diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 06906417a512..86217038c12f 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ if (protobuf_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
 endif ()
 
 # Version metadata
-set(protobuf_VERSION_STRING "5.26.0")
+set(protobuf_VERSION_STRING "5.26.0-rc-2")
 set(protobuf_DESCRIPTION "Protocol Buffers")
 set(protobuf_CONTACT "protobuf@googlegroups.com")
 
diff --git a/Protobuf-C++.podspec b/Protobuf-C++.podspec
index c849c67f77f9..a5ad2bdff887 100644
--- a/Protobuf-C++.podspec
+++ b/Protobuf-C++.podspec
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 Pod::Spec.new do |s|
   s.name     = 'Protobuf-C++'
-  s.version  = '5.26.0'
+  s.version  = '5.26.0-rc2'
   s.summary  = 'Protocol Buffers v3 runtime library for C++.'
   s.homepage = 'https://github.com/google/protobuf'
   s.license  = 'BSD-3-Clause'
diff --git a/Protobuf.podspec b/Protobuf.podspec
index 04b7b3e989bb..6859fb00d0d0 100644
--- a/Protobuf.podspec
+++ b/Protobuf.podspec
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 # dependent projects use the :git notation to refer to the library.
 Pod::Spec.new do |s|
   s.name     = 'Protobuf'
-  s.version  = '3.26.0'
+  s.version  = '3.26.0-rc2'
   s.summary  = 'Protocol Buffers v.3 runtime library for Objective-C.'
   s.homepage = 'https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf'
   s.license  = 'BSD-3-Clause'
diff --git a/csharp/Google.Protobuf.Tools.nuspec b/csharp/Google.Protobuf.Tools.nuspec
index ead336ffa6cd..1008fa3d5202 100644
--- a/csharp/Google.Protobuf.Tools.nuspec
+++ b/csharp/Google.Protobuf.Tools.nuspec
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     <title>Google Protocol Buffers tools</title>
     <summary>Tools for Protocol Buffers - Google's data interchange format.</summary>
     <description>See project site for more info.</description>
-    <version>3.26.0</version>
+    <version>3.26.0-rc2</version>
     <authors>Google Inc.</authors>
     <owners>protobuf-packages</owners>
     <licenseUrl>https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/blob/main/LICENSE</licenseUrl>
diff --git a/csharp/src/Google.Protobuf/Google.Protobuf.csproj b/csharp/src/Google.Protobuf/Google.Protobuf.csproj
index 4abdc21692a2..aa3569563d61 100644
--- a/csharp/src/Google.Protobuf/Google.Protobuf.csproj
+++ b/csharp/src/Google.Protobuf/Google.Protobuf.csproj
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     <Description>C# runtime library for Protocol Buffers - Google's data interchange format.</Description>
     <Copyright>Copyright 2015, Google Inc.</Copyright>
     <AssemblyTitle>Google Protocol Buffers</AssemblyTitle>
-    <VersionPrefix>3.26.0</VersionPrefix>
+    <VersionPrefix>3.26.0-rc2</VersionPrefix>
     <LangVersion>10.0</LangVersion>
     <Authors>Google Inc.</Authors>
     <TargetFrameworks>netstandard1.1;netstandard2.0;net45;net50</TargetFrameworks>
diff --git a/java/README.md b/java/README.md
index f6feca318b22..909ed01eb155 100644
--- a/java/README.md
+++ b/java/README.md
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ If you are using Maven, use the following:
 <dependency>
   <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
   <artifactId>protobuf-java</artifactId>
-  <version>4.26.0</version>
+  <version>4.26.0-rc-2</version>
 </dependency>
 ```
 
@@ -37,14 +37,14 @@ protobuf-java-util package:
 <dependency>
   <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
   <artifactId>protobuf-java-util</artifactId>
-  <version>4.26.0</version>
+  <version>4.26.0-rc-2</version>
 </dependency>
 ```
 
 ### Gradle
 
 If you are using Gradle, add the following to your `build.gradle` file's
-dependencies: `implementation 'com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java:4.26.0'` Again,
+dependencies: `implementation 'com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java:4.26.0-rc-2'` Again,
 be sure to check that the version number matches (or is newer than) the version
 number of protoc that you are using.
 
diff --git a/java/bom/pom.xml b/java/bom/pom.xml
index 34679c95e898..85ee960b93e2 100644
--- a/java/bom/pom.xml
+++ b/java/bom/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
   <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
   <artifactId>protobuf-bom</artifactId>
-  <version>4.26.0</version>
+  <version>4.26.0-RC2</version>
   <packaging>pom</packaging>
 
   <name>Protocol Buffers [BOM]</name>
diff --git a/java/core/pom.xml b/java/core/pom.xml
index de7ae137bf87..8bf0bad7dbf7 100644
--- a/java/core/pom.xml
+++ b/java/core/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
     <artifactId>protobuf-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>4.26.0</version>
+    <version>4.26.0-RC2</version>
   </parent>
 
   <artifactId>protobuf-java</artifactId>
diff --git a/java/core/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/RuntimeVersion.java b/java/core/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/RuntimeVersion.java
index 1a88c37878bd..315f79419f89 100644
--- a/java/core/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/RuntimeVersion.java
+++ b/java/core/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/RuntimeVersion.java
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ public enum RuntimeDomain {
   public static final int MAJOR = 4;
   public static final int MINOR = 26;
   public static final int PATCH = 0;
-  public static final String SUFFIX = "-dev";
+  public static final String SUFFIX = "-rc2";
 
   private static final String VERSION_STRING = versionString(MAJOR, MINOR, PATCH, SUFFIX);
   private static final Logger logger = Logger.getLogger(RuntimeVersion.class.getName());
diff --git a/java/kotlin-lite/pom.xml b/java/kotlin-lite/pom.xml
index 4161b9006bdc..c835220320e6 100644
--- a/java/kotlin-lite/pom.xml
+++ b/java/kotlin-lite/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
     <artifactId>protobuf-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>4.26.0</version>
+    <version>4.26.0-RC2</version>
   </parent>
 
   <artifactId>protobuf-kotlin-lite</artifactId>
diff --git a/java/kotlin/pom.xml b/java/kotlin/pom.xml
index 206a9dc8d8ff..b9355989a255 100644
--- a/java/kotlin/pom.xml
+++ b/java/kotlin/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
     <artifactId>protobuf-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>4.26.0</version>
+    <version>4.26.0-RC2</version>
   </parent>
 
   <artifactId>protobuf-kotlin</artifactId>
diff --git a/java/lite.md b/java/lite.md
index 7b170c28a7cf..880251395917 100644
--- a/java/lite.md
+++ b/java/lite.md
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ protobuf Java Lite runtime. If you are using Maven, include the following:
 <dependency>
   <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
   <artifactId>protobuf-javalite</artifactId>
-  <version>4.26.0</version>
+  <version>4.26.0-rc-2</version>
 </dependency>
 ```
 
diff --git a/java/lite/pom.xml b/java/lite/pom.xml
index c18c3a03d28e..5e4b556f3b53 100644
--- a/java/lite/pom.xml
+++ b/java/lite/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
     <artifactId>protobuf-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>4.26.0</version>
+    <version>4.26.0-RC2</version>
   </parent>
 
   <artifactId>protobuf-javalite</artifactId>
diff --git a/java/pom.xml b/java/pom.xml
index 958f98b1bf43..887f01606a5c 100644
--- a/java/pom.xml
+++ b/java/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
   <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
   <artifactId>protobuf-parent</artifactId>
-  <version>4.26.0</version>
+  <version>4.26.0-RC2</version>
   <packaging>pom</packaging>
 
   <name>Protocol Buffers [Parent]</name>
diff --git a/java/protoc/pom.xml b/java/protoc/pom.xml
index fb52dca2f183..4d5a9e136596 100644
--- a/java/protoc/pom.xml
+++ b/java/protoc/pom.xml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
   </parent>
   <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
   <artifactId>protoc</artifactId>
-  <version>4.26.0</version>
+  <version>4.26.0-RC2</version>
   <packaging>pom</packaging>
   <name>Protobuf Compiler</name>
   <description>
diff --git a/java/util/pom.xml b/java/util/pom.xml
index da617304dd99..2a5066dad7d7 100644
--- a/java/util/pom.xml
+++ b/java/util/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
     <artifactId>protobuf-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>4.26.0</version>
+    <version>4.26.0-RC2</version>
   </parent>
 
   <artifactId>protobuf-java-util</artifactId>
diff --git a/php/ext/google/protobuf/protobuf.h b/php/ext/google/protobuf/protobuf.h
index 80f489bda485..b14745d61ca4 100644
--- a/php/ext/google/protobuf/protobuf.h
+++ b/php/ext/google/protobuf/protobuf.h
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ ZEND_BEGIN_ARG_INFO_EX(arginfo_setter, 0, 0, 1)
 ZEND_ARG_INFO(0, value)
 ZEND_END_ARG_INFO()
 
-#define PHP_PROTOBUF_VERSION "4.26.0"
+#define PHP_PROTOBUF_VERSION "4.26.0RC2"
 
 // ptr -> PHP object cache. This is a weak map that caches lazily-created
 // wrapper objects around upb types:
diff --git a/protobuf_version.bzl b/protobuf_version.bzl
index efdc3d6910f3..aaba6cf263d2 100644
--- a/protobuf_version.bzl
+++ b/protobuf_version.bzl
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """ Contains version numbers to be used in other bzl files """
-PROTOC_VERSION = "26.0"
-PROTOBUF_JAVA_VERSION = "4.26.0"
-PROTOBUF_PYTHON_VERSION = "5.26.0"
-PROTOBUF_PHP_VERSION = "4.26.0"
-PROTOBUF_RUBY_VERSION = "4.26.0"
+PROTOC_VERSION = "26.0-rc-2"
+PROTOBUF_JAVA_VERSION = "4.26.0-RC2"
+PROTOBUF_PYTHON_VERSION = "5.26.0rc2"
+PROTOBUF_PHP_VERSION = "4.26.0RC2"
+PROTOBUF_RUBY_VERSION = "4.26.0.rc.2"
diff --git a/python/google/protobuf/__init__.py b/python/google/protobuf/__init__.py
index d3171c68e110..5d346249b323 100755
--- a/python/google/protobuf/__init__.py
+++ b/python/google/protobuf/__init__.py
@@ -7,4 +7,4 @@
 
 # Copyright 2007 Google Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 
-__version__ = '5.26.0'
+__version__ = '5.26.0rc2'
diff --git a/ruby/google-protobuf.gemspec b/ruby/google-protobuf.gemspec
index dfcef8997074..71b41f6b8b9e 100644
--- a/ruby/google-protobuf.gemspec
+++ b/ruby/google-protobuf.gemspec
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 Gem::Specification.new do |s|
   s.name        = "google-protobuf"
-  s.version     = "4.26.0"
+  s.version     = "4.26.0.rc.2"
   git_tag       = "v#{s.version.to_s.sub('.rc.', '-rc')}" # Converts X.Y.Z.rc.N to vX.Y.Z-rcN, used for the git tag
   s.licenses    = ["BSD-3-Clause"]
   s.summary     = "Protocol Buffers"
diff --git a/ruby/pom.xml b/ruby/pom.xml
index 85d9dbbd01b7..273cb87a10c9 100644
--- a/ruby/pom.xml
+++ b/ruby/pom.xml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
     <groupId>com.google.protobuf.jruby</groupId>
     <artifactId>protobuf-jruby</artifactId>
-    <version>4.26.0</version>
+    <version>4.26.0-RC2</version>
     <name>Protocol Buffer JRuby native extension</name>
     <description>
       Protocol Buffers are a way of encoding structured data in an efficient yet
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@
         <dependency>
           <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
           <artifactId>protobuf-java-util</artifactId>
-          <version>4.26.0</version>
+          <version>4.26.0-RC2</version>
         </dependency>
         <dependency>
             <groupId>org.jruby</groupId>
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/any.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/any.pb.cc
index a6b7421f2711..eb141b010c31 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/any.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/any.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/any.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #include "google/protobuf/any.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/any.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/any.pb.h
index 1c1709f6400a..a5c0fdaf0a76 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/any.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/any.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/any.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fany_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fany_2eproto_2epb_2eh
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/api.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/api.pb.cc
index 5dedf5bee332..c500601c727b 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/api.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/api.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/api.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #include "google/protobuf/api.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/api.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/api.pb.h
index b0188ac513a3..1a0808a4e2e3 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/api.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/api.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/api.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fapi_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fapi_2eproto_2epb_2eh
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.pb.cc
index 62c60c1ede36..e065157bf0cd 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #include "google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.pb.h
index 2e900702142c..e39ef46b2b23 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/compiler/java/java_features.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fcompiler_2fjava_2fjava_5ffeatures_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fcompiler_2fjava_2fjava_5ffeatures_2eproto_2epb_2eh
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.pb.cc
index 54230a5aa9ed..72d47c48f576 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #include "google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.pb.h
index 330e594041b6..40f35ea45155 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/compiler/plugin.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fcompiler_2fplugin_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fcompiler_2fplugin_2eproto_2epb_2eh
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/versions.h b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/versions.h
index b51ea1016abd..a1659f492db3 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/versions.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/versions.h
@@ -53,9 +53,9 @@
 //
 // Please avoid changing them manually, as they should be updated automatically
 // by Protobuf release process.
-#define PROTOBUF_CPP_VERSION_STRING "5.26.0-dev"
-#define PROTOBUF_JAVA_VERSION_STRING "4.26.0-dev"
-#define PROTOBUF_PYTHON_VERSION_STRING "5.26.0-dev"
+#define PROTOBUF_CPP_VERSION_STRING "5.26.0-rc2"
+#define PROTOBUF_JAVA_VERSION_STRING "4.26.0-rc2"
+#define PROTOBUF_PYTHON_VERSION_STRING "5.26.0-rc2"
 
 
 namespace google {
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/cpp_features.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/cpp_features.pb.cc
index dfa5ca3aac3a..ba34786bbc55 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/cpp_features.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/cpp_features.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/cpp_features.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #include "google/protobuf/cpp_features.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/cpp_features.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/cpp_features.pb.h
index 2a3fc8480bab..ae1595d2775e 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/cpp_features.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/cpp_features.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/cpp_features.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fcpp_5ffeatures_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fcpp_5ffeatures_2eproto_2epb_2eh
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/descriptor.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/descriptor.pb.cc
index 01f68ab6aa93..5d40e9078bd9 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/descriptor.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/descriptor.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/descriptor.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #include "google/protobuf/descriptor.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/descriptor.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/descriptor.pb.h
index a592e277dab8..ae2290212971 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/descriptor.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/descriptor.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/descriptor.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fdescriptor_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fdescriptor_2eproto_2epb_2eh
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/duration.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/duration.pb.cc
index 531cad40fe9b..f1ee38f85c03 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/duration.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/duration.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/duration.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #include "google/protobuf/duration.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/duration.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/duration.pb.h
index 75e150b618c1..2d80fd24f427 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/duration.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/duration.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/duration.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fduration_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fduration_2eproto_2epb_2eh
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/empty.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/empty.pb.cc
index 365a3dd2f0a3..f22513c83a0a 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/empty.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/empty.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/empty.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #include "google/protobuf/empty.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/empty.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/empty.pb.h
index 7ef13307ef49..e699f3849f87 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/empty.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/empty.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/empty.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fempty_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fempty_2eproto_2epb_2eh
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/field_mask.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/field_mask.pb.cc
index 70159a90f440..ff002fdd59d0 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/field_mask.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/field_mask.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/field_mask.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #include "google/protobuf/field_mask.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/field_mask.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/field_mask.pb.h
index 248fe01cd3ad..5ea5fa1aa30a 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/field_mask.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/field_mask.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/field_mask.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2ffield_5fmask_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2ffield_5fmask_2eproto_2epb_2eh
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/port_def.inc b/src/google/protobuf/port_def.inc
index 7c5589ccf5e4..058292ed39fd 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/port_def.inc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/port_def.inc
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ static_assert(PROTOBUF_ABSL_MIN(20230125, 3),
 #ifdef PROTOBUF_VERSION_SUFFIX
 #error PROTOBUF_VERSION_SUFFIX was previously defined
 #endif
-#define PROTOBUF_VERSION_SUFFIX "-dev"
+#define PROTOBUF_VERSION_SUFFIX "-rc2"
 
 #ifdef PROTOBUF_MINIMUM_EDITION
 #error PROTOBUF_MINIMUM_EDITION was previously defined
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/source_context.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/source_context.pb.cc
index 380a93300954..9d379700f189 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/source_context.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/source_context.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/source_context.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #include "google/protobuf/source_context.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/source_context.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/source_context.pb.h
index ae96b0a8dc0a..21ec250be4cf 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/source_context.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/source_context.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/source_context.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fsource_5fcontext_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fsource_5fcontext_2eproto_2epb_2eh
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/struct.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/struct.pb.cc
index 0a3e528c5fa0..75381cd0617f 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/struct.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/struct.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/struct.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #include "google/protobuf/struct.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/struct.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/struct.pb.h
index d90b9bb81505..41bcffb2c5c9 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/struct.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/struct.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/struct.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fstruct_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fstruct_2eproto_2epb_2eh
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/stubs/common.h b/src/google/protobuf/stubs/common.h
index 7bb5316b0373..5ced917865d7 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/stubs/common.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/stubs/common.h
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ namespace internal {
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_VERSION 5026000
 
 // A suffix string for alpha, beta or rc releases. Empty for stable releases.
-#define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_VERSION_SUFFIX "-dev"
+#define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_VERSION_SUFFIX "-rc2"
 
 // Verifies that the protobuf version a program was compiled with matches what
 // it is linked/running with. Use the macro below to call this function.
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/timestamp.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/timestamp.pb.cc
index fb15854dc95b..308c87ee9781 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/timestamp.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/timestamp.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/timestamp.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #include "google/protobuf/timestamp.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/timestamp.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/timestamp.pb.h
index 831feffafa31..afc831bdfbdb 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/timestamp.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/timestamp.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/timestamp.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2ftimestamp_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2ftimestamp_2eproto_2epb_2eh
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/type.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/type.pb.cc
index 5da9f2f9d18f..cb23515c6114 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/type.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/type.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/type.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #include "google/protobuf/type.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/type.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/type.pb.h
index d743e675776a..900461609d09 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/type.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/type.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/type.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2ftype_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2ftype_2eproto_2epb_2eh
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/wrappers.pb.cc b/src/google/protobuf/wrappers.pb.cc
index 9b47fd2a8513..cd319986d227 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/wrappers.pb.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/wrappers.pb.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/wrappers.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #include "google/protobuf/wrappers.pb.h"
 
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/wrappers.pb.h b/src/google/protobuf/wrappers.pb.h
index 6d6d0d17cf7c..88f3fb3dfce7 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/wrappers.pb.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/wrappers.pb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Generated by the protocol buffer compiler.  DO NOT EDIT!
 // source: google/protobuf/wrappers.proto
-// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-dev
+// Protobuf C++ Version: 5.26.0-rc2
 
 #ifndef GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fwrappers_2eproto_2epb_2eh
 #define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_INCLUDED_google_2fprotobuf_2fwrappers_2eproto_2epb_2eh
diff --git a/version.json b/version.json
index 0bb973840483..d7f6e25a7503 100644
--- a/version.json
+++ b/version.json
@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
 {
     "26.x": {
-        "protoc_version": "26.0-dev",
+        "protoc_version": "26.0-rc2",
         "lts": false,
-        "date": "2024-01-24",
+        "date": "2024-02-06",
         "languages": {
-            "cpp": "5.26.0-dev",
-            "csharp": "3.26.0-dev",
-            "java": "4.26.0-dev",
-            "javascript": "3.26.0-dev",
-            "objectivec": "3.26.0-dev",
-            "php": "4.26.0-dev",
-            "python": "5.26.0-dev",
-            "ruby": "4.26.0-dev"
+            "cpp": "5.26.0-rc2",
+            "csharp": "3.26.0-rc2",
+            "java": "4.26.0-rc2",
+            "javascript": "3.26.0-rc2",
+            "objectivec": "3.26.0-rc2",
+            "php": "4.26.0-rc2",
+            "python": "5.26.0-rc2",
+            "ruby": "4.26.0-rc2"
         }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file