diff --git a/TAG b/TAG
index aefa26665a7..47d92ef13d9 100644
--- a/TAG
+++ b/TAG
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.6.1-rc2
+2.6.1-rc3
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index b9edca31485..6891cea4737 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+daos (2.6.1-3) unstable; urgency=medium
+  [ Phillip Henderson ]
+  * Third release candidate for 2.6.1
+
+ -- Phillip Henderson <phillip.henderson@intel.com>  Tue, 01 Oct 2024 14:23:00 -0500
+
 daos (2.6.1-2) unstable; urgency=medium
   [ Phillip Henderson ]
   * Second release candidate for 2.6.1
diff --git a/utils/rpms/daos.spec b/utils/rpms/daos.spec
index 17cd8bfcc48..14fa74776a2 100644
--- a/utils/rpms/daos.spec
+++ b/utils/rpms/daos.spec
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 Name:          daos
 Version:       2.6.1
-Release:       2%{?relval}%{?dist}
+Release:       3%{?relval}%{?dist}
 Summary:       DAOS Storage Engine
 
 License:       BSD-2-Clause-Patent
@@ -591,6 +591,9 @@ getent passwd daos_agent >/dev/null || useradd -s /sbin/nologin -r -g daos_agent
 # No files in a shim package
 
 %changelog
+* Tue Oct 01 2024 Phillip Henderson <phillip.henderson@intel.com> 2.6.1-3
+- Third release candidate for 2.6.1
+
 * Fri Sep 20 2024 Phillip Henderson <phillip.henderson@intel.com> 2.6.1-2
 - Second release candidate for 2.6.1