diff --git a/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.19.rst b/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.19.rst
index 58fc578d7e9..d6029bb062d 100644
--- a/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.19.rst
+++ b/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.19.rst
@@ -4,6 +4,29 @@ ansible-core 2.19 "What Is and What Should Never Be" Release Notes
 
 .. contents:: Topics
 
+v2.19.3rc1
+==========
+
+Release Summary
+---------------
+
+| Release Date: 2025-09-29
+| `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.19/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.19.html>`__
+
+Minor Changes
+-------------
+
+- fetch_file - add ca_path and cookies parameter arguments (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85172).
+
+Bugfixes
+--------
+
+- Windows async - Handle running PowerShell modules with trailing data after the module result
+- ansible-doc --list/--list_files/--metadata-dump - fixed relative imports in nested filter/test plugin files (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85753).
+- display - Fixed reference to undefined `_DeferredWarningContext` when issuing early warnings during startup. (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85886)
+- run_command - Fixed premature selector unregistration on empty read from stdout/stderr that caused truncated output or hangs in rare situations.
+- script inventory plugin will now show correct 'incorrect' type when doing implicit conversions on groups.
+
 v2.19.2
 =======
 
diff --git a/changelogs/changelog.yaml b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
index 5d6f5c05f1a..2ea3b1af2d9 100644
--- a/changelogs/changelog.yaml
+++ b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
@@ -1313,3 +1313,33 @@ releases:
     - 85743-lazy-ternary.yml
     - ansible-test-auth-update.yml
     release_date: '2025-09-02'
+  2.19.3rc1:
+    changes:
+      bugfixes:
+      - Windows async - Handle running PowerShell modules with trailing data after
+        the module result
+      - ansible-doc --list/--list_files/--metadata-dump - fixed relative imports in
+        nested filter/test plugin files (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85753).
+      - display - Fixed reference to undefined `_DeferredWarningContext` when issuing
+        early warnings during startup. (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85886)
+      - run_command - Fixed premature selector unregistration on empty read from stdout/stderr
+        that caused truncated output or hangs in rare situations.
+      - script inventory plugin will now show correct 'incorrect' type when doing
+        implicit conversions on groups.
+      minor_changes:
+      - fetch_file - add ca_path and cookies parameter arguments (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85172).
+      release_summary: '| Release Date: 2025-09-29
+
+        | `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.19/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.19.html>`__
+
+        '
+    codename: What Is and What Should Never Be
+    fragments:
+    - 2.19.3rc1_summary.yaml
+    - display_internals.yml
+    - fetch_file.yml
+    - fix-listing-nested-filter-and-test-plugins.yml
+    - fix_script_error.yml
+    - run_command_output_selector.yml
+    - win_async-junk-output.yml
+    release_date: '2025-09-29'
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/2.19.3rc1_summary.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/2.19.3rc1_summary.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9eeab4e9f64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/2.19.3rc1_summary.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+release_summary: |
+   | Release Date: 2025-09-29
+   | `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.19/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.19.html>`__
diff --git a/lib/ansible/release.py b/lib/ansible/release.py
index 83c002b7258..00d7d6e325d 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/release.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/release.py
@@ -17,6 +17,6 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-__version__ = '2.19.2.post0'
+__version__ = '2.19.3rc1'
 __author__ = 'Ansible, Inc.'
 __codename__ = "What Is and What Should Never Be"