diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index ae5a6a4a7c..ee94bf6bdb 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "graphql",
-  "version": "16.0.0-alpha.5",
+  "version": "16.0.0-rc.1",
   "lockfileVersion": 2,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "graphql",
-      "version": "16.0.0-alpha.5",
+      "version": "16.0.0-rc.1",
       "license": "MIT",
       "devDependencies": {
         "@babel/core": "7.15.0",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 054a9ad1cc..1abf095ace 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "graphql",
-  "version": "16.0.0-alpha.5",
+  "version": "16.0.0-rc.1",
   "description": "A Query Language and Runtime which can target any service.",
   "license": "MIT",
   "private": true,
diff --git a/src/version.ts b/src/version.ts
index 589ee0b203..193431737e 100644
--- a/src/version.ts
+++ b/src/version.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 /**
  * A string containing the version of the GraphQL.js library
  */
-export const version = '16.0.0-alpha.5';
+export const version = '16.0.0-rc.1';
 
 /**
  * An object containing the components of the GraphQL.js version string
@@ -13,5 +13,5 @@ export const versionInfo = Object.freeze({
   major: 16,
   minor: 0,
   patch: 0,
-  preReleaseTag: 'alpha.5',
+  preReleaseTag: 'rc.1',
 });