diff --git a/django/__init__.py b/django/__init__.py
index 1b7c96bffdb..7bb46b65699 100644
--- a/django/__init__.py
+++ b/django/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-VERSION = (1, 7, 0, 'alpha', 2)
+VERSION = (1, 8, 0, 'alpha', 0)
 
 
 def get_version(*args, **kwargs):
diff --git a/docs/conf.py b/docs/conf.py
index f10354f244f..30e57aee157 100644
--- a/docs/conf.py
+++ b/docs/conf.py
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ copyright = 'Django Software Foundation and contributors'
 # built documents.
 #
 # The short X.Y version.
-version = '1.7'
+version = '1.8'
 # The full version, including alpha/beta/rc tags.
 try:
     from django import VERSION, get_version
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ else:
     release = django_release()
 
 # The "development version" of Django
-django_next_version = '1.7'
+django_next_version = '1.8'
 
 # The language for content autogenerated by Sphinx. Refer to documentation
 # for a list of supported languages.