diff --git a/Include/patchlevel.h b/Include/patchlevel.h
index e2a9aceb98b..49930e85565 100644
--- a/Include/patchlevel.h
+++ b/Include/patchlevel.h
@@ -19,11 +19,11 @@
 #define PY_MAJOR_VERSION	3
 #define PY_MINOR_VERSION	6
 #define PY_MICRO_VERSION	0
-#define PY_RELEASE_LEVEL	PY_RELEASE_LEVEL_GAMMA
-#define PY_RELEASE_SERIAL	1
+#define PY_RELEASE_LEVEL	PY_RELEASE_LEVEL_FINAL
+#define PY_RELEASE_SERIAL	0
 
 /* Version as a string */
-#define PY_VERSION      	"3.6.0rc1"
+#define PY_VERSION      	"3.6.0+"
 /*--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 770c8a9623f..fe8cb97ec1e 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -2,6 +2,18 @@
 Python News
 +++++++++++
 
+What's New in Python 3.6.1 release candidate 1
+==============================================
+
+*Release date: XXXX-XX-XX*
+
+Core and Builtins
+-----------------
+
+Library
+-------
+
+
 What's New in Python 3.6.0 release candidate 1
 ==============================================