diff --git a/samtranslator/__init__.py b/samtranslator/__init__.py
index 37b7712af..b1867bfc5 100644
--- a/samtranslator/__init__.py
+++ b/samtranslator/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = "1.96.0"
+__version__ = "1.97.0"