diff --git a/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.17.rst b/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.17.rst
index 1ac8c02f1fd..8347bb9a1d8 100644
--- a/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.17.rst
+++ b/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.17.rst
@@ -4,6 +4,29 @@ ansible-core 2.17 "Gallows Pole" Release Notes
 
 .. contents:: Topics
 
+v2.17.3rc1
+==========
+
+Release Summary
+---------------
+
+| Release Date: 2024-08-05
+| `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.17/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.17.html>`__
+
+Minor Changes
+-------------
+
+- ansible-test - Improve the error message shown when an unknown ``--remote`` or ``--docker`` option is given.
+- ansible-test - Removed the ``vyos/1.1.8`` network remote as it is no longer functional.
+
+Bugfixes
+--------
+
+- Warning now includes filename and line number of variable when specifying a list of dictionaries for vars (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/82528).
+- config, restored the ability to set module compression via a variable
+- debconf - fix normalization of value representation for boolean vtypes in new packages (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/83594)
+- linear strategy: fix handlers included via ``include_tasks`` handler to be executed in lockstep (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/83019)
+
 v2.17.2
 =======
 
diff --git a/changelogs/changelog.yaml b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
index c4da406c90c..71cbe06362b 100644
--- a/changelogs/changelog.yaml
+++ b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
@@ -784,3 +784,33 @@ releases:
     - dnf-revert.yaml
     - package_facts_apk.yml
     release_date: '2024-07-09'
+  2.17.3rc1:
+    changes:
+      bugfixes:
+      - Warning now includes filename and line number of variable when specifying
+        a list of dictionaries for vars (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/82528).
+      - config, restored the ability to set module compression via a variable
+      - debconf - fix normalization of value representation for boolean vtypes in
+        new packages (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/83594)
+      - 'linear strategy: fix handlers included via ``include_tasks`` handler to be
+        executed in lockstep (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/83019)'
+      minor_changes:
+      - ansible-test - Improve the error message shown when an unknown ``--remote``
+        or ``--docker`` option is given.
+      - ansible-test - Removed the ``vyos/1.1.8`` network remote as it is no longer
+        functional.
+      release_summary: '| Release Date: 2024-08-05
+
+        | `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.17/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.17.html>`__
+
+        '
+    codename: Gallows Pole
+    fragments:
+    - 2.17.3rc1_summary.yaml
+    - 82528summary.yml
+    - 83019-linear-handlers-lockstep-fix.yml
+    - 83601-debconf-normalize-bools.yml
+    - ansible-test-error-message-improvement.yml
+    - ansible-test-vyos.yml
+    - mc_fix.yml
+    release_date: '2024-08-05'
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/2.17.3rc1_summary.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/2.17.3rc1_summary.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..371cb6596c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/2.17.3rc1_summary.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+release_summary: |
+   | Release Date: 2024-08-05
+   | `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.17/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.17.html>`__
diff --git a/lib/ansible/release.py b/lib/ansible/release.py
index abf8b383b62..4b9068ebaae 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/release.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/release.py
@@ -17,6 +17,6 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-__version__ = '2.17.2.post0'
+__version__ = '2.17.3rc1'
 __author__ = 'Ansible, Inc.'
 __codename__ = "Gallows Pole"