diff --git a/changelog.md b/changelog.md
index fc1ecf319c..bd93cf0d51 100644
--- a/changelog.md
+++ b/changelog.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 2.12.0~rc1
+
+
+
 ## 2.11.1
 
 * Modify the `securedrop-noble-migration-check` program to avoid triggering
diff --git a/install_files/ansible-base/group_vars/all/securedrop b/install_files/ansible-base/group_vars/all/securedrop
index 1318250d23..1d46fdd8d4 100644
--- a/install_files/ansible-base/group_vars/all/securedrop
+++ b/install_files/ansible-base/group_vars/all/securedrop
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # Variables that apply to both the app and monitor server go in this file
 # If the monitor or app server need different values define the variable in
 # hosts_vars/app.yml or host_vars/mon.yml
-securedrop_version: "2.11.1"
+securedrop_version: "2.12.0~rc1"
 securedrop_app_code_sdist_name: "securedrop-app-code-{{ securedrop_version | replace('~', '-') }}.tar.gz"
 
 grsecurity: true
diff --git a/securedrop/debian/changelog b/securedrop/debian/changelog
index 9c17b75034..c876292b26 100644
--- a/securedrop/debian/changelog
+++ b/securedrop/debian/changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+securedrop (2.12.0~rc1) unstable; urgency=medium
+
+  * 
+
+ -- SecureDrop Team <securedrop@freedom.press>  Thu, 19 Dec 2024 16:43:27 -0500
+
 securedrop (2.11.1) unstable; urgency=medium
 
   * see changelog.md 
diff --git a/securedrop/setup.py b/securedrop/setup.py
index 99c9ee6e1f..54beb64327 100644
--- a/securedrop/setup.py
+++ b/securedrop/setup.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 setuptools.setup(
     name="securedrop-app-code",
-    version="2.11.1",
+    version="2.12.0~rc1",
     author="Freedom of the Press Foundation",
     author_email="securedrop@freedom.press",
     description="SecureDrop Server",
diff --git a/securedrop/version.py b/securedrop/version.py
index 200c236308..0a77836dd5 100644
--- a/securedrop/version.py
+++ b/securedrop/version.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = "2.11.1"
+__version__ = "2.12.0~rc1"