diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index da90664931a93..cac84f6e86324 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -5463,7 +5463,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "mz-balancerd"
-version = "0.165.0-dev.0"
+version = "26.0.0-dev.0"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "async-trait",
@@ -5604,7 +5604,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "mz-catalog-debug"
-version = "0.165.0-dev.0"
+version = "26.0.0-dev.0"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "clap",
@@ -5766,7 +5766,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "mz-clusterd"
-version = "0.165.0-dev.0"
+version = "26.0.0-dev.0"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "axum",
@@ -6067,7 +6067,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "mz-environmentd"
-version = "0.165.0-dev.0"
+version = "26.0.0-dev.0"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "askama",
@@ -6577,7 +6577,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "mz-materialized"
-version = "0.165.0-dev.0"
+version = "26.0.0-dev.0"
 dependencies = [
  "mz-clusterd",
  "mz-environmentd",
@@ -6774,7 +6774,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "mz-orchestratord"
-version = "0.165.0-dev.0"
+version = "26.0.0-dev.0"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "async-trait",
@@ -6960,7 +6960,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "mz-persist-client"
-version = "0.165.0-dev.0"
+version = "26.0.0-dev.0"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "arrayvec 0.7.6",
@@ -8066,7 +8066,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "mz-testdrive"
-version = "0.165.0-dev.0"
+version = "26.0.0-dev.0"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "arrow",
diff --git a/bin/bump-version b/bin/bump-version
index 2096e6ebbd875..34a76eba7e9dd 100755
--- a/bin/bump-version
+++ b/bin/bump-version
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ rm -f src/{clusterd,environmentd,materialized,persist-client,testdrive,catalog-d
 
 cargo update --workspace
 
-bin/helm-chart-version-bump --bump-weekly-version --bump-orchestratord-version "v$version"
+bin/helm-chart-version-bump --bump-orchestratord-version "v$version"
 
 helm_docs_version=1.14.2
 if ! helm-docs --help > /dev/null; then
diff --git a/doc/user/content/releases/v0.165.md b/doc/user/content/releases/v26.0.md
similarity index 69%
rename from doc/user/content/releases/v0.165.md
rename to doc/user/content/releases/v26.0.md
index 08b1b262a7f65..82813f22c2984 100644
--- a/doc/user/content/releases/v0.165.md
+++ b/doc/user/content/releases/v26.0.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 ---
-title: "Materialize v0.165"
+title: "Materialize v26.0"
 date: 2025-11-19
 released: false
 _build:
diff --git a/misc/helm-charts/operator/Chart.yaml b/misc/helm-charts/operator/Chart.yaml
index 54abbef790f65..a35a5368d7e5d 100644
--- a/misc/helm-charts/operator/Chart.yaml
+++ b/misc/helm-charts/operator/Chart.yaml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ apiVersion: v2
 name: materialize-operator
 description: Materialize Kubernetes Operator Helm Chart
 type: application
-version: v25.3.0-beta.1
-appVersion: v0.165.0-dev.0
+version: v26.0.0-beta.1
+appVersion: v26.0.0-dev.0
 icon: https://materialize.com/favicon.ico
 home: https://materialize.com
diff --git a/misc/helm-charts/operator/README.md b/misc/helm-charts/operator/README.md
index 6a0d8ac0028f0..c4ed3391cf963 100644
--- a/misc/helm-charts/operator/README.md
+++ b/misc/helm-charts/operator/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Materialize Kubernetes Operator Helm Chart
 
-![Version: v25.3.0-beta.1](https://img.shields.io/badge/Version-v25.3.0--beta.1-informational?style=flat-square) ![Type: application](https://img.shields.io/badge/Type-application-informational?style=flat-square) ![AppVersion: v0.165.0-dev.0](https://img.shields.io/badge/AppVersion-v0.165.0--dev.0-informational?style=flat-square)
+![Version: v26.0.0-beta.1](https://img.shields.io/badge/Version-v26.0.0--beta.1-informational?style=flat-square) ![Type: application](https://img.shields.io/badge/Type-application-informational?style=flat-square) ![AppVersion: v26.0.0-dev.0](https://img.shields.io/badge/AppVersion-v26.0.0--dev.0-informational?style=flat-square)
 
 Materialize Kubernetes Operator Helm Chart
 
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ The following table lists the configurable parameters of the Materialize operato
 | `operator.clusters.swap_enabled` |  | ``true`` |
 | `operator.image.pullPolicy` | Policy for pulling the image: "IfNotPresent" avoids unnecessary re-pulling of images | ``"IfNotPresent"`` |
 | `operator.image.repository` | The Docker repository for the operator image | ``"materialize/orchestratord"`` |
-| `operator.image.tag` | The tag/version of the operator image to be used | ``"v0.164.0"`` |
+| `operator.image.tag` | The tag/version of the operator image to be used | ``"v26.0.0-dev.0--pr.gfa8ba620176a7d0f9abcc64f89f5d21db80c6d94"`` |
 | `operator.nodeSelector` | Node selector to use for the operator pod | ``nil`` |
 | `operator.resources.limits` | Resource limits for the operator's CPU and memory | ``{"memory":"512Mi"}`` |
 | `operator.resources.requests` | Resources requested by the operator for CPU and memory | ``{"cpu":"100m","memory":"512Mi"}`` |
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ Specify each parameter using the `--set key=value[,key=value]` argument to `helm
 
 ```shell
 helm install my-materialize-operator \
-  --set operator.image.tag=v0.165.0-dev.0 \
+  --set operator.image.tag=v26.0.0-dev.0 \
   materialize/materialize-operator
 ```
 
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ metadata:
   name: 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789012
   namespace: materialize-environment
 spec:
-  environmentdImageRef: materialize/environmentd:v0.165.0-dev.0
+  environmentdImageRef: materialize/environmentd:v26.0.0-dev.0
   backendSecretName: materialize-backend
   environmentdResourceRequirements:
     limits:
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ Or check the `Chart.yaml` file in the `misc/helm-charts/operator` directory:
 apiVersion: v2
 name: materialize-operator
 # ...
-version: v25.3.0-beta-1
+version: v26.0.0-dev.0
 appVersion: v0.147.0  # Use this version for your Materialize instances
 ```
 
diff --git a/misc/helm-charts/operator/README.md.gotmpl b/misc/helm-charts/operator/README.md.gotmpl
index 3c9343e94c891..a69d25b3ab480 100644
--- a/misc/helm-charts/operator/README.md.gotmpl
+++ b/misc/helm-charts/operator/README.md.gotmpl
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ Or check the `Chart.yaml` file in the `misc/helm-charts/operator` directory:
 apiVersion: v2
 name: materialize-operator
 # ...
-version: v25.3.0-beta-1
+version: v26.0.0-dev.0
 appVersion: v0.147.0  # Use this version for your Materialize instances
 ```
 
diff --git a/misc/helm-charts/operator/tests/deployment_test.yaml b/misc/helm-charts/operator/tests/deployment_test.yaml
index d91a34e5d4ffc..dcec3cfa7478f 100644
--- a/misc/helm-charts/operator/tests/deployment_test.yaml
+++ b/misc/helm-charts/operator/tests/deployment_test.yaml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ tests:
       of: Deployment
   - equal:
       path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].image
-      value: materialize/orchestratord:v0.164.0
+      value: materialize/orchestratord:v26.0.0-dev.0--pr.gfa8ba620176a7d0f9abcc64f89f5d21db80c6d94
   - equal:
       path: spec.template.spec.containers[0].imagePullPolicy
       value: IfNotPresent
diff --git a/misc/helm-charts/operator/values.yaml b/misc/helm-charts/operator/values.yaml
index d4e1c705a0d94..710d4e84c88d7 100644
--- a/misc/helm-charts/operator/values.yaml
+++ b/misc/helm-charts/operator/values.yaml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ operator:
     # -- The Docker repository for the operator image
     repository: materialize/orchestratord
     # -- The tag/version of the operator image to be used
-    tag: v0.164.0
+    tag: v26.0.0-dev.0--pr.gfa8ba620176a7d0f9abcc64f89f5d21db80c6d94
     # -- Policy for pulling the image: "IfNotPresent" avoids unnecessary re-pulling of images
     pullPolicy: IfNotPresent
 
diff --git a/misc/helm-charts/testing/materialize.yaml b/misc/helm-charts/testing/materialize.yaml
index f097101ccdc3b..e983f2f9d5e9f 100644
--- a/misc/helm-charts/testing/materialize.yaml
+++ b/misc/helm-charts/testing/materialize.yaml
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ metadata:
   name: 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789012
   namespace: materialize-environment
 spec:
-  environmentdImageRef: materialize/environmentd:v0.165.0-dev.0
+  environmentdImageRef: materialize/environmentd:v26.0.0-dev.0
   backendSecretName: materialize-backend
   authenticatorKind: None
   #balancerdExternalCertificateSpec:
diff --git a/misc/python/materialize/cli/helm_chart_version_bump.py b/misc/python/materialize/cli/helm_chart_version_bump.py
index daecbf2b9bb22..29be34945d5ad 100644
--- a/misc/python/materialize/cli/helm_chart_version_bump.py
+++ b/misc/python/materialize/cli/helm_chart_version_bump.py
@@ -22,11 +22,6 @@ def main() -> int:
         prog="helm-chart-version-bump",
         description="Bump environmentd (appVersion), orchestratord and helm-chart versions in helm chart.",
     )
-    parser.add_argument(
-        "--bump-weekly-version",
-        action="store_true",
-        help="Also bump the weekly Materialize operator release instead of the bi-yearly one",
-    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--helm-chart-version",
         type=str,
@@ -49,7 +44,12 @@ def main() -> int:
     mods = [
         (
             MZ_ROOT / "misc" / "helm-charts" / "operator" / "Chart.yaml",
-            lambda docs: docs[0].update({"appVersion": args.environmentd_version}),
+            lambda docs: docs[0].update(
+                {
+                    "version": args.environmentd_version,
+                    "appVersion": args.environmentd_version,
+                }
+            ),
         ),
         (
             MZ_ROOT / "misc" / "helm-charts" / "testing" / "materialize.yaml",
@@ -61,19 +61,6 @@ def main() -> int:
         ),
     ]
 
-    if args.bump_weekly_version:
-        mods += [
-            (
-                MZ_ROOT / "misc" / "helm-charts" / "operator-weekly" / "Chart.yaml",
-                lambda docs: docs[0].update(
-                    {
-                        "version": args.environmentd_version,
-                        "appVersion": args.environmentd_version,
-                    }
-                ),
-            ),
-        ]
-
     if args.bump_orchestratord_version:
         # There are two cases that bump the version:
         # 1. Bump to new unreleased dev version: Use the latest released orchestratord version
diff --git a/src/balancerd/Cargo.toml b/src/balancerd/Cargo.toml
index 7d29622c13f16..67309bda2c496 100644
--- a/src/balancerd/Cargo.toml
+++ b/src/balancerd/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [package]
 name = "mz-balancerd"
 description = "Balancer service."
-version = "0.165.0-dev.0"
+version = "26.0.0-dev.0"
 edition.workspace = true
 rust-version.workspace = true
 publish = false
diff --git a/src/catalog-debug/Cargo.toml b/src/catalog-debug/Cargo.toml
index 3f3d9a5f8fa9a..44a1374c84509 100644
--- a/src/catalog-debug/Cargo.toml
+++ b/src/catalog-debug/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [package]
 name = "mz-catalog-debug"
 description = "Durable metadata storage debug tool."
-version = "0.165.0-dev.0"
+version = "26.0.0-dev.0"
 edition.workspace = true
 rust-version.workspace = true
 publish = false
diff --git a/src/clusterd/Cargo.toml b/src/clusterd/Cargo.toml
index 7179f2e571a8d..6bf5b60d330bb 100644
--- a/src/clusterd/Cargo.toml
+++ b/src/clusterd/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [package]
 name = "mz-clusterd"
 description = "Materialize's cluster server."
-version = "0.165.0-dev.0"
+version = "26.0.0-dev.0"
 edition.workspace = true
 rust-version.workspace = true
 publish = false
diff --git a/src/environmentd/Cargo.toml b/src/environmentd/Cargo.toml
index 8c7ab51694d85..b63118c410b4f 100644
--- a/src/environmentd/Cargo.toml
+++ b/src/environmentd/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [package]
 name = "mz-environmentd"
 description = "Manages a single Materialize environment."
-version = "0.165.0-dev.0"
+version = "26.0.0-dev.0"
 authors = ["Materialize, Inc."]
 license = "proprietary"
 edition.workspace = true
diff --git a/src/materialized/Cargo.toml b/src/materialized/Cargo.toml
index 7442f2bfb26fc..a4a2546c289e1 100644
--- a/src/materialized/Cargo.toml
+++ b/src/materialized/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [package]
 name = "mz-materialized"
 description = "Materialize's unified binary."
-version = "0.165.0-dev.0"
+version = "26.0.0-dev.0"
 edition.workspace = true
 rust-version.workspace = true
 publish = false
diff --git a/src/orchestratord/Cargo.toml b/src/orchestratord/Cargo.toml
index db0f87ebde25f..fbe01cf17217d 100644
--- a/src/orchestratord/Cargo.toml
+++ b/src/orchestratord/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [package]
 name = "mz-orchestratord"
 description = "Kubernetes operator for Materialize regions"
-version = "0.165.0-dev.0"
+version = "26.0.0-dev.0"
 edition.workspace = true
 rust-version.workspace = true
 publish = false
diff --git a/src/persist-client/Cargo.toml b/src/persist-client/Cargo.toml
index 9b602e3c3b2bf..a078ccb340d0c 100644
--- a/src/persist-client/Cargo.toml
+++ b/src/persist-client/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [package]
 name = "mz-persist-client"
 description = "Client for Materialize pTVC durability system"
-version = "0.165.0-dev.0"
+version = "26.0.0-dev.0"
 edition.workspace = true
 rust-version.workspace = true
 publish = false
diff --git a/src/testdrive/Cargo.toml b/src/testdrive/Cargo.toml
index 3b66899b4e35d..bb292af7e59d7 100644
--- a/src/testdrive/Cargo.toml
+++ b/src/testdrive/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [package]
 name = "mz-testdrive"
 description = "Integration test driver for Materialize."
-version = "0.165.0-dev.0"
+version = "26.0.0-dev.0"
 edition.workspace = true
 rust-version.workspace = true
 publish = false
diff --git a/test/legacy-upgrade/mzcompose.py b/test/legacy-upgrade/mzcompose.py
index 403c6414bca50..da65187627d2d 100644
--- a/test/legacy-upgrade/mzcompose.py
+++ b/test/legacy-upgrade/mzcompose.py
@@ -96,9 +96,12 @@ def workflow_default(c: Composition, parser: WorkflowArgumentParser) -> None:
     )
 
     current_version = MzVersion.parse_cargo()
-    min_upgradable_version = MzVersion.create(
-        current_version.major, current_version.minor - 1, 0
-    )
+    if current_version.major == 26 and current_version.minor == 0:
+        min_upgradable_version = MzVersion.create(0, 164, 0)
+    else:
+        min_upgradable_version = MzVersion.create(
+            current_version.major, current_version.minor - 1, 0
+        )
 
     for version in tested_versions:
         # Building the latest release might have failed, don't block PRs on
diff --git a/test/terraform/aws-persistent/main.tf b/test/terraform/aws-persistent/main.tf
index c8e41632afc28..e63b78555ff72 100644
--- a/test/terraform/aws-persistent/main.tf
+++ b/test/terraform/aws-persistent/main.tf
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ resource "random_password" "db_password" {
 
 variable "operator_version" {
   type    = string
-  default = "v25.3.0-beta.1.tgz"
+  default = "v26.0.0-beta.1.tgz"
 }
 
 variable "orchestratord_version" {
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ module "materialize_infrastructure" {
   environment                  = "dev"
   install_materialize_operator = true
   use_local_chart              = true
-  helm_chart                   = "materialize-operator-v25.3.0-beta.1.tgz"
+  helm_chart                   = "materialize-operator-v26.0.0-beta.1.tgz"
   operator_version             = var.operator_version
   orchestratord_version        = var.orchestratord_version
 
diff --git a/test/terraform/aws-temporary/main.tf b/test/terraform/aws-temporary/main.tf
index 63d256f074605..1b914d585a218 100644
--- a/test/terraform/aws-temporary/main.tf
+++ b/test/terraform/aws-temporary/main.tf
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ resource "random_password" "db_password" {
 
 variable "operator_version" {
   type    = string
-  default = "v25.3.0-beta.1.tgz"
+  default = "v26.0.0-beta.1.tgz"
 }
 
 variable "orchestratord_version" {
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ module "materialize_infrastructure" {
 
   install_materialize_operator = true
   use_local_chart              = true
-  helm_chart                   = "materialize-operator-v25.3.0-beta.1.tgz"
+  helm_chart                   = "materialize-operator-v26.0.0-beta.1.tgz"
   operator_version             = var.operator_version
   orchestratord_version        = var.orchestratord_version
 
diff --git a/test/terraform/aws-upgrade/main.tf b/test/terraform/aws-upgrade/main.tf
index f2edc48b5b086..76e23a7aa5f4b 100644
--- a/test/terraform/aws-upgrade/main.tf
+++ b/test/terraform/aws-upgrade/main.tf
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ resource "random_password" "db_password" {
 
 variable "operator_version" {
   type    = string
-  default = "v25.3.0-beta.1.tgz"
+  default = "v26.0.0-beta.1.tgz"
 }
 
 variable "orchestratord_version" {
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ module "materialize_infrastructure" {
 
   install_materialize_operator = true
   use_local_chart              = true
-  helm_chart                   = "materialize-operator-v25.3.0-beta.1.tgz"
+  helm_chart                   = "materialize-operator-v26.0.0-beta.1.tgz"
   operator_version             = var.operator_version
   orchestratord_version        = var.orchestratord_version
 
diff --git a/test/terraform/azure-temporary/main.tf b/test/terraform/azure-temporary/main.tf
index 30529d05bc198..deaabf8f4ad10 100644
--- a/test/terraform/azure-temporary/main.tf
+++ b/test/terraform/azure-temporary/main.tf
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ resource "random_password" "pass" {
 
 variable "operator_version" {
   type    = string
-  default = "v25.3.0-beta.1.tgz"
+  default = "v26.0.0-beta.1.tgz"
 }
 
 variable "orchestratord_version" {
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ module "materialize" {
 
   install_materialize_operator = true
   use_local_chart              = true
-  helm_chart                   = "materialize-operator-v25.3.0-beta.1.tgz"
+  helm_chart                   = "materialize-operator-v26.0.0-beta.1.tgz"
   operator_version             = var.operator_version
   orchestratord_version        = var.orchestratord_version
 
diff --git a/test/terraform/gcp-temporary/main.tf b/test/terraform/gcp-temporary/main.tf
index d27c5817fa24e..a65bf1823ac39 100644
--- a/test/terraform/gcp-temporary/main.tf
+++ b/test/terraform/gcp-temporary/main.tf
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ module "materialize" {
 
   install_materialize_operator = true
   use_local_chart              = true
-  helm_chart                   = "materialize-operator-v25.3.0-beta.1.tgz"
+  helm_chart                   = "materialize-operator-v26.0.0-beta.1.tgz"
   operator_version             = var.operator_version
   orchestratord_version        = var.orchestratord_version
 
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ variable "database_password" {
 
 variable "operator_version" {
   type    = string
-  default = "v25.3.0-beta.1.tgz"
+  default = "v26.0.0-beta.1.tgz"
 }
 
 variable "orchestratord_version" {
diff --git a/test/terraform/mzcompose.py b/test/terraform/mzcompose.py
index ecff7ff0f2c76..1ac25307c90b6 100644
--- a/test/terraform/mzcompose.py
+++ b/test/terraform/mzcompose.py
@@ -678,7 +678,7 @@ def setup(
 
         vars = [
             "-var",
-            "operator_version=v25.3.0-beta.1",
+            "operator_version=v26.0.0-beta.1",
         ]
         vars += [
             "-var",
@@ -1149,7 +1149,7 @@ def workflow_gcp_temporary(c: Composition, parser: WorkflowArgumentParser) -> No
 
         vars = [
             "-var",
-            "operator_version=v25.3.0-beta.1",
+            "operator_version=v26.0.0-beta.1",
         ]
         vars += [
             "-var",
@@ -1260,7 +1260,7 @@ def workflow_azure_temporary(c: Composition, parser: WorkflowArgumentParser) ->
 
         vars = [
             "-var",
-            "operator_version=v25.3.0-beta.1",
+            "operator_version=v26.0.0-beta.1",
         ]
         vars += [
             "-var",