diff --git a/.github/workflows/macos.yml b/.github/workflows/macos.yml
index 4de5a710c..4071ccbae 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/macos.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/macos.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ jobs:
   build:
 
     env:
-      PACKAGE: sdformat15
+      PACKAGE: sdformat16
     runs-on: macos-latest
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v3
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index f1eed1eaa..64ce1a08b 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ if(COMMAND CMAKE_POLICY)
   CMAKE_POLICY(SET CMP0004 NEW)
 endif(COMMAND CMAKE_POLICY)
 
-project (sdformat15 VERSION 15.0.0)
+project (sdformat16 VERSION 16.0.0)
 
 # The protocol version has nothing to do with the package version.
 # It represents the current version of SDFormat implemented by the software
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ if (BUILD_SDF)
   gz_configure_project(
     NO_PROJECT_PREFIX
     REPLACE_INCLUDE_PATH sdf
-    VERSION_SUFFIX)
+    VERSION_SUFFIX pre1)
 
   #################################################
   # Find tinyxml2.
diff --git a/Changelog.md b/Changelog.md
index 211119ff2..20a69dfd3 100644
--- a/Changelog.md
+++ b/Changelog.md
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+## libsdformat 16.X
+
+### libsdformat 16.0.0 (20XX-XX-XX)
+
 ## libsdformat 15.X
 
 ### libsdformat 15.0.0 (2024-09-25)
@@ -64,7 +68,7 @@
     * [Pull request #1386](https://github.com/gazebosim/sdformat/pull/1386)
     * [Pull request #1403](https://github.com/gazebosim/sdformat/pull/1403)
 
-1. Copy 1.11 spec to 1.12 for libsdformat15
+1. Copy 1.11 spec to 1.12 for libsdformat16
     * [Pull request #1375](https://github.com/gazebosim/sdformat/pull/1375)
 
 1. Fix find Python3 logic and macOS workflow
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 299292297..f9a47a6d2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ conda install libsdformat=12.5.0 --channel conda-forge
 ## Source Installation
 
 
-**Note:** the `main` branch is under development for `libsdformat15` and is
+**Note:** the `main` branch is under development for `libsdformat16` and is
 currently unstable. A release branch (`sdf12`, `sdf11`, `sdf10`, `sdf9`, etc.)
 is recommended for most users.
 
diff --git a/examples/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/CMakeLists.txt
index b346cb51d..49dbc18f1 100644
--- a/examples/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.22.1 FATAL_ERROR)
 
-find_package(sdformat15 REQUIRED)
+find_package(sdformat16 REQUIRED)
 
 set (CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -std=c++17")
 
diff --git a/package.xml b/package.xml
index 2cfe9abe1..f09bf670c 100644
--- a/package.xml
+++ b/package.xml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?xml version="1.0"?>
 <package format="2">
-  <name>sdformat15</name>
-  <version>15.0.0</version>
+  <name>sdformat16</name>
+  <version>16.0.0</version>
   <description>SDFormat is an XML file format that describes environments, objects, and robots
 in a manner suitable for robotic applications</description>
 
diff --git a/python/test/gz_test_deps/sdformat.py b/python/test/gz_test_deps/sdformat.py
index 5d34df703..11bb9b4f1 100644
--- a/python/test/gz_test_deps/sdformat.py
+++ b/python/test/gz_test_deps/sdformat.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-from sdformat15 import *
+from sdformat16 import *