diff --git a/packages/app/HISTORY.rst b/packages/app/HISTORY.rst
index 72090ac4c88..03e6b93bb36 100644
--- a/packages/app/HISTORY.rst
+++ b/packages/app/HISTORY.rst
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@ History
 .. to_doc
 
 ---------------------
-20.5.1.dev0
+20.9.0.dev0
 ---------------------
 
-
+* First release from the 20.09 branch of Galaxy.
 
 ---------------------
 20.5.0 (2020-07-04)
diff --git a/packages/app/galaxy/project_galaxy_app.py b/packages/app/galaxy/project_galaxy_app.py
index 61a6ae88785..a1d9ce5ef84 100644
--- a/packages/app/galaxy/project_galaxy_app.py
+++ b/packages/app/galaxy/project_galaxy_app.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-__version__ = '20.5.1.dev0'
+__version__ = '20.9.0.dev0'
 
 PROJECT_NAME = "galaxy-app"
 PROJECT_OWNER = PROJECT_USERAME = "galaxyproject"