diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index ec1cf33c..24ba9a38 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.6.3
+2.7.0
diff --git a/lib/json/version.rb b/lib/json/version.rb
index 3d4326d8..c0379d8a 100644
--- a/lib/json/version.rb
+++ b/lib/json/version.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: false
 module JSON
   # JSON version
-  VERSION         = '2.6.3'
+  VERSION         = '2.7.0'
   VERSION_ARRAY   = VERSION.split(/\./).map { |x| x.to_i } # :nodoc:
   VERSION_MAJOR   = VERSION_ARRAY[0] # :nodoc:
   VERSION_MINOR   = VERSION_ARRAY[1] # :nodoc: