diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/core/impl/VersionManager.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/core/impl/VersionManager.java
index 9dc949d..3dcf974 100644
--- a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/core/impl/VersionManager.java
+++ b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/core/impl/VersionManager.java
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
     private final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(getClass());
 
     private static final File VERSION_FILE = new File("../VERSION");
-    private static Version version = Version.version("2.6.0-SNAPSHOT");
+    private static Version version = Version.version("2.6.0-rc3");
 
     @Activate
     protected void activate() {
diff --git a/tools/build/bazel/variables.bzl b/tools/build/bazel/variables.bzl
index f17947b..61cd96a 100644
--- a/tools/build/bazel/variables.bzl
+++ b/tools/build/bazel/variables.bzl
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-ONOS_VERSION = "2.6.0-SNAPSHOT"
+ONOS_VERSION = "2.6.0-rc3"
 ONOS_ARTIFACT_BASE = "onos-"
 ONOS_GROUP_ID = "org.onosproject"
 ONOS_ORIGIN = "ONOS Community"
diff --git a/tools/build/envDefaults b/tools/build/envDefaults
index e11bffa..a171589 100644
--- a/tools/build/envDefaults
+++ b/tools/build/envDefaults
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@
 export BUILD_NUMBER=${BUILD_NUMBER:-$(id -un)}
 
 # ONOS Version and onos.tar.gz staging environment
-export ONOS_POM_VERSION="2.6.0-SNAPSHOT"
-export ONOS_VERSION=${ONOS_VERSION:-2.6.0.$BUILD_NUMBER}
+export ONOS_POM_VERSION="2.6.0-rc3"
+export ONOS_VERSION=${ONOS_VERSION:-2.6.0-rc3.$BUILD_NUMBER}
 
 # ONOS production bits (onos.tar.gz, onos.zip, onos.deb, onos.rpm) staging environment
 export ONOS_BITS=onos-${ONOS_VERSION%~*}
diff --git a/tools/package/archetypes/api/pom.xml b/tools/package/archetypes/api/pom.xml
index 096e3d0..4809c65 100644
--- a/tools/package/archetypes/api/pom.xml
+++ b/tools/package/archetypes/api/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.onosproject</groupId>
     <artifactId>onos-archetypes</artifactId>
-    <version>2.6.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.6.0-rc3</version>
   </parent>
 
   <artifactId>onos-api-archetype</artifactId>
diff --git a/tools/package/archetypes/api/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml b/tools/package/archetypes/api/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
index 320fd1d..45d344c 100644
--- a/tools/package/archetypes/api/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
+++ b/tools/package/archetypes/api/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
     </fileSets>
     <requiredProperties>
         <requiredProperty key="onosVersion">
-            <defaultValue>2.6.0-SNAPSHOT</defaultValue>
+            <defaultValue>2.6.0-rc3</defaultValue>
         </requiredProperty>
     </requiredProperties>
 </archetype-descriptor>
diff --git a/tools/package/archetypes/bundle/pom.xml b/tools/package/archetypes/bundle/pom.xml
index f9b086c..8aa3bd6 100644
--- a/tools/package/archetypes/bundle/pom.xml
+++ b/tools/package/archetypes/bundle/pom.xml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.onosproject</groupId>
         <artifactId>onos-archetypes</artifactId>
-        <version>2.6.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>2.6.0-rc3</version>
     </parent>
 
     <artifactId>onos-bundle-archetype</artifactId>
diff --git a/tools/package/archetypes/bundle/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml b/tools/package/archetypes/bundle/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
index b19c8bb..6bf0ad0 100644
--- a/tools/package/archetypes/bundle/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
+++ b/tools/package/archetypes/bundle/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
     </fileSets>
     <requiredProperties>
         <requiredProperty key="onosVersion">
-            <defaultValue>2.6.0-SNAPSHOT</defaultValue>
+            <defaultValue>2.6.0-rc3</defaultValue>
         </requiredProperty>
     </requiredProperties>
 </archetype-descriptor>
diff --git a/tools/package/archetypes/cli/pom.xml b/tools/package/archetypes/cli/pom.xml
index 1e1e1f3..23d1b70 100644
--- a/tools/package/archetypes/cli/pom.xml
+++ b/tools/package/archetypes/cli/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.onosproject</groupId>
     <artifactId>onos-archetypes</artifactId>
-    <version>2.6.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.6.0-rc3</version>
   </parent>
 
   <artifactId>onos-cli-archetype</artifactId>
diff --git a/tools/package/archetypes/cli/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml b/tools/package/archetypes/cli/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
index d3c5904..1f8dfb2 100644
--- a/tools/package/archetypes/cli/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
+++ b/tools/package/archetypes/cli/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
     </fileSets>
     <requiredProperties>
         <requiredProperty key="onosVersion">
-            <defaultValue>2.6.0-SNAPSHOT</defaultValue>
+            <defaultValue>2.6.0-rc3</defaultValue>
         </requiredProperty>
     </requiredProperties>
 </archetype-descriptor>
diff --git a/tools/package/archetypes/pom.xml b/tools/package/archetypes/pom.xml
index 25cbb0b..1e10ba1 100644
--- a/tools/package/archetypes/pom.xml
+++ b/tools/package/archetypes/pom.xml
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 
     <groupId>org.onosproject</groupId>
     <artifactId>onos-archetypes</artifactId>
-    <version>2.6.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.6.0-rc3</version>
     <packaging>pom</packaging>
 
     <description>ONOS archetypes project</description>
diff --git a/tools/package/archetypes/rest/pom.xml b/tools/package/archetypes/rest/pom.xml
index 313ec16..22baf8c 100644
--- a/tools/package/archetypes/rest/pom.xml
+++ b/tools/package/archetypes/rest/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.onosproject</groupId>
     <artifactId>onos-archetypes</artifactId>
-    <version>2.6.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.6.0-rc3</version>
   </parent>
 
   <artifactId>onos-rest-archetype</artifactId>
diff --git a/tools/package/archetypes/rest/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml b/tools/package/archetypes/rest/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
index 7cc5177..e56673a 100644
--- a/tools/package/archetypes/rest/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
+++ b/tools/package/archetypes/rest/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
     </fileSets>
     <requiredProperties>
         <requiredProperty key="onosVersion">
-            <defaultValue>2.6.0-SNAPSHOT</defaultValue>
+            <defaultValue>2.6.0-rc3</defaultValue>
         </requiredProperty>
     </requiredProperties>
 </archetype-descriptor>
diff --git a/tools/package/archetypes/ui/pom.xml b/tools/package/archetypes/ui/pom.xml
index 99799ba..35206c5 100644
--- a/tools/package/archetypes/ui/pom.xml
+++ b/tools/package/archetypes/ui/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.onosproject</groupId>
     <artifactId>onos-archetypes</artifactId>
-    <version>2.6.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.6.0-rc3</version>
   </parent>
 
   <artifactId>onos-ui-archetype</artifactId>
diff --git a/tools/package/archetypes/ui/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml b/tools/package/archetypes/ui/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
index a0ad728..1f2a358 100644
--- a/tools/package/archetypes/ui/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
+++ b/tools/package/archetypes/ui/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
     </fileSets>
     <requiredProperties>
         <requiredProperty key="onosVersion">
-            <defaultValue>2.6.0-SNAPSHOT</defaultValue>
+            <defaultValue>2.6.0-rc3</defaultValue>
         </requiredProperty>
     </requiredProperties>
 </archetype-descriptor>
diff --git a/tools/package/archetypes/ui2/pom.xml b/tools/package/archetypes/ui2/pom.xml
index 3d96dd1..435577d 100644
--- a/tools/package/archetypes/ui2/pom.xml
+++ b/tools/package/archetypes/ui2/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.onosproject</groupId>
     <artifactId>onos-archetypes</artifactId>
-    <version>2.6.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.6.0-rc3</version>
   </parent>
 
   <artifactId>onos-ui2-archetype</artifactId>
diff --git a/tools/package/archetypes/ui2/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml b/tools/package/archetypes/ui2/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
index 5a1642e..37fd204 100644
--- a/tools/package/archetypes/ui2/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
+++ b/tools/package/archetypes/ui2/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
     </fileSets>
     <requiredProperties>
         <requiredProperty key="onosVersion">
-            <defaultValue>2.6.0-SNAPSHOT</defaultValue>
+            <defaultValue>2.6.0-rc3</defaultValue>
         </requiredProperty>
     </requiredProperties>
 </archetype-descriptor>
diff --git a/tools/package/archetypes/uitab/pom.xml b/tools/package/archetypes/uitab/pom.xml
index 2278e93..cd6c09d 100644
--- a/tools/package/archetypes/uitab/pom.xml
+++ b/tools/package/archetypes/uitab/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.onosproject</groupId>
     <artifactId>onos-archetypes</artifactId>
-    <version>2.6.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.6.0-rc3</version>
   </parent>
 
   <artifactId>onos-uitab-archetype</artifactId>
diff --git a/tools/package/archetypes/uitab/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml b/tools/package/archetypes/uitab/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
index 8a9881d..8162b54 100644
--- a/tools/package/archetypes/uitab/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
+++ b/tools/package/archetypes/uitab/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
     </fileSets>
     <requiredProperties>
         <requiredProperty key="onosVersion">
-            <defaultValue>2.6.0-SNAPSHOT</defaultValue>
+            <defaultValue>2.6.0-rc3</defaultValue>
         </requiredProperty>
     </requiredProperties>
 </archetype-descriptor>
diff --git a/tools/package/archetypes/uitopo/pom.xml b/tools/package/archetypes/uitopo/pom.xml
index b09ee30..9602ae3 100644
--- a/tools/package/archetypes/uitopo/pom.xml
+++ b/tools/package/archetypes/uitopo/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.onosproject</groupId>
     <artifactId>onos-archetypes</artifactId>
-    <version>2.6.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.6.0-rc3</version>
   </parent>
 
   <artifactId>onos-uitopo-archetype</artifactId>
diff --git a/tools/package/archetypes/uitopo/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml b/tools/package/archetypes/uitopo/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
index b3a1e46..c747e70 100644
--- a/tools/package/archetypes/uitopo/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
+++ b/tools/package/archetypes/uitopo/src/main/resources/META-INF/maven/archetype-metadata.xml
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
     </fileSets>
     <requiredProperties>
         <requiredProperty key="onosVersion">
-            <defaultValue>2.6.0-SNAPSHOT</defaultValue>
+            <defaultValue>2.6.0-rc3</defaultValue>
         </requiredProperty>
     </requiredProperties>
 </archetype-descriptor>
diff --git a/tools/test/bin/onos-archetypes-test b/tools/test/bin/onos-archetypes-test
index 7e717ec..b3319b7 100755
--- a/tools/test/bin/onos-archetypes-test
+++ b/tools/test/bin/onos-archetypes-test
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 set -e
 
 export AROOT=${ONOS_STAGE_ROOT:-/tmp}/foo
-export ARCHETYPE_OPTS="-DarchetypeGroupId=org.onosproject -DarchetypeVersion=2.6.0-SNAPSHOT"
+export ARCHETYPE_OPTS="-DarchetypeGroupId=org.onosproject -DarchetypeVersion=2.6.0-rc3"
 
 rm -fr $AROOT 2>/dev/null
 mkdir -p $AROOT