diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index e2484046d8..8385a97b5a 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -28,6 +28,10 @@ OpenSSL Releases
 OpenSSL 3.5
 -----------
 
+### Changes between 3.5 and 3.6 [xx XXX xxxx]
+
+ * none yet
+
 ### Changes between 3.4 and 3.5 [xx XXX xxxx]
 
 * Added server side support for QUIC
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 0bbfec0c0a..0c74a8bc62 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ OpenSSL Releases
 OpenSSL 3.5
 -----------
 
+### Major changes between OpenSSL 3.5 and OpenSSL 3.6 [under development]
+
+  * none
+
 ### Major changes between OpenSSL 3.4 and OpenSSL 3.5 [under development]
 
 OpenSSL 3.5.0 is a feature release adding significant new functionality to
diff --git a/VERSION.dat b/VERSION.dat
index 281d284b7f..7c604defb1 100644
--- a/VERSION.dat
+++ b/VERSION.dat
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 MAJOR=3
-MINOR=5
+MINOR=6
 PATCH=0
 PRE_RELEASE_TAG=dev
 BUILD_METADATA=