diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 9a02e8788e1..58ccb2d7f3a 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ subprojects {
     apply plugin: "net.ltgt.errorprone"
 
     group = "io.grpc"
-    version = "1.61.0" // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    version = "1.61.1-SNAPSHOT" // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 
     repositories {
         maven { // The google mirror is less flaky than mavenCentral()
diff --git a/compiler/src/test/golden/TestDeprecatedService.java.txt b/compiler/src/test/golden/TestDeprecatedService.java.txt
index 9c1fe360478..307062ebc3e 100644
--- a/compiler/src/test/golden/TestDeprecatedService.java.txt
+++ b/compiler/src/test/golden/TestDeprecatedService.java.txt
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import static io.grpc.MethodDescriptor.generateFullMethodName;
  * </pre>
  */
 @javax.annotation.Generated(
-    value = "by gRPC proto compiler (version 1.61.0)",
+    value = "by gRPC proto compiler (version 1.61.1-SNAPSHOT)",
     comments = "Source: grpc/testing/compiler/test.proto")
 @io.grpc.stub.annotations.GrpcGenerated
 @java.lang.Deprecated
diff --git a/compiler/src/test/golden/TestService.java.txt b/compiler/src/test/golden/TestService.java.txt
index 9279bd1148d..8d66ff90316 100644
--- a/compiler/src/test/golden/TestService.java.txt
+++ b/compiler/src/test/golden/TestService.java.txt
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import static io.grpc.MethodDescriptor.generateFullMethodName;
  * </pre>
  */
 @javax.annotation.Generated(
-    value = "by gRPC proto compiler (version 1.61.0)",
+    value = "by gRPC proto compiler (version 1.61.1-SNAPSHOT)",
     comments = "Source: grpc/testing/compiler/test.proto")
 @io.grpc.stub.annotations.GrpcGenerated
 public final class TestServiceGrpc {
diff --git a/compiler/src/testLite/golden/TestDeprecatedService.java.txt b/compiler/src/testLite/golden/TestDeprecatedService.java.txt
index 6eec8f8a700..4a76cbdcce3 100644
--- a/compiler/src/testLite/golden/TestDeprecatedService.java.txt
+++ b/compiler/src/testLite/golden/TestDeprecatedService.java.txt
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import static io.grpc.MethodDescriptor.generateFullMethodName;
  * </pre>
  */
 @javax.annotation.Generated(
-    value = "by gRPC proto compiler (version 1.61.0)",
+    value = "by gRPC proto compiler (version 1.61.1-SNAPSHOT)",
     comments = "Source: grpc/testing/compiler/test.proto")
 @io.grpc.stub.annotations.GrpcGenerated
 @java.lang.Deprecated
diff --git a/compiler/src/testLite/golden/TestService.java.txt b/compiler/src/testLite/golden/TestService.java.txt
index 5a4ca2d4972..5fa1b146f3e 100644
--- a/compiler/src/testLite/golden/TestService.java.txt
+++ b/compiler/src/testLite/golden/TestService.java.txt
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import static io.grpc.MethodDescriptor.generateFullMethodName;
  * </pre>
  */
 @javax.annotation.Generated(
-    value = "by gRPC proto compiler (version 1.61.0)",
+    value = "by gRPC proto compiler (version 1.61.1-SNAPSHOT)",
     comments = "Source: grpc/testing/compiler/test.proto")
 @io.grpc.stub.annotations.GrpcGenerated
 public final class TestServiceGrpc {
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/io/grpc/internal/GrpcUtil.java b/core/src/main/java/io/grpc/internal/GrpcUtil.java
index a864422aacd..8fbc4096358 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/io/grpc/internal/GrpcUtil.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/io/grpc/internal/GrpcUtil.java
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ public byte[] parseAsciiString(byte[] serialized) {
 
   public static final Splitter ACCEPT_ENCODING_SPLITTER = Splitter.on(',').trimResults();
 
-  public static final String IMPLEMENTATION_VERSION = "1.61.0"; // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+  public static final String IMPLEMENTATION_VERSION = "1.61.1-SNAPSHOT"; // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 
   /**
    * The default timeout in nanos for a keepalive ping request.
diff --git a/examples/android/clientcache/app/build.gradle b/examples/android/clientcache/app/build.gradle
index 01f0940d5e6..bf4dac9eadb 100644
--- a/examples/android/clientcache/app/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/android/clientcache/app/build.gradle
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ android {
 protobuf {
     protoc { artifact = 'com.google.protobuf:protoc:3.25.1' }
     plugins {
-        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
         }
     }
     generateProtoTasks {
@@ -54,12 +54,12 @@ dependencies {
     implementation 'androidx.appcompat:appcompat:1.0.0'
 
     // You need to build grpc-java to obtain these libraries below.
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
     implementation 'org.apache.tomcat:annotations-api:6.0.53'
 
     testImplementation 'junit:junit:4.13.2'
     testImplementation 'com.google.truth:truth:1.1.5'
-    testImplementation 'io.grpc:grpc-testing:1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    testImplementation 'io.grpc:grpc-testing:1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 }
diff --git a/examples/android/helloworld/app/build.gradle b/examples/android/helloworld/app/build.gradle
index 9c852a1055e..28f5a981a90 100644
--- a/examples/android/helloworld/app/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/android/helloworld/app/build.gradle
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ android {
 protobuf {
     protoc { artifact = 'com.google.protobuf:protoc:3.25.1' }
     plugins {
-        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
         }
     }
     generateProtoTasks {
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ dependencies {
     implementation 'androidx.appcompat:appcompat:1.0.0'
 
     // You need to build grpc-java to obtain these libraries below.
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
     implementation 'org.apache.tomcat:annotations-api:6.0.53'
 }
diff --git a/examples/android/routeguide/app/build.gradle b/examples/android/routeguide/app/build.gradle
index 50a4210a8df..b14b48f6b0e 100644
--- a/examples/android/routeguide/app/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/android/routeguide/app/build.gradle
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ android {
 protobuf {
     protoc { artifact = 'com.google.protobuf:protoc:3.25.1' }
     plugins {
-        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
         }
     }
     generateProtoTasks {
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ dependencies {
     implementation 'androidx.appcompat:appcompat:1.0.0'
 
     // You need to build grpc-java to obtain these libraries below.
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
     implementation 'org.apache.tomcat:annotations-api:6.0.53'
 }
diff --git a/examples/android/strictmode/app/build.gradle b/examples/android/strictmode/app/build.gradle
index e8110b80cc3..ef5d7f55693 100644
--- a/examples/android/strictmode/app/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/android/strictmode/app/build.gradle
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ android {
 protobuf {
     protoc { artifact = 'com.google.protobuf:protoc:3.25.1' }
     plugins {
-        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
         }
     }
     generateProtoTasks {
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ dependencies {
     implementation 'androidx.appcompat:appcompat:1.0.0'
 
     // You need to build grpc-java to obtain these libraries below.
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
     implementation 'org.apache.tomcat:annotations-api:6.0.53'
 }
diff --git a/examples/build.gradle b/examples/build.gradle
index c66b881b0b8..5179afa4eff 100644
--- a/examples/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/build.gradle
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.1'
 def protocVersion = protobufVersion
 
diff --git a/examples/example-alts/build.gradle b/examples/example-alts/build.gradle
index 7a9c0f1b41e..08af1ff590f 100644
--- a/examples/example-alts/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-alts/build.gradle
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.1'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-debug/build.gradle b/examples/example-debug/build.gradle
index 1537ee19c79..cca8a9e5493 100644
--- a/examples/example-debug/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-debug/build.gradle
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.1'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-debug/pom.xml b/examples/example-debug/pom.xml
index c114a279cce..fbf0cc13ade 100644
--- a/examples/example-debug/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/example-debug/pom.xml
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.61.0</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.61.1-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>example-debug</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.61.0</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.61.1-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protoc.version>3.25.1</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
     <maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
diff --git a/examples/example-gauth/build.gradle b/examples/example-gauth/build.gradle
index de4171d9fc8..4d41ea6f6ef 100644
--- a/examples/example-gauth/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-gauth/build.gradle
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.1'
 def protocVersion = protobufVersion
 
diff --git a/examples/example-gauth/pom.xml b/examples/example-gauth/pom.xml
index f5f8ae590ec..ec215ec3bab 100644
--- a/examples/example-gauth/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/example-gauth/pom.xml
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.61.0</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.61.1-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>example-gauth</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.61.0</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.61.1-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protobuf.version>3.25.1</protobuf.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
     <maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
diff --git a/examples/example-gcp-observability/build.gradle b/examples/example-gcp-observability/build.gradle
index 50b253a304a..b4fcd9e3e31 100644
--- a/examples/example-gcp-observability/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-gcp-observability/build.gradle
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.1'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-hostname/build.gradle b/examples/example-hostname/build.gradle
index 705d5a23f26..ca217a70fdd 100644
--- a/examples/example-hostname/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-hostname/build.gradle
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.1'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-hostname/pom.xml b/examples/example-hostname/pom.xml
index a0f243fb8e0..7ba3574cf51 100644
--- a/examples/example-hostname/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/example-hostname/pom.xml
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.61.0</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.61.1-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>example-hostname</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.61.0</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.61.1-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protoc.version>3.25.1</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
     <maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
diff --git a/examples/example-jwt-auth/build.gradle b/examples/example-jwt-auth/build.gradle
index 335e81f0443..31748827302 100644
--- a/examples/example-jwt-auth/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-jwt-auth/build.gradle
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.1'
 def protocVersion = protobufVersion
 
diff --git a/examples/example-jwt-auth/pom.xml b/examples/example-jwt-auth/pom.xml
index adb131f782b..194c6b34835 100644
--- a/examples/example-jwt-auth/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/example-jwt-auth/pom.xml
@@ -7,13 +7,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.61.0</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.61.1-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>example-jwt-auth</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.61.0</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.61.1-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protobuf.version>3.25.1</protobuf.version>
     <protoc.version>3.25.1</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
diff --git a/examples/example-oauth/build.gradle b/examples/example-oauth/build.gradle
index 9af5b2adeca..5e667980a7d 100644
--- a/examples/example-oauth/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-oauth/build.gradle
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.1'
 def protocVersion = protobufVersion
 
diff --git a/examples/example-oauth/pom.xml b/examples/example-oauth/pom.xml
index 33d04b12a8e..51f2da7d179 100644
--- a/examples/example-oauth/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/example-oauth/pom.xml
@@ -7,13 +7,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.61.0</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.61.1-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>example-oauth</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.61.0</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.61.1-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protobuf.version>3.25.1</protobuf.version>
     <protoc.version>3.25.1</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
diff --git a/examples/example-orca/build.gradle b/examples/example-orca/build.gradle
index e465b1f1a5e..c55fb050e37 100644
--- a/examples/example-orca/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-orca/build.gradle
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ java {
     targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
 }
 
-def grpcVersion = '1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.1'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-reflection/build.gradle b/examples/example-reflection/build.gradle
index e59f2d847db..fe6a4981d99 100644
--- a/examples/example-reflection/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-reflection/build.gradle
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ java {
     targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
 }
 
-def grpcVersion = '1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.1'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-servlet/build.gradle b/examples/example-servlet/build.gradle
index b8e91edbb2d..cb32357e954 100644
--- a/examples/example-servlet/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-servlet/build.gradle
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ java {
     targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
 }
 
-def grpcVersion = '1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.1'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-tls/build.gradle b/examples/example-tls/build.gradle
index 16479891a84..ce8b699edab 100644
--- a/examples/example-tls/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-tls/build.gradle
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.1'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-tls/pom.xml b/examples/example-tls/pom.xml
index b507e46770c..a8a2b49a5ff 100644
--- a/examples/example-tls/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/example-tls/pom.xml
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.61.0</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.61.1-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>example-tls</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.61.0</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.61.1-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protoc.version>3.25.1</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
     <maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
diff --git a/examples/example-xds/build.gradle b/examples/example-xds/build.gradle
index 3e8cb80dc19..2b125062036 100644
--- a/examples/example-xds/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-xds/build.gradle
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.61.0' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.61.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.1'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/pom.xml b/examples/pom.xml
index 5ee7f999925..0defab044a5 100644
--- a/examples/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/pom.xml
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.61.0</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.61.1-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>examples</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.61.0</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.61.1-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protobuf.version>3.25.1</protobuf.version>
     <protoc.version>3.25.1</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for JDK 8 -->