diff --git a/django/__init__.py b/django/__init__.py
index 8737ce5a78..ac31acabca 100644
--- a/django/__init__.py
+++ b/django/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from django.utils.version import get_version
 
-VERSION = (2, 1, 0, 'beta', 1)
+VERSION = (2, 1, 0, 'rc', 1)
 
 __version__ = get_version(VERSION)