diff --git a/CHANGELOG.rst b/CHANGELOG.rst
index c23828be64..ff118b5090 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.rst
+++ b/CHANGELOG.rst
@@ -3,13 +3,16 @@
 Changelog
 =========
 
-0.5.1-alpha
+0.6.0-alpha
 -----------
-**Date:** TBA
+**Date:** 2018-09-20
 
-[Title]
+Particle Patches Improved, Constant Scalars and Python Containers Fixed
 
-[Summary]
+Scalar records properly support const-ness.
+The Particle Patch load interface was changed, loading now all patches at once, and Python bindings are available.
+Numpy ``dtype`` is now a first-class citizen for Python ``Datatype`` control, being accepted and returned instead of enums.
+Python lifetime in garbage collection for containers such as ``meshes``, ``particles`` and ``iterations`` is now properly implemented.
 
 Changes to "0.5.0-alpha"
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
@@ -30,11 +33,9 @@ Bug Fixes
 """""""""
 
 - dataOrder: mesh attribute is a string #355
-- constant scalar MeshRecords: reading corrected #358
-- particle patches: stricter ``load( idx )`` range check #363
-- Python:
-
-  - lifetime of ``Iteration.meshes/particles`` and ``Series.iterations`` members #354
+- constant scalar Mesh Records: reading corrected #358
+- particle patches: stricter ``load( idx )`` range check #363, then removed in #364
+- Python: lifetime of ``Iteration.meshes/particles`` and ``Series.iterations`` members #354
 
 Other
 """""
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index fa874d5b5d..25c4e1d3ae 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.10.0)
 
-project(openPMD VERSION 0.5.0) # LANGUAGES CXX
+project(openPMD VERSION 0.6.0) # LANGUAGES CXX
 
 # the openPMD "markup"/"schema" standard version
 set(openPMD_STANDARD_VERSION 1.1.0)
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 05711483b2..cd68c0e620 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@ for( auto const& i : s.iterations ) {
 
 [![Python3][api-py3]](https://www.python.org/) ![Python3 API: Alpha][dev-alpha]
 
-[api-py3]: https://img.shields.io/badge/language-Python3-yellow.svg "Python3 API"
+[api-py3]: https://img.shields.io/badge/language-Python3-yellowgreen.svg "Python3 API"
+
 
 ```py
 import openPMD
diff --git a/docs/source/conf.py b/docs/source/conf.py
index 0a42607dc0..4f11fda67e 100644
--- a/docs/source/conf.py
+++ b/docs/source/conf.py
@@ -78,9 +78,9 @@
 # built documents.
 #
 # The short X.Y version.
-version = u'0.5.1'
+version = u'0.6.0'
 # The full version, including alpha/beta/rc tags.
-release = u'0.5.1-dev'
+release = u'0.6.0-alpha'
 
 # The language for content autogenerated by Sphinx. Refer to documentation
 # for a list of supported languages.
diff --git a/docs/source/index.rst b/docs/source/index.rst
index 0321475389..3071dde761 100644
--- a/docs/source/index.rst
+++ b/docs/source/index.rst
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ The supported version of the `openPMD standard <https://github.com/openPMD/openP
 ======================= ===================================
 openPMD-api version     supported openPMD standard versions
 ======================= ===================================
-``0.1.0-0.5.0`` (alpha) ``1.0.0-1.1.0``
+``0.1.0-0.6.0`` (alpha) ``1.0.0-1.1.0``
 ``1.0.0+``              ``1.0.1-1.1.0`` (not released yet)
 ``2.0.0+``              ``2.0.0+``      (not released yet)
 ======================= ===================================
diff --git a/include/openPMD/version.hpp b/include/openPMD/version.hpp
index 046d07dd4e..a079bfb6b9 100644
--- a/include/openPMD/version.hpp
+++ b/include/openPMD/version.hpp
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@
 
 // version of the openPMD-api library
 #define OPENPMDAPI_VERSION_MAJOR 0
-#define OPENPMDAPI_VERSION_MINOR 5
-#define OPENPMDAPI_VERSION_PATCH 1
-#define OPENPMDAPI_VERSION_LABEL "dev"
+#define OPENPMDAPI_VERSION_MINOR 6
+#define OPENPMDAPI_VERSION_PATCH 0
+#define OPENPMDAPI_VERSION_LABEL "alpha"
 
 // maximum supported version of the openPMD standard (read & write)
 #define OPENPMD_STANDARD_MAJOR 1