diff --git a/awkward-cpp/pyproject.toml b/awkward-cpp/pyproject.toml
index be03e5e7fa..33a2a24571 100644
--- a/awkward-cpp/pyproject.toml
+++ b/awkward-cpp/pyproject.toml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ build-backend = "scikit_build_core.build"
 
 [project]
 name = "awkward_cpp"
-version = "25"
+version = "26"
 dependencies = [
     "numpy>=1.18.0",
     "importlib_resources;python_version < \"3.9\""