diff --git a/.VERSION b/.VERSION
index b895cd319..2ea705434 100644
--- a/.VERSION
+++ b/.VERSION
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 $Format:%d%n%n$
 # Fall back version, probably last release:
-2.8.0
+2.9.0
 
 # OpenCoarrays version file. This project uses semantic
 # versioning. For details see http://semver.org