diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 78fe71153..aebc71f7a 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.2.5-dev
+0.2.6-dev
diff --git a/cmd/version/version.go b/cmd/version/version.go
index 1b90b8bd7..952fdb6b8 100644
--- a/cmd/version/version.go
+++ b/cmd/version/version.go
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ package version
 
 var (
 	// Version of the product
-	Version = "0.2.5"
+	Version = "0.2.6"
 	// PreRelease is set during the build
 	PreRelease = ""
 	// GitCommit is set during the build
diff --git a/packaging/common.mk b/packaging/common.mk
index a1de72cb1..41f6bbf38 100644
--- a/packaging/common.mk
+++ b/packaging/common.mk
@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@ ARCH=$(shell uname -m)
 GO_VERSION:=1.18.3
 PLATFORM=cri-dockerd
 SHELL:=/bin/bash
-VERSION?=0.2.5-dev
+VERSION?=0.2.6-dev
 
 export PLATFORM