diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 561a5db9..f2f4c5b6 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1234,7 +1234,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "fractal"
-version = "12.0.0-beta"
+version = "12.0.0-rc"
 dependencies = [
  "aperture",
  "ashpd",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 7b184bff..c7677e18 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "fractal"
-version = "12.0.0-beta"
+version = "12.0.0-rc"
 authors = ["Julian Sparber <julian@sparber.net>"]
 edition = "2024"
 rust-version = "1.85"
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a8e7aa6c..e00e0b82 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ You can get the official Fractal Flatpak from Flathub.
 
 ### Beta version
 
-The current beta version is 12.beta (released June 26th 2025).
+The current beta version is 12.rc (released July 31st 2025).
 
 It is available as a Flatpak on Flathub Beta.
 
diff --git a/data/org.gnome.Fractal.metainfo.xml.in.in b/data/org.gnome.Fractal.metainfo.xml.in.in
index ac338975..7700e1a2 100644
--- a/data/org.gnome.Fractal.metainfo.xml.in.in
+++ b/data/org.gnome.Fractal.metainfo.xml.in.in
@@ -71,6 +71,33 @@
   </content_rating>
 
   <releases>@development-release@
+    <release version="12~rc" type="development" date="2025-07-31">
+      <description>
+        <p>
+          Want to get a head start and try out Fractal 12 before its release? That’s what this
+          Release Candidate is for! New since 12.beta:
+        </p>
+        <ul>
+          <li>
+            The upcoming room version 12 is supported, with the special power level of room creators
+          </li>
+          <li>
+            Requesting invites to rooms (aka knocking) is now possible
+          </li>
+          <li>
+            Clicking on the name of the sender of a message adds a mention to them in the composer
+          </li>
+        </ul>
+        <p>
+          As usual, this release includes other improvements, fixes and new translations thanks to
+          all our contributors, and our upstream projects.
+        </p>
+        <p>
+          As the version implies, it should be mostly stable and we expect to only include minor
+          improvements until the release of Fractal 12.
+        </p>
+      </description>
+    </release>
     <release version="12~beta" type="development" date="2025-06-26">
       <description>
         <p>
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 4a49e3aa..75fe7e6e 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 project('fractal',
         'rust',
-        version: '12.beta',
+        version: '12.rc',
         license: 'GPL-3.0-or-later',
         meson_version: '>= 1.1')
 
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ base_id = 'org.gnome.Fractal'
 application_id = base_id
 
 major_version = '12'
-pre_release_version = 'beta'
+pre_release_version = 'rc'
 
 version = major_version
 if pre_release_version != ''