diff --git a/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.16.rst b/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.16.rst
index f911e1d42b4..b4db5d45375 100644
--- a/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.16.rst
+++ b/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.16.rst
@@ -5,6 +5,28 @@ ansible-core 2.16 "All My Love" Release Notes
 .. contents:: Topics
 
 
+v2.16.10rc1
+===========
+
+Release Summary
+---------------
+
+| Release Date: 2024-08-05
+| `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.16/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.16.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
+--------
+
+- config, restored the ability to set module compression via a variable
+- linear strategy: fix handlers included via ``include_tasks`` handler to be executed in lockstep (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/83019)
+
 v2.16.9
 =======
 
diff --git a/changelogs/changelog.yaml b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
index d2851522866..4ea1e894471 100644
--- a/changelogs/changelog.yaml
+++ b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
@@ -777,6 +777,30 @@ releases:
     fragments:
     - 2.16.1_summary.yaml
     release_date: '2023-12-04'
+  2.16.10rc1:
+    changes:
+      bugfixes:
+      - config, restored the ability to set module compression via a variable
+      - '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/2.16/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.16.html>`__
+
+        '
+    codename: All My Love
+    fragments:
+    - 2.16.10rc1_summary.yaml
+    - 83019-linear-handlers-lockstep-fix.yml
+    - ansible-test-error-message-improvement.yml
+    - ansible-test-vyos.yml
+    - mc_fix.yml
+    release_date: '2024-08-05'
   2.16.1rc1:
     changes:
       breaking_changes:
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/2.16.10rc1_summary.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/2.16.10rc1_summary.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0bf64cbe706
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/2.16.10rc1_summary.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+release_summary: |
+   | Release Date: 2024-08-05
+   | `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.16/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.16.html>`__
diff --git a/lib/ansible/release.py b/lib/ansible/release.py
index d492e5babf8..218b5d64c77 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/release.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/release.py
@@ -19,6 +19,6 @@
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
 __metaclass__ = type
 
-__version__ = '2.16.9.post0'
+__version__ = '2.16.10rc1'
 __author__ = 'Ansible, Inc.'
 __codename__ = "All My Love"