diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index b88f1b4..58414fa 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+1.9.0
+
+  *
+
 1.8.0
 
   * Add GTK3 support
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 8fad2d9..0fed807 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 m4_define([gt_version_major],[1])
-m4_define([gt_version_minor],[8])
+m4_define([gt_version_minor],[9])
 m4_define([gt_version_micro],[0])
 m4_define([gt_version_extra],[])
 m4_define([gt_version],[gt_version_major().gt_version_minor().gt_version_micro()gt_version_extra])