diff --git a/TAG b/TAG
index a31facfa374..5bda0beaf0d 100644
--- a/TAG
+++ b/TAG
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.7.105-tb
+2.8.0-rc1
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index cbbfc794f22..834f2629538 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.7.105
+2.8.0
diff --git a/utils/rpms/daos.changelog b/utils/rpms/daos.changelog
index 3a6aa685407..8a3ee89aa86 100644
--- a/utils/rpms/daos.changelog
+++ b/utils/rpms/daos.changelog
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 %changelog
+* Fri Jun 05 2026 Phillip Henderson <phillip.henderson@hpe.com> 2.8.0-1
+- First release candidate for 2.8.0
+
 * Fri Apr 24 2026 Tomasz Gromadzki <tomasz.gromadzki@hpe.com> 2.7.105-2
 - Update PMDK to version 2.1.3-2
 
diff --git a/utils/rpms/daos.spec b/utils/rpms/daos.spec
index 45d527000d5..d9fe1073635 100644
--- a/utils/rpms/daos.spec
+++ b/utils/rpms/daos.spec
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@
 %endif
 
 Name:          daos
-Version:       2.7.105
-Release:       2%{?relval}%{?dist}
+Version:       2.8.0
+Release:       1%{?relval}%{?dist}
 Summary:       DAOS Storage Engine
 
 License:       BSD-2-Clause-Patent