diff --git a/ext/json/VERSION b/ext/json/VERSION
index e70b4523ae..6a6a3d8e35 100644
--- a/ext/json/VERSION
+++ b/ext/json/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.6.0
+2.6.1
diff --git a/ext/json/lib/json/version.rb b/ext/json/lib/json/version.rb
index 1bf6a90ac2..35e8dd3252 100644
--- a/ext/json/lib/json/version.rb
+++ b/ext/json/lib/json/version.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: false
 module JSON
   # JSON version
-  VERSION         = '2.6.0'
+  VERSION         = '2.6.1'
   VERSION_ARRAY   = VERSION.split(/\./).map { |x| x.to_i } # :nodoc:
   VERSION_MAJOR   = VERSION_ARRAY[0] # :nodoc:
   VERSION_MINOR   = VERSION_ARRAY[1] # :nodoc: