diff --git a/samtranslator/__init__.py b/samtranslator/__init__.py
index bd41b85a3..10fa444db 100644
--- a/samtranslator/__init__.py
+++ b/samtranslator/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = "1.80.0"
+__version__ = "1.81.0"