diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index 47e26a205..9014c4ce2 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -17,6 +17,12 @@ development at the same time, such as 4.5.x and 5.0.
     ..  Version 9.8.1 — 2027-07-27
     ..  --------------------------
 
+Unreleased
+----------
+
+Nothing yet.
+
+
 .. scriv-start-here
 
 .. _changes_7-2-6:
diff --git a/coverage/version.py b/coverage/version.py
index 2818d356b..4cc389866 100644
--- a/coverage/version.py
+++ b/coverage/version.py
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@
 
 # version_info: same semantics as sys.version_info.
 # _dev: the .devN suffix if any.
-version_info = (7, 2, 6, "final", 0)
-_dev = 0
+version_info = (7, 2, 7, "alpha", 0)
+_dev = 1
 
 
 def _make_version(