diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 62f5eb2b61..0a016e46f1 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2026.01
+2026.04-dev
diff --git a/database.sql b/database.sql
index b537f0cf21..209a9068e6 100644
--- a/database.sql
+++ b/database.sql
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 -- ------------------------------------------
--- Friendica 2026.01 (Blutwurz)
+-- Friendica 2026.04-dev (Blutwurz)
 -- DB_UPDATE_VERSION 1586
 -- ------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/src/App.php b/src/App.php
index eb1657856e..9d530d077b 100644
--- a/src/App.php
+++ b/src/App.php
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ class App
 {
 	const PLATFORM = 'Friendica';
 	const CODENAME = 'Blutwurz';
-	const VERSION  = '2026.01';
+	const VERSION  = '2026.04-dev';
 
 	/**
 	 * @internal
diff --git a/view/lang/C/messages.po b/view/lang/C/messages.po
index edc20183fb..0a672a1782 100644
--- a/view/lang/C/messages.po
+++ b/view/lang/C/messages.po
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 #, fuzzy
 msgid ""
 msgstr ""
-"Project-Id-Version: 2026.01\n"
+"Project-Id-Version: 2026.04-dev\n"
 "Report-Msgid-Bugs-To: \n"
 "POT-Creation-Date: 2026-01-04 20:49+0100\n"
 "PO-Revision-Date: YEAR-MO-DA HO:MI+ZONE\n"