diff --git a/django/__init__.py b/django/__init__.py
index 6a627d93ca..d0f42e562a 100644
--- a/django/__init__.py
+++ b/django/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-VERSION = (1, 0, 'alpha_2')
+VERSION = (1, 0, 'beta_1')
 
 def get_version():
     "Returns the version as a human-format string."