diff --git a/data/gala.metainfo.xml.in b/data/gala.metainfo.xml.in
index 4aaee6ea8..f950bc072 100644
--- a/data/gala.metainfo.xml.in
+++ b/data/gala.metainfo.xml.in
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
   <update_contact>contact_at_elementary.io</update_contact>
 
   <releases>
-      <release version="8.0.5" date="2024-12-18" urgency="medium">
+      <release version="8.1.0" date="2025-01-11" urgency="medium">
       <description>
         <p>Improvements:</p>
         <ul>
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 4f27c8e18..ff396a0d5 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 project('gala',
     'c', 'vala',
-    version: '8.0.4',
+    version: '8.1.0',
     meson_version: '>= 0.59.0',
     license: 'GPL3',
 )