diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index 8f6228c388..c6bc384663 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 ChangeLog :
 ===========
 
+2023/05/31 : 2.9-dev0
+    - MINOR: version: mention that it's development again
+
 2023/05/31 : 2.8.0
     - MINOR: compression: Improve the way Vary header is added
     - BUILD: makefile: search for SSL_INC/wolfssl before SSL_INC
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 834f262953..caf6be8488 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.8.0
+2.9-dev0
diff --git a/doc/configuration.txt b/doc/configuration.txt
index 4bc0e40b96..adcd004144 100644
--- a/doc/configuration.txt
+++ b/doc/configuration.txt
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
                                 HAProxy
                           Configuration Manual
                          ----------------------
-                              version 2.8
+                              version 2.9
                               2023/05/31
 
 
diff --git a/doc/intro.txt b/doc/intro.txt
index a3d1c31a8d..f4133a107b 100644
--- a/doc/intro.txt
+++ b/doc/intro.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
                              -----------------------
                               HAProxy Starter Guide
                              -----------------------
-                                   version 2.8
+                                   version 2.9
 
 
 This document is an introduction to HAProxy for all those who don't know it, as
diff --git a/doc/management.txt b/doc/management.txt
index e22e301348..29147c778d 100644
--- a/doc/management.txt
+++ b/doc/management.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
                              ------------------------
                              HAProxy Management Guide
                              ------------------------
-                                   version 2.8
+                                   version 2.9
 
 
 This document describes how to start, stop, manage, and troubleshoot HAProxy,
diff --git a/include/haproxy/version.h b/include/haproxy/version.h
index 0e5c32ce80..9e349b7219 100644
--- a/include/haproxy/version.h
+++ b/include/haproxy/version.h
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 #ifdef  CONFIG_PRODUCT_BRANCH
 #define PRODUCT_BRANCH    CONFIG_PRODUCT_BRANCH
 #else
-#define PRODUCT_BRANCH   "2.8"
+#define PRODUCT_BRANCH   "2.9"
 #endif
 
 #ifdef  CONFIG_PRODUCT_STATUS