diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index bc80560fad66ca670bdfbd1e5c973a024d4d0325..dc1e644a1014338ad0ca67b5c0bfbd2402e761ee 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.5.0
+1.6.0
diff --git a/doc/changelog.rst b/doc/changelog.rst
index 9cba96d6ce89fca15f957035c6993d881231996a..c7d7dc967ed299fd2fdff6b03f4e16df88eb1ac2 100644
--- a/doc/changelog.rst
+++ b/doc/changelog.rst
@@ -4,6 +4,18 @@ Release Notes
 unreleased
 ----------
 
+- **Bug fixes**
+
+
+- **Improvements**
+
+
+- **New Features**
+
+
+1.6.0
+-----
+
 - **Bug fixes**
 
     - fix :issue:`45` SLURM scripts embedded in and download link available