diff --git a/modules/core/include/opencv2/core/version.hpp b/modules/core/include/opencv2/core/version.hpp
index 4a46f7930..a4763c765 100644
--- a/modules/core/include/opencv2/core/version.hpp
+++ b/modules/core/include/opencv2/core/version.hpp
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
 #define CV_VERSION_MAJOR    3
 #define CV_VERSION_MINOR    0
 #define CV_VERSION_REVISION 0
-#define CV_VERSION_STATUS   "-dev"
+#define CV_VERSION_STATUS   "-rc1"
 
 #define CVAUX_STR_EXP(__A)  #__A
 #define CVAUX_STR(__A)      CVAUX_STR_EXP(__A)