diff --git a/CITATION.cff b/CITATION.cff
index 48cd294253..aa57af62e3 100644
--- a/CITATION.cff
+++ b/CITATION.cff
@@ -98,5 +98,5 @@ license: "Apache-2.0"
 message: "If you use this software, please cite it using these metadata."
 repository-code: "https://github.com/ESMValGroup/ESMValCore/"
 title: ESMValCore
-version: "v2.0.0b8"
+version: "v2.0.0b9"
 ...
diff --git a/esmvalcore/_version.py b/esmvalcore/_version.py
index 4633adb7ef..bdc26a75b8 100644
--- a/esmvalcore/_version.py
+++ b/esmvalcore/_version.py
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 """ESMValCore version."""
-__version__ = '2.0.0b8'
+__version__ = '2.0.0b9'
diff --git a/meta.yaml b/meta.yaml
index 0ec6e432a6..babb88dc52 100644
--- a/meta.yaml
+++ b/meta.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 # conda build . -c conda-forge -c esmvalgroup
 
 # Package version number
-{% set version = "2.0.0b8" %}
+{% set version = "2.0.0b9" %}
 
 package:
   name: esmvalcore