diff --git a/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.16.rst b/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.16.rst
index 54a849a91f1..fbb2c6d5fb9 100644
--- a/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.16.rst
+++ b/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.16.rst
@@ -5,6 +5,26 @@ ansible-core 2.16 "All My Love" Release Notes
 .. contents:: Topics
 
 
+v2.16.14rc1
+===========
+
+Release Summary
+---------------
+
+| Release Date: 2024-11-25
+| `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.16/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.16.html>`__
+
+
+Security Fixes
+--------------
+
+- Templating will not prefer AnsibleUnsafe when a variable is referenced via hostvars - CVE-2024-11079
+
+Bugfixes
+--------
+
+- ansible-test - Fix traceback that occurs after an interactive command fails.
+
 v2.16.13
 ========
 
diff --git a/changelogs/changelog.yaml b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
index 1b669e7336e..0c77af4fa73 100644
--- a/changelogs/changelog.yaml
+++ b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
@@ -953,6 +953,24 @@ releases:
     - skip-implicit-flush_handlers-no-notify.yml
     - user_ssh_fix.yml
     release_date: '2024-10-29'
+  2.16.14rc1:
+    changes:
+      bugfixes:
+      - ansible-test - Fix traceback that occurs after an interactive command fails.
+      release_summary: '| Release Date: 2024-11-25
+
+        | `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.16/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.16.html>`__
+
+        '
+      security_fixes:
+      - Templating will not prefer AnsibleUnsafe when a variable is referenced via
+        hostvars - CVE-2024-11079
+    codename: All My Love
+    fragments:
+    - 2.16.14rc1_summary.yaml
+    - ansible-test-fix-command-traceback.yml
+    - unsafe_hostvars_fix.yml
+    release_date: '2024-11-25'
   2.16.1rc1:
     changes:
       breaking_changes:
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/2.16.14rc1_summary.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/2.16.14rc1_summary.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ff40fd1c7f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/2.16.14rc1_summary.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+release_summary: |
+   | Release Date: 2024-11-25
+   | `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 f5c1015fe5f..8b82032c320 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__ = '2.16.13.post0'
+__version__ = '2.16.14rc1'
 __author__ = 'Ansible, Inc.'
 __codename__ = "All My Love"
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index e9bbf9eace5..0240dd0e776 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 [build-system]
-requires = ["setuptools >= 66.1.0, <= 75.3.0"]  # lower bound to support controller Python versions, upper bound for latest version tested at release
+requires = ["setuptools >= 66.1.0, <= 75.6.0"]  # lower bound to support controller Python versions, upper bound for latest version tested at release
 build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"