diff --git a/docs/manual/manual.md b/docs/manual/manual.md
index a5ae8981b..4ba09f7d0 100644
--- a/docs/manual/manual.md
+++ b/docs/manual/manual.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Home Manager Manual {#home-manager-manual}
 
-## Version 25.11
+## Version 26.05 (unstable)
 
 
 ```{=include=} preface
diff --git a/docs/release-notes/release-notes.md b/docs/release-notes/release-notes.md
index e9c5467e1..c9a40eb38 100644
--- a/docs/release-notes/release-notes.md
+++ b/docs/release-notes/release-notes.md
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ This section lists the release notes for stable versions of Home Manager
 and the current unstable version.
 
 ```{=include=} chapters
+rl-2605.md
 rl-2511.md
 rl-2505.md
 rl-2411.md
diff --git a/docs/release-notes/rl-2605.md b/docs/release-notes/rl-2605.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..eaf4b45af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/release-notes/rl-2605.md
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# Release 26.05 {#sec-release-26.05}
+
+This is the current unstable branch and the information in this
+section is therefore not final.
+
+## Highlights {#sec-release-26.05-highlights}
+
+This release has the following notable changes:
+
+## State Version Changes {#sec-release-26.05-state-version-changes}
+
+The state version in this release includes the changes below. These
+changes are only active if the `home.stateVersion` option is set to
+\"26.05\" or later.
diff --git a/home-manager/home-manager b/home-manager/home-manager
index 5033c7529..c6763cc69 100644
--- a/home-manager/home-manager
+++ b/home-manager/home-manager
@@ -1277,7 +1277,7 @@ while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
             export VERBOSE=1
             ;;
         --version)
-            echo 25.11-pre
+            echo 26.05-pre
             exit 0
             ;;
         *)
diff --git a/modules/misc/version.nix b/modules/misc/version.nix
index dd41fc597..9e9a83cd6 100644
--- a/modules/misc/version.nix
+++ b/modules/misc/version.nix
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ in
         "24.11"
         "25.05"
         "25.11"
+        "26.05"
       ];
       description = ''
         It is occasionally necessary for Home Manager to change
diff --git a/release.json b/release.json
index 923de3c9d..ac3c32e61 100644
--- a/release.json
+++ b/release.json
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "release": "25.11",
+  "release": "26.05",
   "isReleaseBranch": false
 }