diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 84d35b5..b6b0524 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ on:
 env:
   # Customize the CMake build type here (Release, Debug, RelWithDebInfo, etc.)
   BUILD_TYPE: Release
-  version: osslsigncode-2.5
+  version: osslsigncode-2.6-dev
 
 jobs:
   build:
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 484f142..020f61e 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -10,13 +10,13 @@ set(BUILTIN_SOCKET ON CACHE BOOL "") # for static Python
 
 # configure basic project information
 project(osslsigncode
-  VERSION 2.5
+  VERSION 2.6
   DESCRIPTION "OpenSSL based Authenticode signing for PE, CAB, CAT and MSI files"
   HOMEPAGE_URL "https://github.com/mtrojnar/osslsigncode"
   LANGUAGES C)
 
 # force nonstandard version format for development packages
-set(DEV "")
+set(DEV "-dev")
 set(PROJECT_VERSION "${PROJECT_VERSION_MAJOR}.${PROJECT_VERSION_MINOR}${DEV}")
 
 # version and contact information
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 4d067d4..3beb6a2 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 # osslsigncode change log
 
+### 2.6 (unreleased)
+
 ### 2.5 (2022.08.12)
 
 - fixed the Unix executable install path