diff --git a/doc/source/conf.py b/doc/source/conf.py
index 085ed478..7a762ff6 100644
--- a/doc/source/conf.py
+++ b/doc/source/conf.py
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@
 # built documents.
 #
 # The short X.Y version.
-version = '1.17'
+version = '1.18'
 # The full version, including alpha/beta/rc tags.
-release = '1.17.1.dev0'
+release = '1.18.0.dev0'
 
 # The language for content autogenerated by Sphinx. Refer to documentation
 # for a list of supported languages.
diff --git a/doc/source/whatsnew.rst b/doc/source/whatsnew.rst
index e01c8649..cf8d6313 100644
--- a/doc/source/whatsnew.rst
+++ b/doc/source/whatsnew.rst
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@
 What's New
 ======================
 
+v1.18.0.dev0
+============
+
+* WIP
+
 v1.17.1
 =======
 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index e5f824f7..bf0d97e4 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ def has_ext_modules(self):
 
 `Mailing list <https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/python-cffi>`_
 """,
-        version='1.17.1.dev0',
+        version='1.18.0.dev0',
         python_requires='>=3.8',
         packages=['cffi'] if cpython else [],
         package_dir={"": "src"},
diff --git a/src/c/_cffi_backend.c b/src/c/_cffi_backend.c
index c61bcbfa..596fa96f 100644
--- a/src/c/_cffi_backend.c
+++ b/src/c/_cffi_backend.c
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #include <Python.h>
 #include "structmember.h"
 
-#define CFFI_VERSION  "1.17.1.dev0"
+#define CFFI_VERSION  "1.18.0.dev0"
 
 #ifdef MS_WIN32
 #include <windows.h>
diff --git a/src/c/test_c.py b/src/c/test_c.py
index 9a4e19ea..7d9d9265 100644
--- a/src/c/test_c.py
+++ b/src/c/test_c.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ def _capture_unraisable_hook(ur_args):
 # ____________________________________________________________
 
 import sys
-assert __version__ == "1.17.1.dev0", ("This test_c.py file is for testing a version"
+assert __version__ == "1.18.0.dev0", ("This test_c.py file is for testing a version"
                                  " of cffi that differs from the one that we"
                                  " get from 'import _cffi_backend'")
 if sys.version_info < (3,):
diff --git a/src/cffi/__init__.py b/src/cffi/__init__.py
index 96fd67e8..105331d0 100644
--- a/src/cffi/__init__.py
+++ b/src/cffi/__init__.py
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 from .error import CDefError, FFIError, VerificationError, VerificationMissing
 from .error import PkgConfigError
 
-__version__ = "1.17.1.dev0"
-__version_info__ = (1, 17, 1, 'dev0')
+__version__ = "1.18.0.dev0"
+__version_info__ = (1, 18, 0, 'dev0')
 
 # The verifier module file names are based on the CRC32 of a string that
 # contains the following version number.  It may be older than __version__
diff --git a/src/cffi/_embedding.h b/src/cffi/_embedding.h
index 170242db..40b90f2c 100644
--- a/src/cffi/_embedding.h
+++ b/src/cffi/_embedding.h
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ static int _cffi_initialize_python(void)
 
         if (f != NULL && f != Py_None) {
             PyFile_WriteString("\nFrom: " _CFFI_MODULE_NAME
-                               "\ncompiled with cffi version: 1.17.1.dev0"
+                               "\ncompiled with cffi version: 1.18.0.dev0"
                                "\n_cffi_backend module: ", f);
             modules = PyImport_GetModuleDict();
             mod = PyDict_GetItemString(modules, "_cffi_backend");