diff --git a/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.17.rst b/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.17.rst
index a8394658083..8214e6675b8 100644
--- a/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.17.rst
+++ b/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.17.rst
@@ -4,6 +4,20 @@ ansible-core 2.17 "Gallows Pole" Release Notes
 
 .. contents:: Topics
 
+v2.17.10rc1
+===========
+
+Release Summary
+---------------
+
+| Release Date: 2025-03-17
+| `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.17/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.17.html>`__
+
+Bugfixes
+--------
+
+- Windows - add support for running on system where WDAC is in audit mode with ``Dynamic Code Security`` enabled.
+
 v2.17.9
 =======
 
diff --git a/changelogs/changelog.yaml b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
index b8fd802733c..6505007395f 100644
--- a/changelogs/changelog.yaml
+++ b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
@@ -701,6 +701,21 @@ releases:
     - 2.17.1_summary.yaml
     - ansible-test-pypi-test-container-update.yml
     release_date: '2024-06-17'
+  2.17.10rc1:
+    changes:
+      bugfixes:
+      - Windows - add support for running on system where WDAC is in audit mode with
+        ``Dynamic Code Security`` enabled.
+      release_summary: '| Release Date: 2025-03-17
+
+        | `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.17/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.17.html>`__
+
+        '
+    codename: Gallows Pole
+    fragments:
+    - 2.17.10rc1_summary.yaml
+    - win-wdac-audit.yml
+    release_date: '2025-03-17'
   2.17.1rc1:
     changes:
       bugfixes:
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/2.17.10rc1_summary.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/2.17.10rc1_summary.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0ae40a7cda9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/2.17.10rc1_summary.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+release_summary: |
+   | Release Date: 2025-03-17
+   | `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 44829225bc1..352f3d6362c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/release.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/release.py
@@ -17,6 +17,6 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-__version__ = '2.17.9.post0'
+__version__ = '2.17.10rc1'
 __author__ = 'Ansible, Inc.'
 __codename__ = "Gallows Pole"
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index df6ba88e6e7..47134bc0d54 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 [build-system]
-requires = ["setuptools >= 66.1.0, <= 75.8.0"]  # lower bound to support controller Python versions, upper bound for latest version tested at release
+requires = ["setuptools >= 66.1.0, <= 76.0.0"]  # lower bound to support controller Python versions, upper bound for latest version tested at release
 build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"