diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index e70b4523ae7..24ba9a38de6 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.6.0
+2.7.0
diff --git a/docs/CHANGELOG.md b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
index 469cd0d1686..44d018769ec 100644
--- a/docs/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [dev]
 
+...
+
+## 2.7.0 - UNRELEASED
+
 ### Added
 
 - Added new configuration field named `LeaseDuration` for `EVM.NodePool` that will periodically check if internal subscriptions are connected to the "best" (as defined by the `SelectionMode`) node and switch to it if necessary. Setting this value to `0s` will disable this feature.