diff --git a/.tx/config b/.tx/config
index bfae3753763..57c859948d7 100644
--- a/.tx/config
+++ b/.tx/config
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [main]
 host = https://www.transifex.com
 
-[o:qgis:p:QGIS:r:qgis-application]
+[o:qgis:p:QGIS:r:release-3_44-qgis-application]
 file_filter    = i18n/qgis_<lang>.ts
 source_file    = i18n/qgis_en.ts
 source_lang    = en
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 6c6b6d139ff..138bb018aa4 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -59,10 +59,10 @@ endif()
 #############################################################
 # Project and version
 set(CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_MAJOR "3")
-set(CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_MINOR "43")
+set(CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_MINOR "44")
 set(CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_PATCH "0")
 set(COMPLETE_VERSION ${CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_MAJOR}.${CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_MINOR}.${CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_PATCH})
-set(RELEASE_NAME "Master")
+set(RELEASE_NAME "Solothurn")
 project(qgis VERSION ${COMPLETE_VERSION})
 
 if (APPLE)
diff --git a/INSTALL.md b/INSTALL.md
index 1f43b0efb88..6580f5971ec 100644
--- a/INSTALL.md
+++ b/INSTALL.md
@@ -651,7 +651,7 @@ For the QGIS build you need to install following packages from cygwin:
 
 and from OSGeo4W (select *Advanced Install*):
 
-* qgis-dev-deps
+* qgis-rel-deps
 
   * This will also select packages the above packages depend on.
 
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 3975f3e1e42..8a06c4fc150 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,8 +1,14 @@
-qgis (3.43.0) UNRELEASED; urgency=medium
+qgis (3.44.0) UNRELEASED; urgency=medium
+
+  * Release of 3.44.0
+
+ -- Jürgen E. Fischer <jef@norbit.de>  Fri, 20 Jun 2025 14:08:50 +0200
+
+qgis (3.43.0) unstable; urgency=medium
 
   * New development version 3.43 after branch of 3.42
 
- -- Jürgen E. Fischer <jef@norbit.de>  Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:15:07 +0100
+ -- Jürgen E. Fischer <jef@norbit.de>  Fri, 20 Jun 2025 14:08:50 +0200
 
 qgis (3.40.4) unstable; urgency=medium
 
diff --git a/images/splash/splash.png b/images/splash/splash.png
index 7faf8ca2fe8..ad8022d191a 100644
Binary files a/images/splash/splash.png and b/images/splash/splash.png differ