diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 772830f8c..4da4e59ae 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,3 +1,13 @@
+## Changes in 3.12.0
+xxxx-xx-xx
+
+- New things:
+  -
+
+- Fixes/Improvements:
+  -
+
+
 ## Changes in 3.11.0
 2022-07-01
 
diff --git a/Version.txt b/Version.txt
index 561341981..4dc44d71a 100644
--- a/Version.txt
+++ b/Version.txt
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 
 # GEOS Versions
 GEOS_VERSION_MAJOR=3
-GEOS_VERSION_MINOR=11
+GEOS_VERSION_MINOR=12
 GEOS_VERSION_PATCH=0
 
 # OPTIONS: "", "dev", "rc1" etc.
-GEOS_PATCH_WORD=
+GEOS_PATCH_WORD=dev
 
 # GEOS CAPI Versions
 #
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ GEOS_PATCH_WORD=
 # - Deleting interfaces / compatibility issues - bump CURRENT, others to zero
 #   ( THIS MUST BE CAREFULLY AVOIDED )
 #
-CAPI_INTERFACE_CURRENT=18
+CAPI_INTERFACE_CURRENT=19
 CAPI_INTERFACE_REVISION=0
-CAPI_INTERFACE_AGE=17
+CAPI_INTERFACE_AGE=18
 
 # JTS Port
 JTS_PORT=1.18.0