diff --git a/Include/patchlevel.h b/Include/patchlevel.h
index 49930e85565..b42a0db2f82 100644
--- a/Include/patchlevel.h
+++ b/Include/patchlevel.h
@@ -18,12 +18,12 @@
 /*--start constants--*/
 #define PY_MAJOR_VERSION	3
 #define PY_MINOR_VERSION	6
-#define PY_MICRO_VERSION	0
-#define PY_RELEASE_LEVEL	PY_RELEASE_LEVEL_FINAL
-#define PY_RELEASE_SERIAL	0
+#define PY_MICRO_VERSION	1
+#define PY_RELEASE_LEVEL	PY_RELEASE_LEVEL_GAMMA
+#define PY_RELEASE_SERIAL	1
 
 /* Version as a string */
-#define PY_VERSION      	"3.6.0+"
+#define PY_VERSION      	"3.6.1rc1"
 /*--end constants--*/
 
 /* Version as a single 4-byte hex number, e.g. 0x010502B2 == 1.5.2b2.
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index 9aee4974344..d715d306a34 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@
 Python News
 +++++++++++
 
-What's New in Python 3.6.1 release candidate 1?
-===============================================
+What's New in Python 3.6.1 release candidate 1
+==============================================
 
-*Release date: XXXX-XX-XX*
+*Release date: 2017-03-04*
 
 Core and Builtins
 -----------------