diff --git a/.build/release-main.ts b/.build/release-main.ts
index 05e2173d9..df282c151 100644
--- a/.build/release-main.ts
+++ b/.build/release-main.ts
@@ -4,57 +4,35 @@
 //
 //   1. refreshes shared/data/sri.json for that version (`generate:sri --wait`),
 //   2. commits it and pushes `dev`,
-//   3. merges `dev` into `main` and pushes `main`.
+//   3. merges `dev` into `main` and pushes `main`,
+//   4. merges `dev` into `next`, when that branch exists, so the next minor carries the fix.
 //
-// The merge happens in a temporary worktree, so the current checkout (and a dev server running
-// from it) never switches branches.
+// The merges happen in a temporary worktree, so the current checkout (and a dev server running
+// from it) never switches branches. A merge conflict stops the script before that push; the
+// error says how to finish the merge by hand.
 //
 // Run: pnpm run release:main             (does all of the above)
 //      pnpm run release:main --dry-run   (refreshes and commits locally, pushes nothing)
 
-import { execFileSync } from 'node:child_process'
-import { mkdtempSync, readFileSync, rmSync } from 'node:fs'
-import { tmpdir } from 'node:os'
-import { join, dirname } from 'node:path'
-import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url'
+import { commitSriHashes, coreVersion, fetchBranchIfExists, git, mergeAndPush, requireBranch, run } from './release-merge'
 
-const __dirname = dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url))
-const repoRoot = join(__dirname, '..')
-const sriFile = 'shared/data/sri.json'
+const script = 'release:main'
 const dryRun = process.argv.includes('--dry-run')
 
-const git = (args: string[], cwd = repoRoot): string => execFileSync('git', args, { cwd, encoding: 'utf8' }).trim()
-const run = (command: string, args: string[]): void => {
-  execFileSync(command, args, { cwd: repoRoot, stdio: 'inherit' })
-}
 const step = (message: string): void => {
-  console.log(`\nrelease:main: ${message}`)
+  console.log(`\n${script}: ${message}`)
 }
 
-const { version } = JSON.parse(readFileSync(join(repoRoot, 'core', 'package.json'), 'utf8')) as { version: string }
-
 const main = (): void => {
-  if (git(['branch', '--show-current']) !== 'dev') {
-    throw new Error('release:main: run this on the `dev` branch')
-  }
-
-  if (git(['status', '--porcelain', '--untracked-files=no']) !== '') {
-    throw new Error('release:main: the working tree has uncommitted changes - commit or stash them first')
-  }
+  requireBranch(script, 'dev')
+  const version = coreVersion()
 
   step('updating dev from origin')
   git(['fetch', 'origin', 'dev', 'main'])
   git(['merge', '--ff-only', 'origin/dev'])
 
   step(`refreshing the SRI hashes for @tabler/core v${version}`)
-  run(join(repoRoot, 'node_modules', '.bin', 'tsx'), [join('.build', 'generate-sri.ts'), '--wait'])
-
-  if (git(['status', '--porcelain', '--', sriFile]) === '') {
-    console.log(`release:main: ${sriFile} is already up to date`)
-  } else {
-    git(['commit', '-m', `Update SRI hashes for v${version}`, '--', sriFile])
-    console.log(`release:main: committed ${sriFile}`)
-  }
+  commitSriHashes(script, version)
 
   if (dryRun) {
     step('--dry-run: stopping before any push')
@@ -65,15 +43,13 @@ const main = (): void => {
   run('git', ['push', 'origin', 'dev'])
 
   step('merging dev into main')
-  const worktree = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), 'tabler-main-'))
+  mergeAndPush(script, 'dev', 'main', `Merge dev into main for v${version}`)
 
-  try {
-    git(['worktree', 'add', '--detach', worktree, 'origin/main'])
-    git(['merge', '--no-edit', '-m', `Merge dev into main for v${version}`, 'dev'], worktree)
-    execFileSync('git', ['push', 'origin', 'HEAD:main'], { cwd: worktree, stdio: 'inherit' })
-  } finally {
-    git(['worktree', 'remove', '--force', worktree])
-    rmSync(worktree, { recursive: true, force: true })
+  if (fetchBranchIfExists('next')) {
+    step('merging dev into next')
+    mergeAndPush(script, 'dev', 'next', `Merge dev into next after v${version}`)
+  } else {
+    step('no next branch - skipping the merge into next')
   }
 
   step(`done - docs.tabler.io deploys v${version} from main`)
diff --git a/.build/release-merge.ts b/.build/release-merge.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..96fb38439
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.build/release-merge.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+// Steps of `release:main`: refresh the SRI hashes for the version in core/package.json, and
+// merge one branch into another through a temporary worktree, so the current checkout (and a
+// dev server running from it) never switches branches.
+
+import { execFileSync } from 'node:child_process'
+import { mkdtempSync, readFileSync, rmSync } from 'node:fs'
+import { tmpdir } from 'node:os'
+import { join, dirname } from 'node:path'
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url'
+
+const __dirname = dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url))
+export const repoRoot = join(__dirname, '..')
+const sriFile = 'shared/data/sri.json'
+
+export const git = (args: string[], cwd = repoRoot): string => execFileSync('git', args, { cwd, encoding: 'utf8' }).trim()
+export const run = (command: string, args: string[], cwd = repoRoot): void => {
+  execFileSync(command, args, { cwd, stdio: 'inherit' })
+}
+
+export const coreVersion = (): string => {
+  const { version } = JSON.parse(readFileSync(join(repoRoot, 'core', 'package.json'), 'utf8')) as { version: string }
+  return version
+}
+
+/** Fails unless the checkout is on `branch` and clean. */
+export const requireBranch = (script: string, branch: string): string => {
+  const current = git(['branch', '--show-current'])
+  if (current !== branch) {
+    throw new Error(`${script}: run this on the \`${branch}\` branch`)
+  }
+  if (git(['status', '--porcelain', '--untracked-files=no']) !== '') {
+    throw new Error(`${script}: the working tree has uncommitted changes - commit or stash them first`)
+  }
+  return current
+}
+
+/** Whether `origin` has `branch`; fetches it when it does, so `origin/<branch>` is current. */
+export const fetchBranchIfExists = (branch: string): boolean => {
+  if (git(['ls-remote', '--heads', 'origin', branch]) === '') return false
+  git(['fetch', 'origin', branch])
+  return true
+}
+
+/** Runs `generate:sri --wait` and commits shared/data/sri.json when it changed. */
+export const commitSriHashes = (script: string, version: string): void => {
+  run(join(repoRoot, 'node_modules', '.bin', 'tsx'), [join('.build', 'generate-sri.ts'), '--wait'])
+
+  if (git(['status', '--porcelain', '--', sriFile]) === '') {
+    console.log(`${script}: ${sriFile} is already up to date`)
+  } else {
+    git(['commit', '-m', `Update SRI hashes for v${version}`, '--', sriFile])
+    console.log(`${script}: committed ${sriFile}`)
+  }
+}
+
+// Files two release lines always change on the same lines: the version fields and the top of
+// the changelogs. On a conflict there the target branch is right (its version is newer, its
+// changelog gets the entry from the GitHub release), so the merge keeps the target's side.
+const versionFiles = /(^|\/)(package\.json|CHANGELOG\.md)$/
+
+/**
+ * Merges the local branch `source` into `origin/<target>` in a temporary worktree and pushes
+ * the result to `target`. Conflicts in version files are resolved for the target; any other
+ * conflict aborts the merge and throws before anything is pushed.
+ */
+export const mergeAndPush = (script: string, source: string, target: string, message: string): void => {
+  const worktree = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), `tabler-${target.replace(/\//g, '-')}-`))
+
+  try {
+    git(['worktree', 'add', '--detach', worktree, `origin/${target}`])
+    try {
+      git(['merge', '--no-edit', '-m', message, source], worktree)
+    } catch {
+      const conflicts = git(['diff', '--name-only', '--diff-filter=U'], worktree).split('\n').filter(Boolean)
+      const other = conflicts.filter((file) => !versionFiles.test(file))
+      if (other.length > 0) {
+        git(['merge', '--abort'], worktree)
+        throw new Error(`${script}: merging ${source} into ${target} has conflicts in ${other.join(', ')} - merge \`origin/${source}\` into \`${target}\` by hand, keep the version and the changelog of \`${target}\`, and push it`)
+      }
+      console.log(`${script}: keeping the ${target} side of ${conflicts.join(', ')}`)
+      git(['checkout', '--ours', '--', ...conflicts], worktree)
+      git(['add', '--', ...conflicts], worktree)
+      git(['commit', '--no-edit', '-m', message], worktree)
+    }
+    run('git', ['push', 'origin', `HEAD:${target}`], worktree)
+  } finally {
+    git(['worktree', 'remove', '--force', worktree])
+    rmSync(worktree, { recursive: true, force: true })
+  }
+}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 425e6682b..fdafdc007 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ on:
   push:
     branches:
       - dev
+      - next
 
 permissions:
   contents: read
@@ -31,9 +32,10 @@ jobs:
         run: pnpm exec turbo build
 
       # Nothing the last release shipped may disappear in a minor release. On the
-      # versions pull request it runs with --strict, but workflows there wait for
-      # a manual approval, so the Release workflow runs --strict too.
+      # versions pull request (`changeset-release/dev` or `changeset-release/next`)
+      # it runs with --strict, but workflows there wait for a manual approval, so
+      # the Release workflow runs --strict too.
       - name: Check backward compatibility
         env:
-          STRICT: ${{ github.head_ref == 'changeset-release/dev' && '--strict' || '' }}
+          STRICT: ${{ startsWith(github.head_ref, 'changeset-release/') && '--strict' || '' }}
         run: pnpm run check:compat $STRICT
diff --git a/.github/workflows/bundlewatch.yml b/.github/workflows/bundlewatch.yml
index 0114db091..28b9802bb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/bundlewatch.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/bundlewatch.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ on:
     branches:
       - main
       - dev
+      - next
 
 permissions:
   contents: read
@@ -35,4 +36,6 @@ jobs:
         run: pnpm run bundlewatch
         env:
           BUNDLEWATCH_GITHUB_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.BUNDLEWATCH_GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
-          CI_BRANCH_BASE: dev
+          # Compare a pull request with its base branch (`dev` or `next`);
+          # a push records the branch itself as the new baseline.
+          CI_BRANCH_BASE: ${{ github.base_ref || github.ref_name }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/codeql.yml b/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
index 9908b0255..ff8d3f248 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ on:
     branches:
       - dev
       - main
+      - next
   schedule:
     - cron: '0 3 * * 1'
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/html-checks.yml b/.github/workflows/html-checks.yml
index 3d4a8a43d..7fe50a24b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/html-checks.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/html-checks.yml
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ on:
   push:
     branches:
       - dev
+      - next
 
 permissions:
   contents: read
diff --git a/.github/workflows/js-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/js-tests.yml
index 4acec73d7..25c36b482 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/js-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/js-tests.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ on:
     branches:
       - dev
       - main
+      - next
 
 permissions:
   contents: read
diff --git a/.github/workflows/lint.yml b/.github/workflows/lint.yml
index a5737c9e2..ff298e03c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/lint.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/lint.yml
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ on:
   push:
     branches:
       - dev
+      - next
 
 permissions:
   contents: read
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 13d073d42..71a59e1ed 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 name: Release
 
+# Two lines can release (see CONTRIBUTING.md, "Releases"):
+#   dev   the next patch of the current minor; `release:main` then merges it into `main`
+#   next  the next minor, in changesets prerelease mode: publishes `x.y.0-next.N` under
+#         the npm tag `next`, without a GitHub release
 on:
   push:
     branches:
       - dev
+      - next
 
 permissions:
   contents: read
@@ -56,6 +61,9 @@ jobs:
           # changeset-release/dev via a short-lived changesets-ghcommit-temp/* branch,
           # and every one of those branches triggered a Vercel build.
           push-with-git-cli: true
+          # A `next` prerelease is only an npm tag; the GitHub release comes with the
+          # final version from `dev`.
+          create-github-releases: ${{ github.ref_name != 'next' }}
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 
@@ -64,19 +72,26 @@ jobs:
       # packages shows up several times. Replace that body with the same notes the
       # GitHub release gets: the intro from `.github/release-notes/<version>.md`
       # and the changes grouped as core / demo / docs, each listed once. The
-      # action rewrites the body on every push to dev, so this runs right after it.
+      # action rewrites the body on every push to the branch, so this runs right
+      # after it. The version branch is `changeset-release/<branch>`.
       - name: Write the release notes into the version pull request
         if: steps.changesets.outputs.pr-number != ''
         continue-on-error: true
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           PR_NUMBER: ${{ steps.changesets.outputs.pr-number }}
+          BRANCH: ${{ github.ref_name }}
         run: |
-          git fetch --depth=1 origin changeset-release/dev
-          git checkout --force --detach origin/changeset-release/dev
+          git fetch --depth=1 origin "changeset-release/${BRANCH}"
+          git checkout --force --detach "origin/changeset-release/${BRANCH}"
           version=$(node -p "require('./core/package.json').version")
+          if [ "${BRANCH}" = "next" ]; then
+            what="publishes \`@tabler/core@${version}\` to npm under the \`next\` tag"
+          else
+            what="publishes \`@tabler/core@${version}\` to npm and creates the GitHub release"
+          fi
           {
-            echo "Merging this pull request publishes \`@tabler/core@${version}\` to npm and creates the GitHub release. It is regenerated on every push to \`dev\`."
+            echo "Merging this pull request ${what}. It is regenerated on every push to \`${BRANCH}\`."
             echo
             pnpm run --silent release-notes
           } > "${RUNNER_TEMP}/pr-body.md"
@@ -84,8 +99,9 @@ jobs:
 
       # `pnpm run build` above zipped preview/dist into packages-zip/; attach it to
       # the GitHub release that changesets/action just created for @tabler/core.
+      # Not on `next`: a prerelease has no GitHub release.
       - name: Attach the preview zip to the GitHub release
-        if: steps.changesets.outputs.published == 'true'
+        if: steps.changesets.outputs.published == 'true' && github.ref_name != 'next'
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -97,7 +113,7 @@ jobs:
       # the intro from `.github/release-notes/<version>.md` followed by the changes
       # grouped per package.
       - name: Write the release notes
-        if: steps.changesets.outputs.published == 'true'
+        if: steps.changesets.outputs.published == 'true' && github.ref_name != 'next'
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/scss-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/scss-tests.yml
index 21f65e5bb..025951655 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/scss-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/scss-tests.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ on:
     branches:
       - dev
       - main
+      - next
 
 permissions:
   contents: read
diff --git a/.github/workflows/type-check.yml b/.github/workflows/type-check.yml
index 57b1ecb87..b5ff6b870 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/type-check.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/type-check.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ on:
     branches:
       - main
       - dev
+      - next
 
 permissions:
   contents: read
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 5463dee0c..f8721f9e0 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -78,6 +78,29 @@ Two of these help with refactors:
 4. **Write the PR in English**: a concise title in present tense (max ~72 chars, no trailing period) and a short description that explains why the change is needed.
 5. **Keep the scope small**: one logical change per pull request makes reviews faster and releases safer.
 
+## Releases
+
+Only three long-lived branches exist: `main`, `dev` and `next`. There are no `release/*` branches; a fix always ships from `dev` as the next patch of the current minor.
+
+| Branch | Holds | Releases |
+| ------ | ----- | -------- |
+| `dev` | the current minor: fixes, docs, chores | the next patch (`1.7.1`, `1.7.2`, ...) as `latest` on npm |
+| `next` | the next minor: new components, classes, pages | prereleases (`1.8.0-next.0`, `-next.1`, ...) under the npm tag `next`, no GitHub release |
+| `main` | the last release | nothing; it builds docs.tabler.io |
+
+Every push to `dev` or `next` updates that branch's `chore: update versions` pull request; merging it publishes to npm. Open a pull request against `dev` for a fix and against `next` for a feature. A fix on `next` that users of the current version need goes to `dev` instead, and reaches `next` with the next sync.
+
+**After a patch release** from `dev`: `pnpm run release:main` (on `dev`) refreshes the SRI hashes, merges `dev` into `main` and merges `dev` into `next`. Run it after every release from `dev`, so `next` never drifts.
+
+**Releasing the next minor** (`next` becomes `1.8.0`):
+
+1. On `next`: `pnpm exec changeset pre exit`, commit `.changeset/pre.json` and push. The changesets consumed by the prereleases are still there; the final changelog lists all of them once.
+2. Merge `next` into `dev` (a pull request, or a merge pushed to `dev`). The `chore: update versions` pull request on `dev` now shows `1.8.0`; the `.github/release-notes/1.8.0.md` intro goes in before merging it.
+3. Merge the version pull request, wait for npm, run `pnpm run release:main`.
+4. Start the next line. `dev` now contains `next`, so it fast-forwards: `git checkout next && git merge --ff-only dev && pnpm exec changeset pre enter next && git commit -am "Enter prerelease mode for 1.9" && git push`. The first time, create the branch with `git checkout -b next dev` instead.
+
+Never commit to `main` directly. Changes reach it only through `release:main`.
+
 ## Code style
 
 - Use Bootstrap 5 conventions and Tabler's CSS custom properties pattern: `--component-property`. Write custom properties without a prefix — the build adds the public `--tblr-` prefix. Names owned by a third-party library you are theming must be listed in `cssVarIgnore` in `.build/css-var-prefix.ts` so they stay untouched.