diff --git a/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.10.rst b/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.10.rst
index 45cd7e8a78d..5b8a6fd8069 100644
--- a/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.10.rst
+++ b/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.10.rst
@@ -5,6 +5,39 @@ Ansible Base 2.10 "When the Levee Breaks" Release Notes
 .. contents:: Topics
 
 
+v2.10.9rc1
+==========
+
+Release Summary
+---------------
+
+| Release Date: 2021-04-27
+| `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/devel/porting_guides.html>`__
+
+
+Major Changes
+-------------
+
+- ansible-test - Tests run with the ``centos6`` and ``default`` test containers now use a PyPI proxy container to access PyPI when Python 2.6 is used. This allows tests running under Python 2.6 to continue functioning even though PyPI is discontinuing support for non-SNI capable clients.
+
+Minor Changes
+-------------
+
+- Switch to hashlib.sha256() for ansible-test to allow for FIPs mode.
+
+Bugfixes
+--------
+
+- Prevent ``ansible_failed_task`` from further templating (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/74036)
+- ansible-test - Avoid publishing the port used by the ``pypi-test-container`` since it is only accessed by other containers. This avoids issues when trying to run tests in parallel on a single host.
+- ansible-test - Fix docker container IP address detection. The ``bridge`` network is no longer assumed to be the default.
+- ansible-test - ensure the correct unit test target is given when the ``__init__.py`` file is modified inside the connection plugins directory
+- ansible.utils.encrypt now handles missing or unusable 'crypt' library.
+- facts - detect homebrew installed at /opt/homebrew/bin/brew
+- interpreter discovery - Debian 8 and lower will avoid unsupported Python3 version in interpreter discovery
+- undeprecate hash_merge setting and add more docs clarifying its use and why not to use it.
+- wait_for module, move missing socket into function to get proper comparrison in time.
+
 v2.10.8
 =======
 
diff --git a/changelogs/changelog.yaml b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
index 5125b9bdb86..61f50d27e1d 100644
--- a/changelogs/changelog.yaml
+++ b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
@@ -2578,3 +2578,49 @@ releases:
     - su_fix.yml
     - v2.10.8rc1_summary.yaml
     release_date: '2021-04-05'
+  2.10.9rc1:
+    changes:
+      bugfixes:
+      - Prevent ``ansible_failed_task`` from further templating (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/74036)
+      - ansible-test - Avoid publishing the port used by the ``pypi-test-container``
+        since it is only accessed by other containers. This avoids issues when trying
+        to run tests in parallel on a single host.
+      - ansible-test - Fix docker container IP address detection. The ``bridge`` network
+        is no longer assumed to be the default.
+      - ansible-test - ensure the correct unit test target is given when the ``__init__.py``
+        file is modified inside the connection plugins directory
+      - ansible.utils.encrypt now handles missing or unusable 'crypt' library.
+      - facts - detect homebrew installed at /opt/homebrew/bin/brew
+      - interpreter discovery - Debian 8 and lower will avoid unsupported Python3
+        version in interpreter discovery
+      - undeprecate hash_merge setting and add more docs clarifying its use and why
+        not to use it.
+      - wait_for module, move missing socket into function to get proper comparrison
+        in time.
+      major_changes:
+      - ansible-test - Tests run with the ``centos6`` and ``default`` test containers
+        now use a PyPI proxy container to access PyPI when Python 2.6 is used. This
+        allows tests running under Python 2.6 to continue functioning even though
+        PyPI is discontinuing support for non-SNI capable clients.
+      minor_changes:
+      - Switch to hashlib.sha256() for ansible-test to allow for FIPs mode.
+      release_summary: '| Release Date: 2021-04-27
+
+        | `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/devel/porting_guides.html>`__
+
+        '
+    codename: When the Levee Breaks
+    fragments:
+    - 72411-fips-mode-ansible-test.yml
+    - 73887.mac-m1-homebrew.yaml
+    - 74036-unsafe-ansible_failed_task.yml
+    - ansible-test-connection-units-init.yml
+    - ansible-test-docker-network-detect.yml
+    - ansible-test-pypi-container-no-publish.yml
+    - ansible-test-pypi-test-container.yml
+    - crypt_missing.yml
+    - debian8_discovery.yml
+    - undo_hashmerge_depr.yml
+    - v2.10.9rc1_summary.yaml
+    - wait_for_fix.yml
+    release_date: '2021-04-27'
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/v2.10.9rc1_summary.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/v2.10.9rc1_summary.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b5c25b4ac1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/v2.10.9rc1_summary.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+release_summary: |
+   | Release Date: 2021-04-27
+   | `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/devel/porting_guides.html>`__
diff --git a/lib/ansible/release.py b/lib/ansible/release.py
index cc31b60d697..9cbbe8fa066 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__ = '2.10.8.post0'
+__version__ = '2.10.9rc1'
 __author__ = 'Ansible, Inc.'
 __codename__ = 'When the Levee Breaks'