diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e7e6b915c..2f63ca178 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+## Next version (Unreleased)
+
+FEATURES:
+
+IMPROVEMENTS:
+
+BUG FIXES:
+
 ## 1.9.6 (June 28, 2017)
 
 IMPROVEMENTS:
diff --git a/version.txt b/version.txt
index 7bc1c4047..ccc619020 100644
--- a/version.txt
+++ b/version.txt
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.9.6
+1.9.7.dev