diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index f485e2cf61..dd1205e158 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+Release 2.5.16.0 (Oct 1?, 2024) -- compared to 2.5.15.0
+--------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
 Release 2.5.15.0 (Sep 1, 2024) -- compared to 2.5.14.0
 --------------------------------------------------------
 - *ffmpeg*: Add proper detection of new FFmpeg versions [#4394](https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/OpenImageIO/pull/4394) (by Darby Johnston)
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index bb5742545a..e98a95d311 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 cmake_minimum_required (VERSION 3.15)
 
-set (OpenImageIO_VERSION "2.5.15.0")
+set (OpenImageIO_VERSION "2.5.16.0")
 set (OpenImageIO_VERSION_OVERRIDE "" CACHE STRING
      "Version override (use with caution)!")
 mark_as_advanced (OpenImageIO_VERSION_OVERRIDE)