diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 002a3dcdb0..8837928358 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ dnl You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
 dnl License along with this library.  If not, see
 dnl <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-AC_INIT([libvirt], [6.0.0], [libvir-list@redhat.com], [], [https://libvirt.org])
+AC_INIT([libvirt], [6.1.0], [libvir-list@redhat.com], [], [https://libvirt.org])
 
 if test $srcdir = "."
 then
diff --git a/docs/news.xml b/docs/news.xml
index 731f010297..056c7ef026 100644
--- a/docs/news.xml
+++ b/docs/news.xml
@@ -42,6 +42,14 @@
      -->
 
 <libvirt>
+  <release version="v6.1.0" date="unreleased">
+    <section title="New features">
+    </section>
+    <section title="Improvements">
+    </section>
+    <section title="Bug fixes">
+    </section>
+  </release>
   <release version="v6.0.0" date="2020-01-15">
     <section title="Packaging changes">
       <change>