diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
index cdda5439a8..5c4582f720 100644
--- a/.github/pull_request_template.md
+++ b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ Resolves #
 
 ## Target Release
 
-1.8.0
+1.9.0
 
 ## Checklist
 
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ba24ae27af..50439e0f54 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,44 +1,18 @@
-## 1.8.0 (Unreleased)
+## 1.9.0 (Unreleased)
 
 UPGRADE NOTES:
-* BREAKING CHANGE - `use_legacy_workflow` field has been removing from the S3 backend configuration. ([#1730](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1730))
-* SECURITY - Bump github.com/hashicorp/go-getter to fix CVE-2024-6257, may cause performance hit for large modules ([#1751](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1751))
 
 NEW FEATURES:
-* Added support for `override_resource`, `override_data` and `override_module` blocks in testing framework. ([#1499](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1499))
-* Variables and Locals allowed in module sources and backend configurations (with limitations) ([#1718](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1718))
-* Added support to new .tofu extensions to allow tofu-specific overrides of .tf files ([#1738](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1738))
-* Added support for `mock_provider`, `mock_resource` and `mock_data` blocks in testing framework. ([#1772](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1772))
 
 ENHANCEMENTS:
-* Added `tofu test -json` types to website Machine-Readable UI documentation. ([#1408](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/issues/1408))
-* Made `tofu plan` with `generate-config-out` flag replace JSON strings with `jsonencode` functions calls. ([#1595](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1595))
-* Make state persistence interval configurable via `TF_STATE_PERSIST_INTERVAL` environment variable ([#1591](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1591))
-* Improved performance of writing state files and reduced their size using compact json encoding. ([#1647](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1647))
-* Allow to reference variable inside the `variables` block of a test file. ([#1488](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1488))
-* Allow variables and other static values to be used in encryption configuration. ([#1728](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1728))
-* Included provider function in `tofu providers schema` command ([#1753](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1753))
 
 BUG FIXES:
-* Fixed validation for `enforced` flag in encryption configuration. ([#1711](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1711))
-* Fixed crash in gcs backend when using certain commands. ([#1618](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1618))
-* Fixed inmem backend crash due to missing struct field. ([#1619](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1619))
-* Added a check in the `tofu test` to validate that the names of test run blocks do not contain spaces. ([#1489](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1489))
-* `tofu test` now supports accessing module outputs when the module has no resources. ([#1409](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1409))
-* Fixed support for provider functions in tests ([#1603](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1603))
-* Only hide sensitive attributes in plan detail when plan on a set of resources ([#1313](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1313))
-* Added a better error message on `for_each` block with sensitive value of unsuitable type. ([#1485](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1485))
-* Fix race condition on locking in gcs backend ([#1342](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1342))
-* Fix bug where provider functions were unusable in variables and outputs ([#1689](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1689))
-* Fix bug where lower-case `http_proxy`/`https_proxy` env variables were no longer supported in the S3 backend ([#1594](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/issues/1594))
-* Fixed issue with migration between versions can cause an update in-place for resources when no changes are needed. ([#1640](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1640))
-* Add source context for the 'insufficient feature blocks' error ([#1777](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1777))
-* Remove encryption diags from autocomplete ([#1793](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/pull/1793))
 
 
 ## Previous Releases
 
 For information on prior major and minor releases, see their changelogs:
 
+- [v1.9](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/blob/v1.8/CHANGELOG.md)
 - [v1.7](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/blob/v1.7/CHANGELOG.md)
 - [v1.6](https://github.com/opentofu/opentofu/blob/v1.6/CHANGELOG.md)
diff --git a/version/VERSION b/version/VERSION
index 495ea0f0c9..04b7792ad7 100644
--- a/version/VERSION
+++ b/version/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.8.0-beta2
+1.9.0-alpha1