diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index da1b51944..7b35b3f26 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ Changelog
 Starting with version 1.8.0, pybind11 releases use a `semantic versioning
 <http://semver.org>`_ policy.
 
+v2.6.1 (TBA, not yet released)
+------------------------------
+
+* Details to follow here
+
 v2.6.0 (Oct 21, 2020)
 ---------------------
 
diff --git a/docs/release.rst b/docs/release.rst
index f73c4ac96..43f502a15 100644
--- a/docs/release.rst
+++ b/docs/release.rst
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ To release a new version of pybind11:
 
 - Get back to work
   - Make sure you are on master, not somewhere else: ``git checkout master``
-  - Update version macros in ``include/pybind11/common.h`` (set PATCH to
+  - Update version macros in ``include/pybind11/detail/common.h`` (set PATCH to
     ``0.dev1`` and increment MINOR).
   - Update ``_version.py`` to match
   - Add a plot for in-development updates in ``docs/changelog.rst``.
diff --git a/include/pybind11/detail/common.h b/include/pybind11/detail/common.h
index 61fc89259..5ca44f77d 100644
--- a/include/pybind11/detail/common.h
+++ b/include/pybind11/detail/common.h
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
 #define PYBIND11_VERSION_MAJOR 2
 #define PYBIND11_VERSION_MINOR 6
-#define PYBIND11_VERSION_PATCH 0
+#define PYBIND11_VERSION_PATCH 1.dev1
 
 #define PYBIND11_NAMESPACE_BEGIN(name) namespace name {
 #define PYBIND11_NAMESPACE_END(name) }
diff --git a/pybind11/_version.py b/pybind11/_version.py
index 9d4c54716..950a500ed 100644
--- a/pybind11/_version.py
+++ b/pybind11/_version.py
@@ -8,5 +8,5 @@ def _to_int(s):
         return s
 
 
-__version__ = "2.6.0"
+__version__ = "2.6.1.dev1"
 version_info = tuple(_to_int(s) for s in __version__.split("."))