diff --git a/HISTORY.md b/HISTORY.md
index 8ad3da3d..4cc21fe1 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 d5a81785..23d69d2b 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 2993d280..9ccc4e8b 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 a01f4f36..6b9f30b5 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