diff --git a/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.18.rst b/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.18.rst
index 2d39e756c59..0977cf53664 100644
--- a/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.18.rst
+++ b/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.18.rst
@@ -4,6 +4,26 @@ ansible-core 2.18 "Fool in the Rain" Release Notes
 
 .. contents:: Topics
 
+v2.18.17rc1
+===========
+
+Release Summary
+---------------
+
+| Release Date: 2026-05-11
+| `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.18/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.18.html>`__
+
+Security Fixes
+--------------
+
+- psrp - Do not log raw stdout/stderr on verbosity 5 when task has ``no_log: true`` set
+- winrm - Do not log raw stdout/stderr on verbosity 5 when task has ``no_log: true`` set
+
+Bugfixes
+--------
+
+- ansible-test remote alias - Alias values for ``--controller`` and ``--target`` are properly resolved for ``remote``. Previously, remote alias values (e.g. ``fedora/latest``) resolved to the correct name only for the legacy ``--remote`` arg, failing with an unknown image error for the newer args.
+
 v2.18.16
 ========
 
diff --git a/changelogs/changelog.yaml b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
index 09bd69f2055..26bcc78fb76 100644
--- a/changelogs/changelog.yaml
+++ b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
@@ -835,6 +835,29 @@ releases:
     - ansible-test-dist-info.yml
     - ansible-test-macos-aarch64.yml
     release_date: '2026-04-13'
+  2.18.17rc1:
+    changes:
+      bugfixes:
+      - ansible-test remote alias - Alias values for ``--controller`` and ``--target``
+        are properly resolved for ``remote``. Previously, remote alias values (e.g.
+        ``fedora/latest``) resolved to the correct name only for the legacy ``--remote``
+        arg, failing with an unknown image error for the newer args.
+      release_summary: '| Release Date: 2026-05-11
+
+        | `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.18/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.18.html>`__
+
+        '
+      security_fixes:
+      - 'psrp - Do not log raw stdout/stderr on verbosity 5 when task has ``no_log:
+        true`` set'
+      - 'winrm - Do not log raw stdout/stderr on verbosity 5 when task has ``no_log:
+        true`` set'
+    codename: Fool in the Rain
+    fragments:
+    - 2.18.17rc1_summary.yaml
+    - core_ci_remote_alias.yml
+    - winrm-psrp-nolog.yml
+    release_date: '2026-05-11'
   2.18.1rc1:
     changes:
       bugfixes:
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/2.18.17rc1_summary.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/2.18.17rc1_summary.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..04b1dc9c37e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/2.18.17rc1_summary.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+release_summary: |
+   | Release Date: 2026-05-11
+   | `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 b44a30ba02f..65975b0a227 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/release.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/release.py
@@ -17,6 +17,6 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-__version__ = '2.18.16.post0'
+__version__ = '2.18.17rc1'
 __author__ = 'Ansible, Inc.'
 __codename__ = "Fool in the Rain"