diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 643aa79f2..aace973fb 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# HEAD
+# 2.8.0.rc1
 
 ### Deprecations
 
diff --git a/lib/shoulda/matchers/version.rb b/lib/shoulda/matchers/version.rb
index 72ab4c729..8a22a96d2 100644
--- a/lib/shoulda/matchers/version.rb
+++ b/lib/shoulda/matchers/version.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module Shoulda
   module Matchers
     # @private
-    VERSION = '2.7.0'.freeze
+    VERSION = '2.8.0.rc1'.freeze
   end
 end