diff --git a/DEPRECATED.md b/DEPRECATED.md
index 54acce6fa1119..447a428858709 100644
--- a/DEPRECATED.md
+++ b/DEPRECATED.md
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ As of release 1.3.0, Envoy will follow a
 The following features have been DEPRECATED and will be removed in the specified release cycle.
 A logged warning is expected for each deprecated item that is in deprecation window.
 
+## Version 1.9.0 (pending)
+
 ## Version 1.8.0 (Oct 4, 2018)
 
 * Use of the v1 API (including `*.deprecated_v1` fields in the v2 API) is deprecated.
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 27f9cd322bb91..b57588e592f8b 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.8.0
+1.9.0-dev
diff --git a/docs/root/intro/version_history.rst b/docs/root/intro/version_history.rst
index d8f41be62ba54..af71cce86c77b 100644
--- a/docs/root/intro/version_history.rst
+++ b/docs/root/intro/version_history.rst
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 Version history
 ---------------
 
+1.9.0 (pending)
+===============
+
 1.8.0 (Oct 4, 2018)
 ===================
 * access log: added :ref:`response flag filter <envoy_api_msg_config.filter.accesslog.v2.ResponseFlagFilter>`