diff --git a/api/pom.xml b/api/pom.xml
index e648f7a2ee1..d6e5aabbe55 100644
--- a/api/pom.xml
+++ b/api/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>io.strimzi</groupId>
         <artifactId>strimzi</artifactId>
-        <version>0.18.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>0.18.0-RC1</version>
     </parent>
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
     <artifactId>api</artifactId>
diff --git a/certificate-manager/pom.xml b/certificate-manager/pom.xml
index a35ffd5a035..ebfc7a2f898 100644
--- a/certificate-manager/pom.xml
+++ b/certificate-manager/pom.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
   <parent>
     <artifactId>strimzi</artifactId>
     <groupId>io.strimzi</groupId>
-    <version>0.18.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>0.18.0-RC1</version>
   </parent>
   <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
   <artifactId>certificate-manager</artifactId>
diff --git a/cluster-operator/pom.xml b/cluster-operator/pom.xml
index 7eba7dcfb5a..100668f34e7 100644
--- a/cluster-operator/pom.xml
+++ b/cluster-operator/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>io.strimzi</groupId>
         <artifactId>strimzi</artifactId>
-        <version>0.18.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>0.18.0-RC1</version>
     </parent>
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
     <artifactId>cluster-operator</artifactId>
diff --git a/config-model-generator/pom.xml b/config-model-generator/pom.xml
index 3a7d57e5c9b..133fe88b3d9 100644
--- a/config-model-generator/pom.xml
+++ b/config-model-generator/pom.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     <parent>
         <artifactId>strimzi</artifactId>
         <groupId>io.strimzi</groupId>
-        <version>0.18.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>0.18.0-RC1</version>
     </parent>
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
 
diff --git a/config-model/pom.xml b/config-model/pom.xml
index 04c6e4feffb..248f0f036a7 100644
--- a/config-model/pom.xml
+++ b/config-model/pom.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     <parent>
         <artifactId>strimzi</artifactId>
         <groupId>io.strimzi</groupId>
-        <version>0.18.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>0.18.0-RC1</version>
     </parent>
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
 
diff --git a/crd-annotations/pom.xml b/crd-annotations/pom.xml
index ee0a38afa9e..1ef85ff29cb 100644
--- a/crd-annotations/pom.xml
+++ b/crd-annotations/pom.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     <parent>
         <artifactId>strimzi</artifactId>
         <groupId>io.strimzi</groupId>
-        <version>0.18.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>0.18.0-RC1</version>
     </parent>
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
 
diff --git a/crd-generator/pom.xml b/crd-generator/pom.xml
index ecb8e81e3a0..8f5b8967eb2 100644
--- a/crd-generator/pom.xml
+++ b/crd-generator/pom.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
   <parent>
     <artifactId>strimzi</artifactId>
     <groupId>io.strimzi</groupId>
-    <version>0.18.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>0.18.0-RC1</version>
   </parent>
   <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
   <artifactId>crd-generator</artifactId>
diff --git a/helm-charts/index.yaml b/helm-charts/index.yaml
index ec2748345e3..7d29f2e3e7b 100644
--- a/helm-charts/index.yaml
+++ b/helm-charts/index.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,33 @@
 apiVersion: v1
 entries:
   strimzi-kafka-operator:
+  - apiVersion: v1
+    appVersion: 0.18.0-rc1
+    created: "2020-05-15T20:21:13.243886+02:00"
+    description: 'Strimzi: Apache Kafka running on Kubernetes'
+    digest: cc8c98215ad24c41322103e4d6fd52cbf862f9d19800e9846deaf4b46d7bc7cf
+    home: https://strimzi.io/
+    icon: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/strimzi/strimzi-kafka-operator/master/documentation/logo/strimzi_logo.png
+    keywords:
+    - kafka
+    - queue
+    - stream
+    - event
+    - messaging
+    - datastore
+    - topic
+    maintainers:
+    - name: ppatierno
+    - name: scholzj
+    - name: tombentley
+    - name: samuel-hawker
+    - name: Frawless
+    name: strimzi-kafka-operator
+    sources:
+    - https://github.com/strimzi/strimzi-kafka-operator
+    urls:
+    - https://github.com/strimzi/strimzi-kafka-operator/releases/download/0.18.0-rc1/strimzi-kafka-operator-helm-chart-0.18.0-rc1.tgz
+    version: 0.18.0-rc1
   - apiVersion: v1
     appVersion: 0.17.0
     created: "2020-03-25T18:05:14.817377+01:00"
@@ -551,4 +578,4 @@ entries:
     urls:
     - https://github.com/strimzi/strimzi-kafka-operator/releases/download/0.6.0/strimzi-kafka-operator-0.6.0.tgz
     version: 0.6.0
-generated: "2020-03-25T18:05:14.81463+01:00"
+generated: "2020-05-15T20:21:13.239672+02:00"
diff --git a/helm-charts/strimzi-kafka-operator/README.md b/helm-charts/strimzi-kafka-operator/README.md
index c0a2df3bd09..d098cba832a 100644
--- a/helm-charts/strimzi-kafka-operator/README.md
+++ b/helm-charts/strimzi-kafka-operator/README.md
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ the documentation for more details.
 | `watchNamespaces`                    | Comma separated list of additional namespaces for the strimzi-operator to watch | []             |
 | `image.repository`                   | Cluster Operator image repository         | `strimzi`                                            |
 | `image.name`                         | Cluster Operator image name               | `cluster-operator`                                   |
-| `image.tag`                          | Cluster Operator image tag                | `latest`                                             |
+| `image.tag`                          | Cluster Operator image tag                | `0.18.0-rc1`                                             |
 | `image.imagePullPolicy`              | Image pull policy for all pods deployed by Cluster Operator       | `IfNotPresent`                                       |
 | `image.imagePullSecrets`              | Docker registry pull secret              | `nil`                                                 |
 | `logLevel`                           | Cluster Operator log level                | `INFO`                                               |
@@ -91,43 +91,43 @@ the documentation for more details.
 | `operationTimeoutMs`                 | Operation timeout in milliseconds         | 300000                                               |
 | `zookeeper.image.repository`         | ZooKeeper image repository                | `strimzi`                                            |
 | `zookeeper.image.name`               | ZooKeeper image name                      | `kafka`                                              |
-| `zookeeper.image.tag`                | ZooKeeper image tag prefix                | `latest`                                             |
+| `zookeeper.image.tag`                | ZooKeeper image tag prefix                | `0.18.0-rc1`                                             |
 | `jmxtrans.image.repository`          | JmxTrans image repository                 | `strimzi`                                            |
 | `jmxtrans.image.name`                | JmxTrans image name                       | `jmxtrans`                                           |
-| `jmxtrans.image.tag`                 | JmxTrans image tag prefix                 | `latest`                                             |
+| `jmxtrans.image.tag`                 | JmxTrans image tag prefix                 | `0.18.0-rc1`                                             |
 | `kafka.image.repository`             | Kafka image repository                    | `strimzi`                                            |
 | `kafka.image.name`                   | Kafka image name                          | `kafka`                                              |
-| `kafka.image.tagPrefix`              | Kafka image tag prefix                    | `latest`                                             |
+| `kafka.image.tagPrefix`              | Kafka image tag prefix                    | `0.18.0-rc1`                                             |
 | `kafkaConnect.image.repository`      | Kafka Connect image repository            | `strimzi`                                            |
 | `kafkaConnect.image.name`            | Kafka Connect image name                  | `kafka`                                              |
-| `kafkaConnect.image.tagPrefix`       | Kafka Connect image tag prefix            | `latest`                                             |
+| `kafkaConnect.image.tagPrefix`       | Kafka Connect image tag prefix            | `0.18.0-rc1`                                             |
 | `kafkaConnects2i.image.repository`   | Kafka Connect s2i image repository        | `strimzi`                                            |
 | `kafkaConnects2i.image.name`         | Kafka Connect s2i image name              | `kafka`                                              |
-| `kafkaConnects2i.image.tagPrefix`    | Kafka Connect s2i image tag prefix        | `latest`                                             |
+| `kafkaConnects2i.image.tagPrefix`    | Kafka Connect s2i image tag prefix        | `0.18.0-rc1`                                             |
 | `kafkaMirrorMaker.image.repository`  | Kafka Mirror Maker image repository       | `strimzi`                                            |
 | `kafkaMirrorMaker.image.name`        | Kafka Mirror Maker image name             | `kafka`                                              |
-| `kafkaMirrorMaker.image.tagPrefix`   | Kafka Mirror Maker image tag prefix       | `latest`                                             |
+| `kafkaMirrorMaker.image.tagPrefix`   | Kafka Mirror Maker image tag prefix       | `0.18.0-rc1`                                             |
 | `cruiseControl.image.repository`     | Cruise Control image repository           | `strimzi`                                            |
 | `cruiseControl.image.name`           | Cruise Control image name                 | `kafka`                                              |
-| `cruiseControl.image.tag`            | Cruise Control image tag prefix           | `latest`                                             |
+| `cruiseControl.image.tag`            | Cruise Control image tag prefix           | `0.18.0-rc1`                                             |
 | `topicOperator.image.repository`     | Topic Operator image repository           | `strimzi`                                            |
 | `topicOperator.image.name`           | Topic Operator image name                 | `operator`                                           |
-| `topicOperator.image.tag`            | Topic Operator image tag                  | `latest`                                             |
+| `topicOperator.image.tag`            | Topic Operator image tag                  | `0.18.0-rc1`                                             |
 | `userOperator.image.repository`      | User Operator image repository            | `strimzi`                                            |
 | `userOperator.image.name`            | User Operator image name                  | `operator`                                           |
-| `userOperator.image.tag`             | User Operator image tag                   | `latest`                                             |
+| `userOperator.image.tag`             | User Operator image tag                   | `0.18.0-rc1`                                             |
 | `kafkaInit.image.repository`         | Init Kafka image repository               | `strimzi`                                            |
 | `kafkaInit.image.name`               | Init Kafka image name                     | `operator`                                           |
-| `kafkaInit.image.tag`                | Init Kafka image tag                      | `latest`                                             |
+| `kafkaInit.image.tag`                | Init Kafka image tag                      | `0.18.0-rc1`                                             |
 | `tlsSidecarKafka.image.repository`   | TLS Sidecar for Kafka image repository    | `strimzi`                                            |
 | `tlsSidecarKafka.image.name`         | TLS Sidecar for Kafka image name          | `kafka`                                              |
-| `tlsSidecarKafka.image.tag`          | TLS Sidecar for Kafka image tag prefix    | `latest`                                             |
+| `tlsSidecarKafka.image.tag`          | TLS Sidecar for Kafka image tag prefix    | `0.18.0-rc1`                                             |
 | `tlsSidecarCruiseControl.image.repository` | TLS Sidecar for Cruise Control image repository | `strimzi`                                         |
 | `tlsSidecarCruiseControl.image.name`     | TLS Sidecar for Cruise Control image name      | `kafka`                                              |
-| `tlsSidecarCruiseControl.image.tag`      | TLS Sidecar for Cruise Control image tag prefix | `latest`                                            |
+| `tlsSidecarCruiseControl.image.tag`      | TLS Sidecar for Cruise Control image tag prefix | `0.18.0-rc1`                                            |
 | `tlsSidecarTopicOperator.image.repository` | TLS Sidecar for Topic Operator image repository | `strimzi`                                |
 | `tlsSidecarTopicOperator.image.name` | TLS Sidecar for Topic Operator image name | `kafka`                                              |
-| `tlsSidecarTopicOperator.image.tag`  | TLS Sidecar for Topic Operator image tag prefix | `latest`                                       |
+| `tlsSidecarTopicOperator.image.tag`  | TLS Sidecar for Topic Operator image tag prefix | `0.18.0-rc1`                                       |
 | `kafkaBridge.image.repository`       | Kafka Bridge image repository             | `strimzi`                                            |
 | `kafkaBridge.image.name`             | Kafka Bridge image name                   | `kafka-bridge                                        |
 | `kafkaBridge.image.tag`              | Kafka Bridge image tag                    | `0.16.0`                                             |
diff --git a/helm-charts/strimzi-kafka-operator/values.yaml b/helm-charts/strimzi-kafka-operator/values.yaml
index ef20e605b01..1018167215a 100755
--- a/helm-charts/strimzi-kafka-operator/values.yaml
+++ b/helm-charts/strimzi-kafka-operator/values.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ watchAnyNamespace: false
 image:
   repository: strimzi
   name: operator
-  tag: latest
+  tag: 0.18.0-rc1
 logLevel: INFO
 fullReconciliationIntervalMs: 120000
 operationTimeoutMs: 300000
@@ -26,52 +26,52 @@ zookeeper:
   image:
     repository: strimzi
     name: kafka
-    tagPrefix: latest
+    tagPrefix: 0.18.0-rc1
 kafka:
   image:
     repository: strimzi
     name: kafka
-    tagPrefix: latest
+    tagPrefix: 0.18.0-rc1
 kafkaConnect:
   image:
     repository: strimzi
     name: kafka
-    tagPrefix: latest
+    tagPrefix: 0.18.0-rc1
 kafkaConnects2i:
   image:
     repository: strimzi
     name: kafka
-    tagPrefix: latest
+    tagPrefix: 0.18.0-rc1
 topicOperator:
   image:
     repository: strimzi
     name: operator
-    tag: latest
+    tag: 0.18.0-rc1
 userOperator:
   image:
     repository: strimzi
     name: operator
-    tag: latest
+    tag: 0.18.0-rc1
 kafkaInit:
   image:
     repository: strimzi
     name: operator
-    tag: latest
+    tag: 0.18.0-rc1
 tlsSidecarKafka:
   image:
     repository: strimzi
     name: kafka
-    tagPrefix: latest
+    tagPrefix: 0.18.0-rc1
 tlsSidecarEntityOperator:
   image:
     repository: strimzi
     name: kafka
-    tagPrefix: latest
+    tagPrefix: 0.18.0-rc1
 kafkaMirrorMaker:
   image:
     repository: strimzi
     name: kafka
-    tagPrefix: latest
+    tagPrefix: 0.18.0-rc1
 kafkaBridge:
   image:
     repository: strimzi
@@ -81,27 +81,27 @@ kafkaExporter:
   image:
     repository: strimzi
     name: kafka
-    tagPrefix: latest
+    tagPrefix: 0.18.0-rc1
 jmxTrans:
   image:
     repository: strimzi
     name: jmxtrans
-    tag: latest
+    tag: 0.18.0-rc1
 kafkaMirrorMaker2:
   image:
     repository: strimzi
     name: kafka
-    tagPrefix: latest
+    tagPrefix: 0.18.0-rc1
 cruiseControl:
   image:
     repository: strimzi
     name: kafka
-    tagPrefix: latest
+    tagPrefix: 0.18.0-rc1
 tlsSidecarCruiseControl:
   image:
     repository: strimzi
     name: kafka
-    tagPrefix: latest
+    tagPrefix: 0.18.0-rc1
 resources:
   limits:
     memory: 384Mi
diff --git a/install/cluster-operator/050-Deployment-strimzi-cluster-operator.yaml b/install/cluster-operator/050-Deployment-strimzi-cluster-operator.yaml
index 8b76196af2f..199b4e3029a 100644
--- a/install/cluster-operator/050-Deployment-strimzi-cluster-operator.yaml
+++ b/install/cluster-operator/050-Deployment-strimzi-cluster-operator.yaml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ spec:
       serviceAccountName: strimzi-cluster-operator
       containers:
       - name: strimzi-cluster-operator
-        image: strimzi/operator:latest
+        image: strimzi/operator:0.18.0-rc1
         ports:
         - containerPort: 8080
           name: http
@@ -35,50 +35,50 @@ spec:
         - name: STRIMZI_OPERATION_TIMEOUT_MS
           value: "300000"
         - name: STRIMZI_DEFAULT_TLS_SIDECAR_ENTITY_OPERATOR_IMAGE
-          value: strimzi/kafka:latest-kafka-2.5.0
+          value: strimzi/kafka:0.18.0-rc1-kafka-2.5.0
         - name: STRIMZI_DEFAULT_TLS_SIDECAR_KAFKA_IMAGE
-          value: strimzi/kafka:latest-kafka-2.5.0
+          value: strimzi/kafka:0.18.0-rc1-kafka-2.5.0
         - name: STRIMZI_DEFAULT_KAFKA_EXPORTER_IMAGE
-          value: strimzi/kafka:latest-kafka-2.5.0
+          value: strimzi/kafka:0.18.0-rc1-kafka-2.5.0
         - name: STRIMZI_DEFAULT_CRUISE_CONTROL_IMAGE
-          value: strimzi/kafka:latest-kafka-2.5.0
+          value: strimzi/kafka:0.18.0-rc1-kafka-2.5.0
         - name: STRIMZI_DEFAULT_TLS_SIDECAR_CRUISE_CONTROL_IMAGE
-          value: strimzi/kafka:latest-kafka-2.5.0
+          value: strimzi/kafka:0.18.0-rc1-kafka-2.5.0
         - name: STRIMZI_KAFKA_IMAGES
           value: |
-            2.4.0=strimzi/kafka:latest-kafka-2.4.0
-            2.4.1=strimzi/kafka:latest-kafka-2.4.1
-            2.5.0=strimzi/kafka:latest-kafka-2.5.0
+            2.4.0=strimzi/kafka:0.18.0-rc1-kafka-2.4.0
+            2.4.1=strimzi/kafka:0.18.0-rc1-kafka-2.4.1
+            2.5.0=strimzi/kafka:0.18.0-rc1-kafka-2.5.0
         - name: STRIMZI_KAFKA_CONNECT_IMAGES
           value: |
-            2.4.0=strimzi/kafka:latest-kafka-2.4.0
-            2.4.1=strimzi/kafka:latest-kafka-2.4.1
-            2.5.0=strimzi/kafka:latest-kafka-2.5.0
+            2.4.0=strimzi/kafka:0.18.0-rc1-kafka-2.4.0
+            2.4.1=strimzi/kafka:0.18.0-rc1-kafka-2.4.1
+            2.5.0=strimzi/kafka:0.18.0-rc1-kafka-2.5.0
         - name: STRIMZI_KAFKA_CONNECT_S2I_IMAGES
           value: |
-            2.4.0=strimzi/kafka:latest-kafka-2.4.0
-            2.4.1=strimzi/kafka:latest-kafka-2.4.1
-            2.5.0=strimzi/kafka:latest-kafka-2.5.0
+            2.4.0=strimzi/kafka:0.18.0-rc1-kafka-2.4.0
+            2.4.1=strimzi/kafka:0.18.0-rc1-kafka-2.4.1
+            2.5.0=strimzi/kafka:0.18.0-rc1-kafka-2.5.0
         - name: STRIMZI_KAFKA_MIRROR_MAKER_IMAGES
           value: |
-            2.4.0=strimzi/kafka:latest-kafka-2.4.0
-            2.4.1=strimzi/kafka:latest-kafka-2.4.1
-            2.5.0=strimzi/kafka:latest-kafka-2.5.0
+            2.4.0=strimzi/kafka:0.18.0-rc1-kafka-2.4.0
+            2.4.1=strimzi/kafka:0.18.0-rc1-kafka-2.4.1
+            2.5.0=strimzi/kafka:0.18.0-rc1-kafka-2.5.0
         - name: STRIMZI_KAFKA_MIRROR_MAKER_2_IMAGES
           value: |
-            2.4.0=strimzi/kafka:latest-kafka-2.4.0
-            2.4.1=strimzi/kafka:latest-kafka-2.4.1
-            2.5.0=strimzi/kafka:latest-kafka-2.5.0
+            2.4.0=strimzi/kafka:0.18.0-rc1-kafka-2.4.0
+            2.4.1=strimzi/kafka:0.18.0-rc1-kafka-2.4.1
+            2.5.0=strimzi/kafka:0.18.0-rc1-kafka-2.5.0
         - name: STRIMZI_DEFAULT_TOPIC_OPERATOR_IMAGE
-          value: strimzi/operator:latest
+          value: strimzi/operator:0.18.0-rc1
         - name: STRIMZI_DEFAULT_USER_OPERATOR_IMAGE
-          value: strimzi/operator:latest
+          value: strimzi/operator:0.18.0-rc1
         - name: STRIMZI_DEFAULT_KAFKA_INIT_IMAGE
-          value: strimzi/operator:latest
+          value: strimzi/operator:0.18.0-rc1
         - name: STRIMZI_DEFAULT_KAFKA_BRIDGE_IMAGE
           value: strimzi/kafka-bridge:0.16.0
         - name: STRIMZI_DEFAULT_JMXTRANS_IMAGE
-          value: strimzi/jmxtrans:latest
+          value: strimzi/jmxtrans:0.18.0-rc1
         - name: STRIMZI_LOG_LEVEL
           value: "INFO"
         livenessProbe:
diff --git a/install/topic-operator/05-Deployment-strimzi-topic-operator.yaml b/install/topic-operator/05-Deployment-strimzi-topic-operator.yaml
index 211fe4fe2d3..bcf8a5f43c8 100644
--- a/install/topic-operator/05-Deployment-strimzi-topic-operator.yaml
+++ b/install/topic-operator/05-Deployment-strimzi-topic-operator.yaml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ spec:
       serviceAccountName: strimzi-topic-operator
       containers:
         - name: strimzi-topic-operator
-          image: strimzi/operator:latest
+          image: strimzi/operator:0.18.0-rc1
           args:
           - /opt/strimzi/bin/topic_operator_run.sh
           env:
diff --git a/install/user-operator/05-Deployment-strimzi-user-operator.yaml b/install/user-operator/05-Deployment-strimzi-user-operator.yaml
index 5757a7e4f59..73070dc9ab6 100644
--- a/install/user-operator/05-Deployment-strimzi-user-operator.yaml
+++ b/install/user-operator/05-Deployment-strimzi-user-operator.yaml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ spec:
       serviceAccountName: strimzi-user-operator
       containers:
         - name: strimzi-user-operator
-          image: strimzi/operator:latest
+          image: strimzi/operator:0.18.0-rc1
           args:
           - /opt/strimzi/bin/user_operator_run.sh
           env:
diff --git a/kafka-agent/pom.xml b/kafka-agent/pom.xml
index 2a855357329..92409622038 100644
--- a/kafka-agent/pom.xml
+++ b/kafka-agent/pom.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     <parent>
         <artifactId>strimzi</artifactId>
         <groupId>io.strimzi</groupId>
-        <version>0.18.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>0.18.0-RC1</version>
     </parent>
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
 
diff --git a/kafka-init/pom.xml b/kafka-init/pom.xml
index d19f71a64fb..0c50aadafd9 100644
--- a/kafka-init/pom.xml
+++ b/kafka-init/pom.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     <parent>
         <artifactId>strimzi</artifactId>
         <groupId>io.strimzi</groupId>
-        <version>0.18.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>0.18.0-RC1</version>
     </parent>
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
     <artifactId>kafka-init</artifactId>
diff --git a/mirror-maker-agent/pom.xml b/mirror-maker-agent/pom.xml
index 9db68ea7352..d92224e9b5e 100644
--- a/mirror-maker-agent/pom.xml
+++ b/mirror-maker-agent/pom.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     <parent>
         <artifactId>strimzi</artifactId>
         <groupId>io.strimzi</groupId>
-        <version>0.18.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>0.18.0-RC1</version>
     </parent>
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
 
diff --git a/mockkube/pom.xml b/mockkube/pom.xml
index 37ab74540d9..ac11dd15355 100644
--- a/mockkube/pom.xml
+++ b/mockkube/pom.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     <parent>
         <artifactId>strimzi</artifactId>
         <groupId>io.strimzi</groupId>
-        <version>0.18.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>0.18.0-RC1</version>
     </parent>
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
 
diff --git a/operator-common/pom.xml b/operator-common/pom.xml
index 970a19a547e..74d0324a989 100644
--- a/operator-common/pom.xml
+++ b/operator-common/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>io.strimzi</groupId>
         <artifactId>strimzi</artifactId>
-        <version>0.18.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>0.18.0-RC1</version>
     </parent>
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
     <artifactId>operator-common</artifactId>
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 5dd022ab4e6..c2df9747cc0 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     <groupId>io.strimzi</groupId>
     <artifactId>strimzi</artifactId>
     <packaging>pom</packaging>
-    <version>0.18.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>0.18.0-RC1</version>
 
     <licenses>
         <license>
diff --git a/release.version b/release.version
index 4e57392a1fb..6fe0b972361 100644
--- a/release.version
+++ b/release.version
@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.18.0-SNAPSHOT
+0.18.0-RC1
diff --git a/systemtest/pom.xml b/systemtest/pom.xml
index 8fd9d2a27bc..98e69d6beb1 100644
--- a/systemtest/pom.xml
+++ b/systemtest/pom.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     <parent>
         <artifactId>strimzi</artifactId>
         <groupId>io.strimzi</groupId>
-        <version>0.18.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>0.18.0-RC1</version>
     </parent>
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
     <artifactId>systemtest</artifactId>
diff --git a/test/pom.xml b/test/pom.xml
index 5732a4ee312..08c440136dc 100644
--- a/test/pom.xml
+++ b/test/pom.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     <parent>
         <artifactId>strimzi</artifactId>
         <groupId>io.strimzi</groupId>
-        <version>0.18.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>0.18.0-RC1</version>
     </parent>
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
 
diff --git a/topic-operator/pom.xml b/topic-operator/pom.xml
index 1426613194b..300a945beff 100644
--- a/topic-operator/pom.xml
+++ b/topic-operator/pom.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>io.strimzi</groupId>
         <artifactId>strimzi</artifactId>
-        <version>0.18.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>0.18.0-RC1</version>
     </parent>
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
     <artifactId>topic-operator</artifactId>
diff --git a/tracing-agent/pom.xml b/tracing-agent/pom.xml
index bb38eba51f1..f211c3dbf5a 100644
--- a/tracing-agent/pom.xml
+++ b/tracing-agent/pom.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     <parent>
         <artifactId>strimzi</artifactId>
         <groupId>io.strimzi</groupId>
-        <version>0.18.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>0.18.0-RC1</version>
     </parent>
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
 
diff --git a/user-operator/pom.xml b/user-operator/pom.xml
index c1bf97b8523..b413077842e 100644
--- a/user-operator/pom.xml
+++ b/user-operator/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>io.strimzi</groupId>
         <artifactId>strimzi</artifactId>
-        <version>0.18.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>0.18.0-RC1</version>
     </parent>
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
     <artifactId>user-operator</artifactId>