diff --git a/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.18.rst b/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.18.rst
index da16a4de6a3..74f3df35fb2 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
 
+v2.18.15rc1
+===========
+
+Release Summary
+---------------
+
+| Release Date: 2026-03-16
+| `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.18/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.18.html>`__
+
+Minor Changes
+-------------
+
+- ansible-test - Add container/remote aliases for more loosely specifying managed test environments.
+- ansible-test - Add support for using the Ansible Core CI service from GitHub Actions.
+
+Bugfixes
+--------
+
+- rpm_key - Use librpm library API instead of gpg utility to support version 6 PGP keys (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/86157).
+
 v2.18.14
 ========
 
diff --git a/changelogs/changelog.yaml b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
index d7a48fa3561..3879160b072 100644
--- a/changelogs/changelog.yaml
+++ b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
@@ -773,6 +773,28 @@ releases:
     - ansible-test-api-endpoint.yml
     - ansible-test-spare-tire.yml
     release_date: '2026-02-17'
+  2.18.15rc1:
+    changes:
+      bugfixes:
+      - rpm_key - Use librpm library API instead of gpg utility to support version
+        6 PGP keys (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/86157).
+      minor_changes:
+      - ansible-test - Add container/remote aliases for more loosely specifying managed
+        test environments.
+      - ansible-test - Add support for using the Ansible Core CI service from GitHub
+        Actions.
+      release_summary: '| Release Date: 2026-03-16
+
+        | `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.18/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.18.html>`__
+
+        '
+    codename: Fool in the Rain
+    fragments:
+    - 2.18.15rc1_summary.yaml
+    - 86237-rpm-key-librpm.yml
+    - ansible-test-completion-aliases.yml
+    - ansible-test-github-actions.yml
+    release_date: '2026-03-16'
   2.18.1rc1:
     changes:
       bugfixes:
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/2.18.15rc1_summary.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/2.18.15rc1_summary.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..22ca18601ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/2.18.15rc1_summary.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+release_summary: |
+   | Release Date: 2026-03-16
+   | `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 bc78c626237..7de8bb53e10 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/release.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/release.py
@@ -17,6 +17,6 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-__version__ = '2.18.14.post0'
+__version__ = '2.18.15rc1'
 __author__ = 'Ansible, Inc.'
 __codename__ = "Fool in the Rain"
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 11cd3db09f8..ff3246309ae 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [build-system]
-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
+requires = ["setuptools >= 66.1.0, <= 82.0.1", "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]