diff --git a/django/__init__.py b/django/__init__.py
index 7c6a889907..7f9d9596c6 100644
--- a/django/__init__.py
+++ b/django/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from django.utils.version import get_version
 
-VERSION = (4, 1, 0, "alpha", 0)
+VERSION = (4, 2, 0, "alpha", 0)
 
 __version__ = get_version(VERSION)
 
diff --git a/docs/conf.py b/docs/conf.py
index b32c245c5c..bbb6776592 100644
--- a/docs/conf.py
+++ b/docs/conf.py
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ copyright = "Django Software Foundation and contributors"
 # built documents.
 #
 # The short X.Y version.
-version = "4.1"
+version = "4.2"
 # The full version, including alpha/beta/rc tags.
 try:
     from django import VERSION, get_version
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ else:
     release = django_release()
 
 # The "development version" of Django
-django_next_version = "4.1"
+django_next_version = "4.2"
 
 extlinks = {
     "bpo": ("https://bugs.python.org/issue?@action=redirect&bpo=%s", "bpo-"),