diff --git a/HISTORY.md b/HISTORY.md
index 8ad3da3..4cc21fe 100644
--- a/HISTORY.md
+++ b/HISTORY.md
@@ -1,3 +1,13 @@
+### Version 1.9.0
+
+#### New features
+
+This release improves the architecture of the models API, decoupling model repositories from devtools and adding a CLI. The improvements should all be backwards-compatible.
+
+This release also contains an experimental programs API that can be used to inspect available versions of MODFLOW 6 and related programs, and help with installs, as well as an experimental redesign of the MF6 DFN specification file utilities.
+
+The aim here is to unify this project's ecosystem management utilities with consistent design and UX once we reach version 2. No breaking changes (and new stuff will stay experimental) for the remainder of 1.x.
+
 ### Version 1.8.0
 
 #### New features
diff --git a/docs/conf.py b/docs/conf.py
index d5a8178..23d69d2 100644
--- a/docs/conf.py
+++ b/docs/conf.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 project = "modflow-devtools"
 author = "MODFLOW Team"
-release = "1.9.0.dev0"
+release = "1.10.0.dev0"
 
 # -- General configuration ---------------------------------------------------
 # https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/usage/configuration.html#general-configuration
diff --git a/modflow_devtools/__init__.py b/modflow_devtools/__init__.py
index 2993d28..9ccc4e8 100644
--- a/modflow_devtools/__init__.py
+++ b/modflow_devtools/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 __author__ = "Joseph D. Hughes"
-__date__ = "Oct 29, 2025"
-__version__ = "1.9.0.dev0"
+__date__ = "Mar 03, 2026"
+__version__ = "1.10.0.dev0"
 __maintainer__ = "Joseph D. Hughes"
 __email__ = "jdhughes@usgs.gov"
 __status__ = "Production"
diff --git a/version.txt b/version.txt
index a01f4f3..6b9f30b 100644
--- a/version.txt
+++ b/version.txt
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.9.0.dev0
\ No newline at end of file
+1.10.0.dev0
\ No newline at end of file