diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_packages_cron.yaml b/.github/workflows/build_packages_cron.yaml
index af969e8f7..cece37d08 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_packages_cron.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_packages_cron.yaml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ jobs:
       matrix:
         profile:
           - ['emqx', 'master', '5.3-2:1.15.7-26.2.1-2']
-          - ['emqx-enterprise', 'release-55', '5.3-2:1.15.7-25.3.2-2']
+          - ['emqx-enterprise', 'release-56', '5.3-2:1.15.7-25.3.2-2']
         os:
           - debian10
           - ubuntu22.04
diff --git a/.github/workflows/codeql.yaml b/.github/workflows/codeql.yaml
index a51ef0d58..4b3f67309 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/codeql.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/codeql.yaml
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ jobs:
         branch:
           - master
           - release-55
+          - release-56
         language:
           - cpp
           - python
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 3bf48b1a4..2cbcc803a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ endif
 # Dashboard version
 # from https://github.com/emqx/emqx-dashboard5
 export EMQX_DASHBOARD_VERSION ?= v1.7.0
-export EMQX_EE_DASHBOARD_VERSION ?= e1.5.1-s3
+export EMQX_EE_DASHBOARD_VERSION ?= e1.6.0-beta.1
 
 PROFILE ?= emqx
 REL_PROFILES := emqx emqx-enterprise
diff --git a/apps/emqx/include/emqx_release.hrl b/apps/emqx/include/emqx_release.hrl
index b9dd84d09..caba43279 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/include/emqx_release.hrl
+++ b/apps/emqx/include/emqx_release.hrl
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 %% `apps/emqx/src/bpapi/README.md'
 
 %% Opensource edition
--define(EMQX_RELEASE_CE, "5.5.0").
+-define(EMQX_RELEASE_CE, "5.6.0-alpha.1").
 
 %% Enterprise edition
--define(EMQX_RELEASE_EE, "5.5.0").
+-define(EMQX_RELEASE_EE, "5.6.0-alpha.1").
diff --git a/deploy/charts/emqx-enterprise/Chart.yaml b/deploy/charts/emqx-enterprise/Chart.yaml
index b870d1123..64bca06d3 100644
--- a/deploy/charts/emqx-enterprise/Chart.yaml
+++ b/deploy/charts/emqx-enterprise/Chart.yaml
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ type: application
 
 # This is the chart version. This version number should be incremented each time you make changes
 # to the chart and its templates, including the app version.
-version: 5.5.0
+version: 5.6.0-alpha.1
 
 # This is the version number of the application being deployed. This version number should be
 # incremented each time you make changes to the application.
-appVersion: 5.5.0
+appVersion: 5.6.0-alpha.1
diff --git a/deploy/charts/emqx/Chart.yaml b/deploy/charts/emqx/Chart.yaml
index 41f0b37b6..91c47cd74 100644
--- a/deploy/charts/emqx/Chart.yaml
+++ b/deploy/charts/emqx/Chart.yaml
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ type: application
 
 # This is the chart version. This version number should be incremented each time you make changes
 # to the chart and its templates, including the app version.
-version: 5.5.0
+version: 5.6.0-alpha.1
 
 # This is the version number of the application being deployed. This version number should be
 # incremented each time you make changes to the application.
-appVersion: 5.5.0
+appVersion: 5.6.0-alpha.1
diff --git a/scripts/rel/cut.sh b/scripts/rel/cut.sh
index bb6c04da4..95cd7a1d4 100755
--- a/scripts/rel/cut.sh
+++ b/scripts/rel/cut.sh
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ options:
 
   -b|--base:         Specify the current release base branch, can be one of
                      release-55
+                     release-56
                      NOTE: this option should be used when --dryrun.
 
   --dryrun:          Do not actually create the git tag.
@@ -122,6 +123,12 @@ rel_branch() {
         e5.5.*)
             echo 'release-55'
             ;;
+        v5.6.*)
+            echo 'release-56'
+            ;;
+        e5.6.*)
+            echo 'release-56'
+            ;;
         *)
             logerr "Unsupported version tag $TAG"
             exit 1
diff --git a/scripts/rel/sync-remotes.sh b/scripts/rel/sync-remotes.sh
index eb17995c2..6492c90c0 100755
--- a/scripts/rel/sync-remotes.sh
+++ b/scripts/rel/sync-remotes.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ set -euo pipefail
 # ensure dir
 cd -P -- "$(dirname -- "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/../.."
 
-BASE_BRANCHES=( 'release-55' 'master' )
+BASE_BRANCHES=( 'release-56' 'release-55' 'master' )
 
 usage() {
     cat <<EOF
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ options:
     upstreams branches for the current working branch.
     The uppstream branch of the current branch are as below:
     * release-55: []        # no upstream for 5.5 opensource edition
-    * master: [release-55]  # sync release-55 to master
+    * release-56: []        # no upstream for 5.6 opensource edition
+    * master: [release-5x]  # sync release-5x to master
 
   -b|--base:
     The base branch of current working branch if currently is not
@@ -154,8 +155,11 @@ upstream_branches() {
         release-55)
             remote_ref "$base"
             ;;
+        release-56)
+            remote_ref "$base"
+            ;;
         master)
-            remote_refs "$base" 'release-55'
+            remote_refs "$base" 'release-55' 'release-56'
             ;;
     esac
 }