diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index ec6574a41d9..26512c7c019 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+Release 8.0.1 (in development)
+==============================
+
+Bugs fixed
+----------
+
+
 Release 8.0.0 (released Jul 29, 2024)
 =====================================
 
diff --git a/sphinx/__init__.py b/sphinx/__init__.py
index c95734fb2ca..5a545b4e5e2 100644
--- a/sphinx/__init__.py
+++ b/sphinx/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """The Sphinx documentation toolchain."""
 
-__version__ = '8.0.0'
+__version__ = '8.0.1'
 __display_version__ = __version__  # used for command line version
 
 # Keep this file executable as-is in Python 3!
@@ -27,11 +27,11 @@
 #:
 #: .. versionadded:: 1.2
 #:    Before version 1.2, check the string ``sphinx.__version__``.
-version_info = (8, 0, 0, 'final', 0)
+version_info = (8, 0, 1, 'beta', 0)
 
 package_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
 
-_in_development = False
+_in_development = True
 if _in_development:
     # Only import subprocess if needed
     import subprocess