diff --git a/samtranslator/__init__.py b/samtranslator/__init__.py
index 003f64673..d88191f46 100644
--- a/samtranslator/__init__.py
+++ b/samtranslator/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = "1.78.0"
+__version__ = "1.79.0"