diff --git a/sdk/appconfiguration/azure-appconfiguration/CHANGELOG.md b/sdk/appconfiguration/azure-appconfiguration/CHANGELOG.md
index 7af08470ff7a..6557e654e889 100644
--- a/sdk/appconfiguration/azure-appconfiguration/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/sdk/appconfiguration/azure-appconfiguration/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,15 @@
 # Release History
 
+## 1.8.1 (Unreleased)
+
+### Features Added
+
+### Breaking Changes
+
+### Bugs Fixed
+
+### Other Changes
+
 ## 1.8.0 (2026-01-26)
 
 ### Features Added
diff --git a/sdk/appconfiguration/azure-appconfiguration/azure/appconfiguration/_version.py b/sdk/appconfiguration/azure-appconfiguration/azure/appconfiguration/_version.py
index ebc49010a604..72ae949bccd8 100644
--- a/sdk/appconfiguration/azure-appconfiguration/azure/appconfiguration/_version.py
+++ b/sdk/appconfiguration/azure-appconfiguration/azure/appconfiguration/_version.py
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@
 # Licensed under the MIT License.
 # ------------------------------------
 
-VERSION = "1.8.0"
+VERSION = "1.8.1"