diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 28ca9ee46a..ac74b3aac3 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+## Changes in 3.9.6
+xxxx-xx-xx
+
+- Bug fixes / improvements:
+
+
 ## Changes in 3.9.5
 2023-11-12
 
diff --git a/Version.txt b/Version.txt
index 9b3cbb0a3e..b0c752dcc3 100644
--- a/Version.txt
+++ b/Version.txt
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@
 # GEOS Versions
 GEOS_VERSION_MAJOR=3
 GEOS_VERSION_MINOR=9
-GEOS_VERSION_PATCH=5
+GEOS_VERSION_PATCH=6
 
 # OPTIONS: "", "dev", "rc1" etc.
-GEOS_PATCH_WORD=
+GEOS_PATCH_WORD=dev
 
 # GEOS CAPI Versions
 #
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ GEOS_PATCH_WORD=
 #   ( THIS MUST BE CAREFULLY AVOIDED )
 #
 CAPI_INTERFACE_CURRENT=15
-CAPI_INTERFACE_REVISION=5
+CAPI_INTERFACE_REVISION=6
 CAPI_INTERFACE_AGE=14
 
 # JTS Port