diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 5a958026..8028d843 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.5
+3.6-rc1
diff --git a/checkpolicy/VERSION b/checkpolicy/VERSION
index 5a958026..8028d843 100644
--- a/checkpolicy/VERSION
+++ b/checkpolicy/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.5
+3.6-rc1
diff --git a/dbus/VERSION b/dbus/VERSION
index 5a958026..8028d843 100644
--- a/dbus/VERSION
+++ b/dbus/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.5
+3.6-rc1
diff --git a/gui/VERSION b/gui/VERSION
index 5a958026..8028d843 100644
--- a/gui/VERSION
+++ b/gui/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.5
+3.6-rc1
diff --git a/libselinux/VERSION b/libselinux/VERSION
index 5a958026..8028d843 100644
--- a/libselinux/VERSION
+++ b/libselinux/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.5
+3.6-rc1
diff --git a/libselinux/src/setup.py b/libselinux/src/setup.py
index 48007379..3ce9ea69 100644
--- a/libselinux/src/setup.py
+++ b/libselinux/src/setup.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from setuptools import Extension, setup
 
 setup(
     name="selinux",
-    version="3.5",
+    version="3.6-rc1",
     description="SELinux python 3 bindings",
     author="SELinux Project",
     author_email="selinux@vger.kernel.org",
diff --git a/libsemanage/VERSION b/libsemanage/VERSION
index 5a958026..8028d843 100644
--- a/libsemanage/VERSION
+++ b/libsemanage/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.5
+3.6-rc1
diff --git a/libsepol/VERSION b/libsepol/VERSION
index 5a958026..8028d843 100644
--- a/libsepol/VERSION
+++ b/libsepol/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.5
+3.6-rc1
diff --git a/mcstrans/VERSION b/mcstrans/VERSION
index 5a958026..8028d843 100644
--- a/mcstrans/VERSION
+++ b/mcstrans/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.5
+3.6-rc1
diff --git a/policycoreutils/VERSION b/policycoreutils/VERSION
index 5a958026..8028d843 100644
--- a/policycoreutils/VERSION
+++ b/policycoreutils/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.5
+3.6-rc1
diff --git a/python/VERSION b/python/VERSION
index 5a958026..8028d843 100644
--- a/python/VERSION
+++ b/python/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.5
+3.6-rc1
diff --git a/python/sepolgen/VERSION b/python/sepolgen/VERSION
index 5a958026..8028d843 100644
--- a/python/sepolgen/VERSION
+++ b/python/sepolgen/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.5
+3.6-rc1
diff --git a/python/sepolicy/setup.py b/python/sepolicy/setup.py
index 467624af..703840a3 100644
--- a/python/sepolicy/setup.py
+++ b/python/sepolicy/setup.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from setuptools import setup
 
 setup(
     name="sepolicy",
-    version="3.5",
+    version="3.6-rc1",
     description="Python SELinux Policy Analyses bindings",
     author="Daniel Walsh",
     author_email="dwalsh@redhat.com",
diff --git a/restorecond/VERSION b/restorecond/VERSION
index 5a958026..8028d843 100644
--- a/restorecond/VERSION
+++ b/restorecond/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.5
+3.6-rc1
diff --git a/sandbox/VERSION b/sandbox/VERSION
index 5a958026..8028d843 100644
--- a/sandbox/VERSION
+++ b/sandbox/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.5
+3.6-rc1
diff --git a/secilc/VERSION b/secilc/VERSION
index 5a958026..8028d843 100644
--- a/secilc/VERSION
+++ b/secilc/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.5
+3.6-rc1
diff --git a/semodule-utils/VERSION b/semodule-utils/VERSION
index 5a958026..8028d843 100644
--- a/semodule-utils/VERSION
+++ b/semodule-utils/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.5
+3.6-rc1