diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index ebbcd32c84..96e6a0f2cb 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@
 
 setup(
     name="Superdesk-Core",
-    version="2.8.0.dev",
+    version="2.8.0rc1",
     description="Superdesk Core library",
     long_description=LONG_DESCRIPTION,
     author="petr jasek",
diff --git a/superdesk/__init__.py b/superdesk/__init__.py
index 3e234f979f..a36fde1ad7 100644
--- a/superdesk/__init__.py
+++ b/superdesk/__init__.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 from apps.common.models.base_model import BaseModel
 from apps.common.components.base_component import BaseComponent
 
-__version__ = "2.8.0.dev"
+__version__ = "2.8.0rc1"
 
 API_NAME = "Superdesk API"
 SCHEMA_VERSION = 2