diff --git a/CHANGELOG.txt b/CHANGELOG.txt
index 1d1eb9cf0a..403bb2d4f1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.txt
+++ b/CHANGELOG.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 Changelog
 =========
 
-1.6 (xx.xx.xxxx) - IN DEVELOPMENT
+1.6 (xx.xx.xxxx)
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
  * Django 1.10 support
diff --git a/docs/releases/1.6.rst b/docs/releases/1.6.rst
index 6b35e047a9..1b689d3a46 100644
--- a/docs/releases/1.6.rst
+++ b/docs/releases/1.6.rst
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-==========================================
-Wagtail 1.6 release notes - IN DEVELOPMENT
-==========================================
+=========================
+Wagtail 1.6 release notes
+=========================
 
 .. contents::
     :local:
diff --git a/wagtail/project_template/requirements.txt b/wagtail/project_template/requirements.txt
index 8737e9f9fb..178a0132bf 100644
--- a/wagtail/project_template/requirements.txt
+++ b/wagtail/project_template/requirements.txt
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 Django>=1.10,<1.11
-wagtail==1.6a0
+wagtail==1.6rc1
diff --git a/wagtail/wagtailcore/__init__.py b/wagtail/wagtailcore/__init__.py
index 952c73fae7..baf36f9c86 100644
--- a/wagtail/wagtailcore/__init__.py
+++ b/wagtail/wagtailcore/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-__version__ = '1.6a1'
+__version__ = '1.6rc1'
 # Required for npm package for frontend
-__semver__ = '1.6.0-alpha'
+__semver__ = '1.6.0-rc.1'
 default_app_config = 'wagtail.wagtailcore.apps.WagtailCoreAppConfig'