diff --git a/core/Version.php b/core/Version.php
index a8fc2ab0606..344392688cd 100644
--- a/core/Version.php
+++ b/core/Version.php
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ final class Version
      * The current Piwik version.
      * @var string
      */
-    const VERSION = '2.17.1';
+    const VERSION = '2.18.0-rc1';
 
     public function isStableVersion($version)
     {