diff --git a/docs/release-notes.md b/docs/release-notes.md
index e53169b83..400efc971 100644
--- a/docs/release-notes.md
+++ b/docs/release-notes.md
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 ## Next release
 
+## 0.26.0
+
 * Separate error handling for validation errors.
     * This will allow developers to customize the exception handlers.
     * Document better how to handle exceptions and use error handlers.
diff --git a/fastapi/__init__.py b/fastapi/__init__.py
index f240125c7..85b0fe560 100644
--- a/fastapi/__init__.py
+++ b/fastapi/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """FastAPI framework, high performance, easy to learn, fast to code, ready for production"""
 
-__version__ = "0.25.0"
+__version__ = "0.26.0"
 
 from starlette.background import BackgroundTasks