diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 4fae55bb804cd..4ace39843da7b 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ if (protobuf_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
 endif ()
 
 # Version metadata
-set(protobuf_VERSION_STRING "4.25.0")
+set(protobuf_VERSION_STRING "5.26.0-rc-1")
 set(protobuf_DESCRIPTION "Protocol Buffers")
 set(protobuf_CONTACT "protobuf@googlegroups.com")
 
diff --git a/Protobuf-C++.podspec b/Protobuf-C++.podspec
index f2b9f35535aa9..3d7f87360a79e 100644
--- a/Protobuf-C++.podspec
+++ b/Protobuf-C++.podspec
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 Pod::Spec.new do |s|
   s.name     = 'Protobuf-C++'
-  s.version  = '4.25.0'
+  s.version  = '5.26.0-rc1'
   s.summary  = 'Protocol Buffers v3 runtime library for C++.'
   s.homepage = 'https://github.com/google/protobuf'
   s.license  = 'BSD-3-Clause'
diff --git a/Protobuf.podspec b/Protobuf.podspec
index 0e4a664d6f073..13f4fe04a1511 100644
--- a/Protobuf.podspec
+++ b/Protobuf.podspec
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 # dependent projects use the :git notation to refer to the library.
 Pod::Spec.new do |s|
   s.name     = 'Protobuf'
-  s.version  = '3.25.0'
+  s.version  = '3.26.0-rc1'
   s.summary  = 'Protocol Buffers v.3 runtime library for Objective-C.'
   s.homepage = 'https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf'
   s.license  = 'BSD-3-Clause'
diff --git a/csharp/Google.Protobuf.Tools.nuspec b/csharp/Google.Protobuf.Tools.nuspec
index bd9a3b66db861..3f500e782c27e 100644
--- a/csharp/Google.Protobuf.Tools.nuspec
+++ b/csharp/Google.Protobuf.Tools.nuspec
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     <title>Google Protocol Buffers tools</title>
     <summary>Tools for Protocol Buffers - Google's data interchange format.</summary>
     <description>See project site for more info.</description>
-    <version>3.25.0</version>
+    <version>3.26.0-rc1</version>
     <authors>Google Inc.</authors>
     <owners>protobuf-packages</owners>
     <licenseUrl>https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/blob/main/LICENSE</licenseUrl>
diff --git a/csharp/src/Google.Protobuf/Google.Protobuf.csproj b/csharp/src/Google.Protobuf/Google.Protobuf.csproj
index 88a9874889e7d..5a2c714c2f0e3 100644
--- a/csharp/src/Google.Protobuf/Google.Protobuf.csproj
+++ b/csharp/src/Google.Protobuf/Google.Protobuf.csproj
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
-<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
+<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <!-- If you update this, update the .csproj in the Docker file as well -->
 
   <PropertyGroup>
     <Description>C# runtime library for Protocol Buffers - Google's data interchange format.</Description>
     <Copyright>Copyright 2015, Google Inc.</Copyright>
     <AssemblyTitle>Google Protocol Buffers</AssemblyTitle>
-    <VersionPrefix>3.25.0</VersionPrefix>
+    <VersionPrefix>3.26.0-rc1</VersionPrefix>
     <LangVersion>10.0</LangVersion>
     <Authors>Google Inc.</Authors>
     <TargetFrameworks>netstandard1.1;netstandard2.0;net45;net50</TargetFrameworks>
diff --git a/java/README.md b/java/README.md
index f6dab2654d702..1ec1b6fd5bc44 100644
--- a/java/README.md
+++ b/java/README.md
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ If you are using Maven, use the following:
 <dependency>
   <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
   <artifactId>protobuf-java</artifactId>
-  <version>3.25.0</version>
+  <version>4.26.0-rc-1</version>
 </dependency>
 ```
 
@@ -37,14 +37,14 @@ protobuf-java-util package:
 <dependency>
   <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
   <artifactId>protobuf-java-util</artifactId>
-  <version>3.25.0</version>
+  <version>4.26.0-rc-1</version>
 </dependency>
 ```
 
 ### Gradle
 
 If you are using Gradle, add the following to your `build.gradle` file's
-dependencies: `implementation 'com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java:3.25.0'` Again,
+dependencies: `implementation 'com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java:4.26.0-rc-1'` Again,
 be sure to check that the version number matches (or is newer than) the version
 number of protoc that you are using.
 
diff --git a/java/bom/pom.xml b/java/bom/pom.xml
index 411c501fa7cfd..aa220bad0c617 100644
--- a/java/bom/pom.xml
+++ b/java/bom/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
   <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
   <artifactId>protobuf-bom</artifactId>
-  <version>3.25.0</version>
+  <version>4.26.0-RC1</version>
   <packaging>pom</packaging>
 
   <name>Protocol Buffers [BOM]</name>
diff --git a/java/core/pom.xml b/java/core/pom.xml
index b0a2bab5cc490..fc8d00dcc7e83 100644
--- a/java/core/pom.xml
+++ b/java/core/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
     <artifactId>protobuf-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>3.25.0</version>
+    <version>4.26.0-RC1</version>
   </parent>
 
   <artifactId>protobuf-java</artifactId>
diff --git a/java/core/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/RuntimeVersion.java b/java/core/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/RuntimeVersion.java
index b0be675cf945d..16869c8bf035b 100644
--- a/java/core/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/RuntimeVersion.java
+++ b/java/core/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/RuntimeVersion.java
@@ -26,10 +26,10 @@ public enum RuntimeDomain {
   // Automatically updated by Protobuf release process. Do not edit manually.
 
   public static final RuntimeDomain DOMAIN = RuntimeDomain.PUBLIC;
-  public static final int MAJOR = 3;
+  public static final int MAJOR = 4;
   public static final int MINOR = 26;
   public static final int PATCH = 0;
-  public static final String SUFFIX = "-dev";
+  public static final String SUFFIX = "-rc1";
 
   private static final String VERSION_STRING = versionString(MAJOR, MINOR, PATCH, SUFFIX);
   private static final Logger logger = Logger.getLogger(RuntimeVersion.class.getName());
diff --git a/java/kotlin-lite/pom.xml b/java/kotlin-lite/pom.xml
index bc4fb9ef7cc5b..f4a9068c28fd0 100644
--- a/java/kotlin-lite/pom.xml
+++ b/java/kotlin-lite/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
     <artifactId>protobuf-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>3.25.0</version>
+    <version>4.26.0-RC1</version>
   </parent>
 
   <artifactId>protobuf-kotlin-lite</artifactId>
diff --git a/java/kotlin/pom.xml b/java/kotlin/pom.xml
index 3d26d8a31192e..c82308ea895a0 100644
--- a/java/kotlin/pom.xml
+++ b/java/kotlin/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
     <artifactId>protobuf-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>3.25.0</version>
+    <version>4.26.0-RC1</version>
   </parent>
 
   <artifactId>protobuf-kotlin</artifactId>
diff --git a/java/lite.md b/java/lite.md
index fbaf1c8ed44ad..5500a3e489353 100644
--- a/java/lite.md
+++ b/java/lite.md
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ protobuf Java Lite runtime. If you are using Maven, include the following:
 <dependency>
   <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
   <artifactId>protobuf-javalite</artifactId>
-  <version>3.25.0</version>
+  <version>4.26.0-rc-1</version>
 </dependency>
 ```
 
diff --git a/java/lite/pom.xml b/java/lite/pom.xml
index f0ae1e1b06ea1..3024f44a16c90 100644
--- a/java/lite/pom.xml
+++ b/java/lite/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
     <artifactId>protobuf-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>3.25.0</version>
+    <version>4.26.0-RC1</version>
   </parent>
 
   <artifactId>protobuf-javalite</artifactId>
diff --git a/java/pom.xml b/java/pom.xml
index f786f572b5a9c..734510a29d110 100644
--- a/java/pom.xml
+++ b/java/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
   <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
   <artifactId>protobuf-parent</artifactId>
-  <version>3.25.0</version>
+  <version>4.26.0-RC1</version>
   <packaging>pom</packaging>
 
   <name>Protocol Buffers [Parent]</name>
diff --git a/java/protoc/pom.xml b/java/protoc/pom.xml
index 34f8579c8bfa3..3a30638cce714 100644
--- a/java/protoc/pom.xml
+++ b/java/protoc/pom.xml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
   </parent>
   <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
   <artifactId>protoc</artifactId>
-  <version>3.25.0</version>
+  <version>4.26.0-RC1</version>
   <packaging>pom</packaging>
   <name>Protobuf Compiler</name>
   <description>
diff --git a/java/util/pom.xml b/java/util/pom.xml
index 68280db223e59..571e547d4c784 100644
--- a/java/util/pom.xml
+++ b/java/util/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
     <artifactId>protobuf-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>3.25.0</version>
+    <version>4.26.0-RC1</version>
   </parent>
 
   <artifactId>protobuf-java-util</artifactId>
diff --git a/php/ext/google/protobuf/protobuf.h b/php/ext/google/protobuf/protobuf.h
index 4fab47f357b15..15bbcac3d626e 100644
--- a/php/ext/google/protobuf/protobuf.h
+++ b/php/ext/google/protobuf/protobuf.h
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ ZEND_BEGIN_ARG_INFO_EX(arginfo_setter, 0, 0, 1)
 ZEND_ARG_INFO(0, value)
 ZEND_END_ARG_INFO()
 
-#define PHP_PROTOBUF_VERSION "3.25.0"
+#define PHP_PROTOBUF_VERSION "4.26.0RC1"
 
 // ptr -> PHP object cache. This is a weak map that caches lazily-created
 // wrapper objects around upb types:
diff --git a/protobuf_version.bzl b/protobuf_version.bzl
index a122dc377f1b8..64116a60078f3 100644
--- a/protobuf_version.bzl
+++ b/protobuf_version.bzl
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """ Contains version numbers to be used in other bzl files """
-PROTOC_VERSION = "25.0"
-PROTOBUF_JAVA_VERSION = "3.25.0"
-PROTOBUF_PYTHON_VERSION = "4.25.0"
-PROTOBUF_PHP_VERSION = "3.25.0"
-PROTOBUF_RUBY_VERSION = "3.25.0"
+PROTOC_VERSION = "26.0-rc-1"
+PROTOBUF_JAVA_VERSION = "4.26.0-RC1"
+PROTOBUF_PYTHON_VERSION = "5.26.0rc1"
+PROTOBUF_PHP_VERSION = "4.26.0RC1"
+PROTOBUF_RUBY_VERSION = "4.26.0.rc.1"
diff --git a/python/google/protobuf/__init__.py b/python/google/protobuf/__init__.py
index 522b7ed499059..5893fe016a85f 100755
--- a/python/google/protobuf/__init__.py
+++ b/python/google/protobuf/__init__.py
@@ -7,4 +7,4 @@
 
 # Copyright 2007 Google Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 
-__version__ = '4.25.0'
+__version__ = '5.26.0rc1'
diff --git a/ruby/google-protobuf.gemspec b/ruby/google-protobuf.gemspec
index 372f290d6e8b4..f0707f89100df 100644
--- a/ruby/google-protobuf.gemspec
+++ b/ruby/google-protobuf.gemspec
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 Gem::Specification.new do |s|
   s.name        = "google-protobuf"
-  s.version     = "3.25.0"
+  s.version     = "4.26.0.rc.1"
   git_tag       = "v#{s.version.to_s.sub('.rc.', '-rc')}" # Converts X.Y.Z.rc.N to vX.Y.Z-rcN, used for the git tag
   s.licenses    = ["BSD-3-Clause"]
   s.summary     = "Protocol Buffers"
diff --git a/ruby/pom.xml b/ruby/pom.xml
index 5cd8245c5a0e5..72b13adf48f60 100644
--- a/ruby/pom.xml
+++ b/ruby/pom.xml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
     <groupId>com.google.protobuf.jruby</groupId>
     <artifactId>protobuf-jruby</artifactId>
-    <version>3.25.0</version>
+    <version>4.26.0-RC1</version>
     <name>Protocol Buffer JRuby native extension</name>
     <description>
       Protocol Buffers are a way of encoding structured data in an efficient yet
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@
         <dependency>
           <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
           <artifactId>protobuf-java-util</artifactId>
-          <version>3.25.0</version>
+          <version>4.26.0-RC1</version>
         </dependency>
         <dependency>
             <groupId>org.jruby</groupId>
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/any.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/any.pb.cc
index 4f12415177bc6..d4c818934ba71 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/any.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/any.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/any.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #include "google/protobuf/any.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/any.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/any.pb.h
index 2595f04be62b1..5fa6730767bdf 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/any.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/any.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/any.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fany_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fany_2eproto_2epb_2eh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include <utility>
 
 #include "google/protobuf/port_def.inc"
-#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 4026000
+#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 5026000
 #error "Protobuf C++ gencode is built with an incompatible version of"
 #error "Protobuf C++ headers/runtime. See"
 #error "https://protobuf.dev/support/cross-version-runtime-guarantee/#cpp"
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/api.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/api.pb.cc
index 7fdd06ed70283..a26d909b00717 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/api.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/api.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/api.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #include "google/protobuf/api.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/api.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/api.pb.h
index fbaa6c583ad22..358aa98c2aa9f 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/api.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/api.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/api.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fapi_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fapi_2eproto_2epb_2eh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include <utility>
 
 #include "google/protobuf/port_def.inc"
-#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 4026000
+#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 5026000
 #error "Protobuf C++ gencode is built with an incompatible version of"
 #error "Protobuf C++ headers/runtime. See"
 #error "https://protobuf.dev/support/cross-version-runtime-guarantee/#cpp"
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.pb.cc
index 8e1cc7bd4b7db..55935a06c3779 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #include "google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.pb.h
index aca9f50c3a9b9..8a8bfb5af9a27 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fcompiler_2fjava_2fjava_5ffeatures_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fcompiler_2fjava_2fjava_5ffeatures_2eproto_2epb_2eh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include <utility>
 
 #include "google/protobuf/port_def.inc"
-#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 4026000
+#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 5026000
 #error "Protobuf C++ gencode is built with an incompatible version of"
 #error "Protobuf C++ headers/runtime. See"
 #error "https://protobuf.dev/support/cross-version-runtime-guarantee/#cpp"
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.pb.cc
index 6435ee0e4b2bb..9af1d721ed205 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #include "google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.pb.h
index 49252c37ec61a..5bc6084d5e045 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fcompiler_2fplugin_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fcompiler_2fplugin_2eproto_2epb_2eh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include <utility>
 
 #include "google/protobuf/port_def.inc"
-#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 4026000
+#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 5026000
 #error "Protobuf C++ gencode is built with an incompatible version of"
 #error "Protobuf C++ headers/runtime. See"
 #error "https://protobuf.dev/support/cross-version-runtime-guarantee/#cpp"
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/versions.h b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/versions.h
index b75b2c09c4c24..0090b57b72f24 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/versions.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/versions.h
@@ -53,9 +53,9 @@
 //
 // Please avoid changing them manually, as they should be updated automatically
 // by Protobuf release process.
-#define PROTOBUF_CPP_VERSION_STRING "4.26.0-dev"
-#define PROTOBUF_JAVA_VERSION_STRING "3.26.0-dev"
-#define PROTOBUF_PYTHON_VERSION_STRING "4.26.0-dev"
+#define PROTOBUF_CPP_VERSION_STRING "5.26.0-rc1"
+#define PROTOBUF_JAVA_VERSION_STRING "4.26.0-rc1"
+#define PROTOBUF_PYTHON_VERSION_STRING "5.26.0-rc1"
 
 
 namespace google {
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/cpp_features.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/cpp_features.pb.cc
index e65e9f074c5df..2a0284c0de367 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/cpp_features.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/cpp_features.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/cpp_features.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #include "google/protobuf/cpp_features.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/cpp_features.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/cpp_features.pb.h
index 3a9558b878f0b..2ece40ded4625 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/cpp_features.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/cpp_features.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/cpp_features.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fcpp_5ffeatures_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fcpp_5ffeatures_2eproto_2epb_2eh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include <utility>
 
 #include "google/protobuf/port_def.inc"
-#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 4026000
+#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 5026000
 #error "Protobuf C++ gencode is built with an incompatible version of"
 #error "Protobuf C++ headers/runtime. See"
 #error "https://protobuf.dev/support/cross-version-runtime-guarantee/#cpp"
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/descriptor.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/descriptor.pb.cc
index d88bbabdf7b62..d8587ce7ad2e0 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/descriptor.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/descriptor.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/descriptor.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #include "google/protobuf/descriptor.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/descriptor.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/descriptor.pb.h
index 721223322a92b..a0a90f15bb067 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/descriptor.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/descriptor.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/descriptor.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fdescriptor_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fdescriptor_2eproto_2epb_2eh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include <utility>
 
 #include "google/protobuf/port_def.inc"
-#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 4026000
+#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 5026000
 #error "Protobuf C++ gencode is built with an incompatible version of"
 #error "Protobuf C++ headers/runtime. See"
 #error "https://protobuf.dev/support/cross-version-runtime-guarantee/#cpp"
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/duration.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/duration.pb.cc
index 8f70a9df43bbd..3717bab166bb6 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/duration.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/duration.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/duration.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #include "google/protobuf/duration.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/duration.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/duration.pb.h
index 816a6d715bfc7..5bbd185a812ed 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/duration.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/duration.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/duration.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fduration_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fduration_2eproto_2epb_2eh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include <utility>
 
 #include "google/protobuf/port_def.inc"
-#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 4026000
+#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 5026000
 #error "Protobuf C++ gencode is built with an incompatible version of"
 #error "Protobuf C++ headers/runtime. See"
 #error "https://protobuf.dev/support/cross-version-runtime-guarantee/#cpp"
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/empty.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/empty.pb.cc
index 72ddabfa8ef28..7b77428200732 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/empty.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/empty.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/empty.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #include "google/protobuf/empty.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/empty.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/empty.pb.h
index 75f41a09d341a..e878241b36f73 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/empty.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/empty.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/empty.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fempty_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fempty_2eproto_2epb_2eh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include <utility>
 
 #include "google/protobuf/port_def.inc"
-#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 4026000
+#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 5026000
 #error "Protobuf C++ gencode is built with an incompatible version of"
 #error "Protobuf C++ headers/runtime. See"
 #error "https://protobuf.dev/support/cross-version-runtime-guarantee/#cpp"
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/field_mask.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/field_mask.pb.cc
index a14674cf31b2f..31ec867457050 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/field_mask.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/field_mask.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/field_mask.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #include "google/protobuf/field_mask.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/field_mask.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/field_mask.pb.h
index 84399b462e26f..bf115a4a4ca84 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/field_mask.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/field_mask.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/field_mask.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2ffield_5fmask_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2ffield_5fmask_2eproto_2epb_2eh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include <utility>
 
 #include "google/protobuf/port_def.inc"
-#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 4026000
+#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 5026000
 #error "Protobuf C++ gencode is built with an incompatible version of"
 #error "Protobuf C++ headers/runtime. See"
 #error "https://protobuf.dev/support/cross-version-runtime-guarantee/#cpp"
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/port_def.inc b/src/google/protobuf/port_def.inc
index c156037e3cd02..de53032f1e0f4 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/port_def.inc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/port_def.inc
@@ -170,12 +170,12 @@ static_assert(PROTOBUF_ABSL_MIN(20230125, 3),
 #ifdef PROTOBUF_VERSION
 #error PROTOBUF_VERSION was previously defined
 #endif
-#define PROTOBUF_VERSION 4026000
+#define PROTOBUF_VERSION 5026000
 
 #ifdef PROTOBUF_VERSION_SUFFIX
 #error PROTOBUF_VERSION_SUFFIX was previously defined
 #endif
-#define PROTOBUF_VERSION_SUFFIX ""
+#define PROTOBUF_VERSION_SUFFIX "-rc1"
 
 #ifdef PROTOBUF_MINIMUM_EDITION
 #error PROTOBUF_MINIMUM_EDITION was previously defined
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/source_context.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/source_context.pb.cc
index c5d3afcb5c85b..7517dfa98f4aa 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/source_context.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/source_context.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/source_context.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #include "google/protobuf/source_context.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/source_context.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/source_context.pb.h
index be61ddf335839..92579be8fb14e 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/source_context.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/source_context.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/source_context.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fsource_5fcontext_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fsource_5fcontext_2eproto_2epb_2eh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include <utility>
 
 #include "google/protobuf/port_def.inc"
-#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 4026000
+#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 5026000
 #error "Protobuf C++ gencode is built with an incompatible version of"
 #error "Protobuf C++ headers/runtime. See"
 #error "https://protobuf.dev/support/cross-version-runtime-guarantee/#cpp"
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/struct.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/struct.pb.cc
index aeb5e7cc278b1..253e5eb38f1d7 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/struct.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/struct.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/struct.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #include "google/protobuf/struct.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/struct.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/struct.pb.h
index 0ac4a35bb0cf3..0260285c32e5f 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/struct.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/struct.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/struct.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fstruct_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fstruct_2eproto_2epb_2eh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include <utility>
 
 #include "google/protobuf/port_def.inc"
-#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 4026000
+#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 5026000
 #error "Protobuf C++ gencode is built with an incompatible version of"
 #error "Protobuf C++ headers/runtime. See"
 #error "https://protobuf.dev/support/cross-version-runtime-guarantee/#cpp"
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/stubs/common.h b/src/google/protobuf/stubs/common.h
index 459bd15d16e2f..db9e3737d5715 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/stubs/common.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/stubs/common.h
@@ -45,10 +45,10 @@ namespace internal {
 
 // The current version, represented as a single integer to make comparison
 // easier:  major * 10^6 + minor * 10^3 + micro
-#define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_VERSION 4026000
+#define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_VERSION 5026000
 
 // A suffix string for alpha, beta or rc releases. Empty for stable releases.
-#define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_VERSION_SUFFIX ""
+#define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_VERSION_SUFFIX "-rc1"
 
 // Verifies that the protobuf version a program was compiled with matches what
 // it is linked/running with. Use the macro below to call this function.
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/timestamp.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/timestamp.pb.cc
index 168a9eac20881..9dce60f3c1df4 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/timestamp.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/timestamp.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/timestamp.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #include "google/protobuf/timestamp.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/timestamp.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/timestamp.pb.h
index e987282c60b86..73d8bb3c55f11 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/timestamp.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/timestamp.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/timestamp.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2ftimestamp_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2ftimestamp_2eproto_2epb_2eh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include <utility>
 
 #include "google/protobuf/port_def.inc"
-#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 4026000
+#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 5026000
 #error "Protobuf C++ gencode is built with an incompatible version of"
 #error "Protobuf C++ headers/runtime. See"
 #error "https://protobuf.dev/support/cross-version-runtime-guarantee/#cpp"
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/type.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/type.pb.cc
index f33d960d1611b..4b76e07dca78d 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/type.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/type.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/type.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #include "google/protobuf/type.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/type.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/type.pb.h
index 5d0e4b3e31afe..ff6cfa8596c56 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/type.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/type.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/type.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2ftype_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2ftype_2eproto_2epb_2eh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include <utility>
 
 #include "google/protobuf/port_def.inc"
-#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 4026000
+#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 5026000
 #error "Protobuf C++ gencode is built with an incompatible version of"
 #error "Protobuf C++ headers/runtime. See"
 #error "https://protobuf.dev/support/cross-version-runtime-guarantee/#cpp"
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/wrappers.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/wrappers.pb.cc
index 2fc0971a6e008..c93851e1fc5dc 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/wrappers.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/wrappers.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/wrappers.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #include "google/protobuf/wrappers.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/wrappers.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/wrappers.pb.h
index 9f8881b99c0b9..0f1ce1497b8e9 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/wrappers.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/wrappers.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/wrappers.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 4.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc1
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fwrappers_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fwrappers_2eproto_2epb_2eh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include <utility>
 
 #include "google/protobuf/port_def.inc"
-#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 4026000
+#if PROTOBUF_VERSION != 5026000
 #error "Protobuf C++ gencode is built with an incompatible version of"
 #error "Protobuf C++ headers/runtime. See"
 #error "https://protobuf.dev/support/cross-version-runtime-guarantee/#cpp"
diff --git a/version.json b/version.json
index 05700139ceb48..31d7a4af276a2 100644
--- a/version.json
+++ b/version.json
@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
 {
-  "main": {
-    "protoc_version": "26-dev",
-    "lts": false,
-    "date": "2023-11-01",
-    "languages": {
-      "cpp": "5.26-dev",
-      "csharp": "3.26-dev",
-      "java": "4.26-dev",
-      "javascript": "3.26-dev",
-      "objectivec": "3.26-dev",
-      "php": "4.26-dev",
-      "python": "5.26-dev",
-      "ruby": "4.26-dev"
+    "26.x": {
+        "protoc_version": "26.0-rc1",
+        "lts": false,
+        "date": "2024-01-24",
+        "languages": {
+            "cpp": "5.26.0-rc1",
+            "csharp": "3.26.0-rc1",
+            "java": "4.26.0-rc1",
+            "javascript": "3.26.0-rc1",
+            "objectivec": "3.26.0-rc1",
+            "php": "4.26.0-rc1",
+            "python": "5.26.0-rc1",
+            "ruby": "4.26.0-rc1"
+        }
     }
-  }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file