From 2100a0d171cfc07462957f91359066e1bcf7798d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Matt Davis <6775756+nitzmahone@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:14:22 -0800
Subject: [PATCH] New release v2.18.14rc1 (#86564)

---
 changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.18.rst               | 15 +++++++++++++++
 changelogs/changelog.yaml                    | 16 ++++++++++++++++
 changelogs/fragments/2.18.14rc1_summary.yaml |  3 +++
 lib/ansible/release.py                       |  2 +-
 pyproject.toml                               |  2 +-
 5 files changed, 36 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 changelogs/fragments/2.18.14rc1_summary.yaml

diff --git a/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.18.rst b/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.18.rst
index dfe531aa4c0..350c0daa2b2 100644
--- a/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.18.rst
+++ b/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.18.rst
@@ -4,6 +4,21 @@ ansible-core 2.18 "Fool in the Rain" Release Notes
 
 .. contents:: Topics
 
+v2.18.14rc1
+===========
+
+Release Summary
+---------------
+
+| Release Date: 2026-02-17
+| `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.18/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.18.html>`__
+
+Minor Changes
+-------------
+
+- ansible-test - Update URL used to download FreeBSD wheels for managed remotes.
+- ansible-test - Use the new API endpoint for the Ansible Core CI service.
+
 v2.18.13
 ========
 
diff --git a/changelogs/changelog.yaml b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
index 2c456acdbd6..762ed9c7b48 100644
--- a/changelogs/changelog.yaml
+++ b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
@@ -746,6 +746,22 @@ releases:
     - broken_conditional_backport.yml
     - fix-windows-lib-env-corruption.yml
     release_date: '2026-01-22'
+  2.18.14rc1:
+    changes:
+      minor_changes:
+      - ansible-test - Update URL used to download FreeBSD wheels for managed remotes.
+      - ansible-test - Use the new API endpoint for the Ansible Core CI service.
+      release_summary: '| Release Date: 2026-02-17
+
+        | `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.18/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.18.html>`__
+
+        '
+    codename: Fool in the Rain
+    fragments:
+    - 2.18.14rc1_summary.yaml
+    - ansible-test-api-endpoint.yml
+    - ansible-test-spare-tire.yml
+    release_date: '2026-02-17'
   2.18.1rc1:
     changes:
       bugfixes:
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/2.18.14rc1_summary.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/2.18.14rc1_summary.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d354b4d8308
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/2.18.14rc1_summary.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+release_summary: |
+   | Release Date: 2026-02-17
+   | `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.18/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.18.html>`__
diff --git a/lib/ansible/release.py b/lib/ansible/release.py
index 8d70dc638a5..0ccb72df9fd 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/release.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/release.py
@@ -17,6 +17,6 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-__version__ = '2.18.13.post0'
+__version__ = '2.18.14rc1'
 __author__ = 'Ansible, Inc.'
 __codename__ = "Fool in the Rain"
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 32f0b2b3862..11cd3db09f8 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [build-system]
-requires = ["setuptools >= 66.1.0, <= 80.10.2", "wheel == 0.45.1"]  # lower bound to support controller Python versions, upper bound for latest version tested at release
+requires = ["setuptools >= 66.1.0, <= 82.0.0", "wheel == 0.45.1"]  # lower bound to support controller Python versions, upper bound for latest version tested at release
 build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]