diff --git a/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.18.rst b/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.18.rst
index a51c7b3e7d0..82a6e7abc2c 100644
--- a/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.18.rst
+++ b/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.18.rst
@@ -4,6 +4,24 @@ ansible-core 2.18 "Fool in the Rain" Release Notes
 
 .. contents:: Topics
 
+v2.18.4rc1
+==========
+
+Release Summary
+---------------
+
+| Release Date: 2025-03-17
+| `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.18/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.18.html>`__
+
+Bugfixes
+--------
+
+- Windows - add support for running on system where WDAC is in audit mode with ``Dynamic Code Security`` enabled.
+- dnf5 - fix ``is_installed`` check for packages that are not installed but listed as provided by an installed package (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/84578)
+- dnf5 - libdnf5 - use ``conf.pkg_gpgcheck`` instead of deprecated ``conf.gpgcheck`` which is used only as a fallback
+- facts - gather pagesize and calculate respective values depending upon architecture (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/84773).
+- module respawn - limit to supported Python versions
+
 v2.18.3
 =======
 
diff --git a/changelogs/changelog.yaml b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
index 42cff4c36df..8104e152662 100644
--- a/changelogs/changelog.yaml
+++ b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
@@ -743,3 +743,29 @@ releases:
     - ansible-test-curl.yml
     - fix-include_vars-reserved-warning.yml
     release_date: '2025-02-17'
+  2.18.4rc1:
+    changes:
+      bugfixes:
+      - Windows - add support for running on system where WDAC is in audit mode with
+        ``Dynamic Code Security`` enabled.
+      - dnf5 - fix ``is_installed`` check for packages that are not installed but
+        listed as provided by an installed package (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/84578)
+      - dnf5 - libdnf5 - use ``conf.pkg_gpgcheck`` instead of deprecated ``conf.gpgcheck``
+        which is used only as a fallback
+      - facts - gather pagesize and calculate respective values depending upon architecture
+        (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/84773).
+      - module respawn - limit to supported Python versions
+      release_summary: '| Release Date: 2025-03-17
+
+        | `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.18/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.18.html>`__
+
+        '
+    codename: Fool in the Rain
+    fragments:
+    - 2.18.4rc1_summary.yaml
+    - 84578-dnf5-is_installed-provides.yml
+    - darwin_pagesize.yml
+    - dnf5-remove-usage-deprecated-option.yml
+    - respawn-min-python.yml
+    - win-wdac-audit.yml
+    release_date: '2025-03-17'
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/2.18.4rc1_summary.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/2.18.4rc1_summary.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..91b028abbe2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/2.18.4rc1_summary.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+release_summary: |
+   | Release Date: 2025-03-17
+   | `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 80f5586f662..357d440b556 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/release.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/release.py
@@ -17,6 +17,6 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-__version__ = '2.18.3.post0'
+__version__ = '2.18.4rc1'
 __author__ = 'Ansible, Inc.'
 __codename__ = "Fool in the Rain"
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 595cffc8f41..0af027cada0 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [build-system]
-requires = ["setuptools >= 66.1.0, <= 75.8.0"]  # lower bound to support controller Python versions, upper bound for latest version tested at release
+requires = ["setuptools >= 66.1.0, <= 76.0.0"]  # lower bound to support controller Python versions, upper bound for latest version tested at release
 build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]