
diff --git a/lib/ansible/release.py b/lib/ansible/release.py
index e19d40e1f26..6880c992844 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/release.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/release.py
@@ -19,5 +19,5 @@
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
 __metaclass__ = type
 
-__version__ = '2.5.0'
+__version__ = '2.6.0devel'
 __author__ = 'Ansible, Inc.'
diff --git a/packaging/release/vars/versions.yml b/packaging/release/vars/versions.yml
index ef4b941f125..333f2773a9c 100644
--- a/packaging/release/vars/versions.yml
+++ b/packaging/release/vars/versions.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
 versions:
+- "2.6":
+    code_name: "Heartbreaker"
+    releases:
+    - "0": TBD
 - "2.5":
     code_name: "Kashmir"
     releases: