diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index dc1e644a1014338ad0ca67b5c0bfbd2402e761ee..bd8bf882d06184bb54615a59477e3c5e35f522fc 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.6.0
+1.7.0
diff --git a/doc/changelog.rst b/doc/changelog.rst
index 58ce40d6a8fc68c628afe326e34655ca9d14afc4..90d5083aa8e771d8a3f19ac352baf3aebfcccb59 100644
--- a/doc/changelog.rst
+++ b/doc/changelog.rst
@@ -4,6 +4,18 @@ Release Notes
 unreleased
 ----------
 
+- **Bug fixes**
+
+
+- **Improvements**
+
+
+- **New Features**
+
+
+1.7.0
+-----
+
 - **Bug fixes**
 
     - fix :issue:`61` regarding sign of XAS in some cases :mr:`207`