diff --git a/django/__init__.py b/django/__init__.py
index f5b23c8639..338ca0e5a9 100644
--- a/django/__init__.py
+++ b/django/__init__.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from django.utils.version import get_version
 
-VERSION = (1, 11, 0, 'beta', 1)
+VERSION = (1, 11, 0, 'rc', 1)
 
 __version__ = get_version(VERSION)