diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index b77597b34e..72a36f98e9 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-5.2-25-gaf178f08e (2023-05-01 22:37:17)
+5.3 (2023-05-02 00:13:45)
diff --git a/_version.py b/_version.py
index 9501a89e25..f0b4b81b36 100644
--- a/_version.py
+++ b/_version.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = "5.2"
+__version__ = "5.3"