diff --git a/NEWS.rst b/NEWS.rst
index 1663d11af7..7baf742e03 100644
--- a/NEWS.rst
+++ b/NEWS.rst
@@ -8,6 +8,16 @@ the changes introduced by each of them.
 For a more fine-grained view, use the `git log`_.
 
 
+v6.6.0 (unreleased)
+===================
+
+* **New features**
+
+* **Improvements**
+
+* **Bug fixes**
+
+
 v6.5.0 (2020-07-03)
 ===================
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 6c8ac2f04b..79055db9b1 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], [6.5.0], [libvir-list@redhat.com], [], [https://libvirt.org])
+AC_INIT([libvirt], [6.6.0], [libvir-list@redhat.com], [], [https://libvirt.org])
 
 if test $srcdir = "."
 then