diff --git a/django/__init__.py b/django/__init__.py
index 5a1c74efa7..d0c5d77bfa 100644
--- a/django/__init__.py
+++ b/django/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-VERSION = (1, 6, 0, 'alpha', 1)
+VERSION = (1, 6, 0, 'beta', 1)
 
 def get_version(*args, **kwargs):
     # Don't litter django/__init__.py with all the get_version stuff.
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 2c64868d00..3abbac8ae7 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ setup(
     package_data=package_data,
     scripts=['django/bin/django-admin.py'],
     classifiers=[
-        'Development Status :: 3 - Alpha',
+        'Development Status :: 4 - Beta',
         'Environment :: Web Environment',
         'Framework :: Django',
         'Intended Audience :: Developers',