diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index 81ba0d0e0..f7a0a7f84 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 Changelog (Pillow)
 ==================
 
-2.6.0 (unreleased)
+2.6.0-rc1 (2014-09-29)
 ------------------
 
 - Use redistributable image for testing #884
diff --git a/PIL/__init__.py b/PIL/__init__.py
index c6e27d791..30e845182 100644
--- a/PIL/__init__.py
+++ b/PIL/__init__.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # ;-)
 
 VERSION = '1.1.7'  # PIL version
-PILLOW_VERSION = '2.5.3'  # Pillow
+PILLOW_VERSION = '2.6.0-rc1'  # Pillow
 
 _plugins = ['BmpImagePlugin',
             'BufrStubImagePlugin',
diff --git a/_imaging.c b/_imaging.c
index ec8205dd4..2b5825dd8 100644
--- a/_imaging.c
+++ b/_imaging.c
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@
  * See the README file for information on usage and redistribution.
  */
 
-#define PILLOW_VERSION "2.5.3"
+#define PILLOW_VERSION "2.6.0-rc1"
 
 #include "Python.h"
 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 46293fbc8..4bce62e36 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ except (ImportError, OSError):
 
 
 NAME = 'Pillow'
-PILLOW_VERSION = '2.5.3'
+PILLOW_VERSION = '2.6.0-rc1'
 TCL_ROOT = None
 JPEG_ROOT = None
 JPEG2K_ROOT = None