diff --git a/examples/AdminClient/AdminClient.csproj b/examples/AdminClient/AdminClient.csproj
index c16295d1b..6261eafbe 100755
--- a/examples/AdminClient/AdminClient.csproj
+++ b/examples/AdminClient/AdminClient.csproj
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.Kafka/Confluent.Kafka.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
diff --git a/examples/AvroBlogExamples/AvroBlogExamples.csproj b/examples/AvroBlogExamples/AvroBlogExamples.csproj
index ecc9dd243..680ccd27d 100644
--- a/examples/AvroBlogExamples/AvroBlogExamples.csproj
+++ b/examples/AvroBlogExamples/AvroBlogExamples.csproj
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
diff --git a/examples/AvroGeneric/AvroGeneric.csproj b/examples/AvroGeneric/AvroGeneric.csproj
index 6ec3279f2..5efa674e6 100644
--- a/examples/AvroGeneric/AvroGeneric.csproj
+++ b/examples/AvroGeneric/AvroGeneric.csproj
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
diff --git a/examples/AvroGenericEncryption/AvroGenericEncryption.csproj b/examples/AvroGenericEncryption/AvroGenericEncryption.csproj
index 1bc7b84ad..ceebd759d 100644
--- a/examples/AvroGenericEncryption/AvroGenericEncryption.csproj
+++ b/examples/AvroGenericEncryption/AvroGenericEncryption.csproj
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Aws/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Aws.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Azure/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Azure.csproj" />
diff --git a/examples/AvroGenericMigration/AvroGenericMigration.csproj b/examples/AvroGenericMigration/AvroGenericMigration.csproj
index f471199e8..1f4cd9bf1 100644
--- a/examples/AvroGenericMigration/AvroGenericMigration.csproj
+++ b/examples/AvroGenericMigration/AvroGenericMigration.csproj
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Rules/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Rules.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
diff --git a/examples/AvroSpecific/AvroSpecific.csproj b/examples/AvroSpecific/AvroSpecific.csproj
index 75e3e305d..bdffbbde9 100644
--- a/examples/AvroSpecific/AvroSpecific.csproj
+++ b/examples/AvroSpecific/AvroSpecific.csproj
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
diff --git a/examples/AvroSpecificEncryption/AvroSpecificEncryption.csproj b/examples/AvroSpecificEncryption/AvroSpecificEncryption.csproj
index 55b89cdb4..639c683c7 100644
--- a/examples/AvroSpecificEncryption/AvroSpecificEncryption.csproj
+++ b/examples/AvroSpecificEncryption/AvroSpecificEncryption.csproj
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Aws/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Aws.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Azure/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Azure.csproj" />
diff --git a/examples/Configuration/Configuration.csproj b/examples/Configuration/Configuration.csproj
index f4ef63f4f..5f75dc2d4 100644
--- a/examples/Configuration/Configuration.csproj
+++ b/examples/Configuration/Configuration.csproj
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.Kafka/Confluent.Kafka.csproj" />
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration" Version="6.0.0" />
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Json" Version="6.0.0" />
diff --git a/examples/ConfluentCloud/ConfluentCloud.csproj b/examples/ConfluentCloud/ConfluentCloud.csproj
index 406b59b36..6b8f69bb9 100644
--- a/examples/ConfluentCloud/ConfluentCloud.csproj
+++ b/examples/ConfluentCloud/ConfluentCloud.csproj
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.Kafka/Confluent.Kafka.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
diff --git a/examples/Consumer/Consumer.csproj b/examples/Consumer/Consumer.csproj
index c644afcfd..bc40aee63 100755
--- a/examples/Consumer/Consumer.csproj
+++ b/examples/Consumer/Consumer.csproj
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.Kafka/Confluent.Kafka.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
diff --git a/examples/ExactlyOnce/ExactlyOnce.csproj b/examples/ExactlyOnce/ExactlyOnce.csproj
index bfed656db..55bf3a636 100644
--- a/examples/ExactlyOnce/ExactlyOnce.csproj
+++ b/examples/ExactlyOnce/ExactlyOnce.csproj
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.Kafka/Confluent.Kafka.csproj" />
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.FASTER.Core" Version="1.8.0" />
   </ItemGroup>
diff --git a/examples/ExactlyOnceOldBroker/ExactlyOnceOldBroker.csproj b/examples/ExactlyOnceOldBroker/ExactlyOnceOldBroker.csproj
index 0b4e613ac..2d70f6334 100644
--- a/examples/ExactlyOnceOldBroker/ExactlyOnceOldBroker.csproj
+++ b/examples/ExactlyOnceOldBroker/ExactlyOnceOldBroker.csproj
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.Kafka/Confluent.Kafka.csproj" />
     <PackageReference Include="RocksDbSharp" Version="6.2.2" />
     <PackageReference Include="RocksDbNative" Version="6.2.2" />
diff --git a/examples/JsonEncryption/JsonSerializationEncryption.csproj b/examples/JsonEncryption/JsonSerializationEncryption.csproj
index 77d8374ae..1ca14ecc9 100644
--- a/examples/JsonEncryption/JsonSerializationEncryption.csproj
+++ b/examples/JsonEncryption/JsonSerializationEncryption.csproj
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Aws/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Aws.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Azure/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Azure.csproj" />
diff --git a/examples/JsonSerialization/JsonSerialization.csproj b/examples/JsonSerialization/JsonSerialization.csproj
index bb1d82225..5131ee6e4 100644
--- a/examples/JsonSerialization/JsonSerialization.csproj
+++ b/examples/JsonSerialization/JsonSerialization.csproj
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
diff --git a/examples/JsonWithReferences/JsonWithReferences.csproj b/examples/JsonWithReferences/JsonWithReferences.csproj
index b343deec5..d1870d000 100644
--- a/examples/JsonWithReferences/JsonWithReferences.csproj
+++ b/examples/JsonWithReferences/JsonWithReferences.csproj
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
diff --git a/examples/MultiProducer/MultiProducer.csproj b/examples/MultiProducer/MultiProducer.csproj
index 3970bf60c..418d3d03e 100644
--- a/examples/MultiProducer/MultiProducer.csproj
+++ b/examples/MultiProducer/MultiProducer.csproj
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.Kafka/Confluent.Kafka.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
diff --git a/examples/OAuthConsumer/OAuthConsumer.csproj b/examples/OAuthConsumer/OAuthConsumer.csproj
index 9dc5b7afc..e4750ca11 100644
--- a/examples/OAuthConsumer/OAuthConsumer.csproj
+++ b/examples/OAuthConsumer/OAuthConsumer.csproj
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.Kafka/Confluent.Kafka.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
diff --git a/examples/OAuthOIDC/OAuthOIDC.csproj b/examples/OAuthOIDC/OAuthOIDC.csproj
index 049b4f10a..adfe32f50 100644
--- a/examples/OAuthOIDC/OAuthOIDC.csproj
+++ b/examples/OAuthOIDC/OAuthOIDC.csproj
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.Kafka/Confluent.Kafka.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
diff --git a/examples/OAuthProducer/OAuthProducer.csproj b/examples/OAuthProducer/OAuthProducer.csproj
index 5692027a0..ad4403efc 100644
--- a/examples/OAuthProducer/OAuthProducer.csproj
+++ b/examples/OAuthProducer/OAuthProducer.csproj
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.Kafka/Confluent.Kafka.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
diff --git a/examples/Producer/Producer.csproj b/examples/Producer/Producer.csproj
index f547bfc1c..853987e54 100755
--- a/examples/Producer/Producer.csproj
+++ b/examples/Producer/Producer.csproj
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.Kafka/Confluent.Kafka.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
diff --git a/examples/Protobuf/Protobuf.csproj b/examples/Protobuf/Protobuf.csproj
index 36bd1f326..3d03f59cd 100644
--- a/examples/Protobuf/Protobuf.csproj
+++ b/examples/Protobuf/Protobuf.csproj
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Protobuf" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Protobuf" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Protobuf/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Protobuf.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
diff --git a/examples/ProtobufEncryption/ProtobufEncryption.csproj b/examples/ProtobufEncryption/ProtobufEncryption.csproj
index d3ae34959..8e713eddd 100644
--- a/examples/ProtobufEncryption/ProtobufEncryption.csproj
+++ b/examples/ProtobufEncryption/ProtobufEncryption.csproj
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Protobuf" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Protobuf" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Protobuf/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Protobuf.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Aws/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Aws.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Azure/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Azure.csproj" />
diff --git a/examples/TlsAuth/TlsAuth.csproj b/examples/TlsAuth/TlsAuth.csproj
index 0f7f283de..50f2ac831 100644
--- a/examples/TlsAuth/TlsAuth.csproj
+++ b/examples/TlsAuth/TlsAuth.csproj
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.Kafka/Confluent.Kafka.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
diff --git a/examples/Web/Web.csproj b/examples/Web/Web.csproj
index 188c0f8ee..39c926dcc 100644
--- a/examples/Web/Web.csproj
+++ b/examples/Web/Web.csproj
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.1" /> -->
+    <!-- nuget package reference: <PackageReference Include="Confluent.Kafka" Version="2.6.3-RC1" /> -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../../src/Confluent.Kafka/Confluent.Kafka.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
diff --git a/src/Confluent.Kafka/Config_gen.cs b/src/Confluent.Kafka/Config_gen.cs
index abaa07ac7..1457bdfc9 100644
--- a/src/Confluent.Kafka/Config_gen.cs
+++ b/src/Confluent.Kafka/Config_gen.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// *** Auto-generated from librdkafka v2.6.1 *** - do not modify manually.
+// *** Auto-generated from librdkafka v2.6.3-RC1 *** - do not modify manually.
 //
 // Copyright 2018-2022 Confluent Inc.
 //
diff --git a/src/Confluent.Kafka/Confluent.Kafka.csproj b/src/Confluent.Kafka/Confluent.Kafka.csproj
index 4c9467ddc..55cc18c19 100644
--- a/src/Confluent.Kafka/Confluent.Kafka.csproj
+++ b/src/Confluent.Kafka/Confluent.Kafka.csproj
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     <PackageReadmeFile>README.md</PackageReadmeFile>
     <Title>Confluent.Kafka</Title>
     <AssemblyName>Confluent.Kafka</AssemblyName>
-    <VersionPrefix>2.6.1</VersionPrefix>
+    <VersionPrefix>2.6.3-RC1</VersionPrefix>
     <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net462;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <AllowUnsafeBlocks>true</AllowUnsafeBlocks>
     <GenerateDocumentationFile>true</GenerateDocumentationFile>
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <PackageReference Include="librdkafka.redist" Version="2.6.1">
+    <PackageReference Include="librdkafka.redist" Version="2.6.3-RC1">
       <PrivateAssets Condition="'$(TargetFrameworkIdentifier)' == '.NETFramework'">None</PrivateAssets>
     </PackageReference>
   </ItemGroup>
diff --git a/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Aws/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Aws.csproj b/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Aws/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Aws.csproj
index c243c0b39..a3e3f3c89 100644
--- a/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Aws/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Aws.csproj
+++ b/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Aws/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Aws.csproj
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
         <PackageId>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Aws</PackageId>
         <Title>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Aws</Title>
         <AssemblyName>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Aws</AssemblyName>
-        <VersionPrefix>2.6.1</VersionPrefix>
+        <VersionPrefix>2.6.3-RC1</VersionPrefix>
         <TargetFrameworks>net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
         <AllowUnsafeBlocks>true</AllowUnsafeBlocks>
         <GenerateDocumentationFile>true</GenerateDocumentationFile>
diff --git a/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Azure/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Azure.csproj b/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Azure/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Azure.csproj
index 8f46ef71f..8ee222564 100644
--- a/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Azure/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Azure.csproj
+++ b/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Azure/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Azure.csproj
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
         <PackageId>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Azure</PackageId>
         <Title>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Azure</Title>
         <AssemblyName>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Azure</AssemblyName>
-        <VersionPrefix>2.6.1</VersionPrefix>
+        <VersionPrefix>2.6.3-RC1</VersionPrefix>
         <TargetFrameworks>net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
         <AllowUnsafeBlocks>true</AllowUnsafeBlocks>
         <GenerateDocumentationFile>true</GenerateDocumentationFile>
diff --git a/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Gcp/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Gcp.csproj b/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Gcp/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Gcp.csproj
index 76276cd3c..2cd1e1b5d 100644
--- a/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Gcp/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Gcp.csproj
+++ b/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Gcp/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Gcp.csproj
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
         <PackageId>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Gcp</PackageId>
         <Title>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Gcp</Title>
         <AssemblyName>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.Gcp</AssemblyName>
-        <VersionPrefix>2.6.1</VersionPrefix>
+        <VersionPrefix>2.6.3-RC1</VersionPrefix>
         <TargetFrameworks>net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
         <AllowUnsafeBlocks>true</AllowUnsafeBlocks>
         <GenerateDocumentationFile>true</GenerateDocumentationFile>
diff --git a/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.HcVault/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.HcVault.csproj b/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.HcVault/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.HcVault.csproj
index f2886fc8e..9be14f5ca 100644
--- a/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.HcVault/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.HcVault.csproj
+++ b/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.HcVault/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.HcVault.csproj
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
         <PackageId>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.HcVault</PackageId>
         <Title>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.HcVault</Title>
         <AssemblyName>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.HcVault</AssemblyName>
-        <VersionPrefix>2.6.1</VersionPrefix>
+        <VersionPrefix>2.6.3-RC1</VersionPrefix>
         <TargetFrameworks>net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
         <AllowUnsafeBlocks>true</AllowUnsafeBlocks>
         <GenerateDocumentationFile>true</GenerateDocumentationFile>
diff --git a/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.csproj b/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.csproj
index 4e9a739d6..b10542266 100644
--- a/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.csproj
+++ b/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption.csproj
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
         <PackageId>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption</PackageId>
         <Title>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption</Title>
         <AssemblyName>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Encryption</AssemblyName>
-        <VersionPrefix>2.6.1</VersionPrefix>
+        <VersionPrefix>2.6.3-RC1</VersionPrefix>
         <TargetFrameworks>net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
         <AllowUnsafeBlocks>true</AllowUnsafeBlocks>
         <GenerateDocumentationFile>true</GenerateDocumentationFile>
diff --git a/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Rules/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Rules.csproj b/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Rules/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Rules.csproj
index a75418c33..d0acee4ed 100644
--- a/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Rules/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Rules.csproj
+++ b/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Rules/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Rules.csproj
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
         <PackageId>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Rules</PackageId>
         <Title>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Rules</Title>
         <AssemblyName>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Rules</AssemblyName>
-        <VersionPrefix>2.6.1</VersionPrefix>
+        <VersionPrefix>2.6.3-RC1</VersionPrefix>
         <TargetFrameworks>net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
         <AllowUnsafeBlocks>true</AllowUnsafeBlocks>
         <GenerateDocumentationFile>true</GenerateDocumentationFile>
diff --git a/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro.csproj b/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro.csproj
index e4f06460c..9949a5551 100644
--- a/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro.csproj
+++ b/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro.csproj
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
     <PackageId>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro</PackageId>
     <Title>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro</Title>
     <AssemblyName>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Avro</AssemblyName>
-    <VersionPrefix>2.6.1</VersionPrefix>
+    <VersionPrefix>2.6.3-RC1</VersionPrefix>
     <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <AllowUnsafeBlocks>true</AllowUnsafeBlocks>
     <GenerateDocumentationFile>true</GenerateDocumentationFile>
diff --git a/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json.csproj b/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json.csproj
index db951e7b3..5f945fc3d 100644
--- a/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json.csproj
+++ b/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json.csproj
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
     <PackageId>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json</PackageId>
     <Title>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json</Title>
     <AssemblyName>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Json</AssemblyName>
-    <VersionPrefix>2.6.1</VersionPrefix>
+    <VersionPrefix>2.6.3-RC1</VersionPrefix>
     <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <AllowUnsafeBlocks>true</AllowUnsafeBlocks>
     <GenerateDocumentationFile>true</GenerateDocumentationFile>
diff --git a/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Protobuf/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Protobuf.csproj b/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Protobuf/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Protobuf.csproj
index dc394b5d5..0e2748ec4 100644
--- a/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Protobuf/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Protobuf.csproj
+++ b/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Protobuf/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Protobuf.csproj
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     <PackageId>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Protobuf</PackageId>
     <Title>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Protobuf</Title>
     <AssemblyName>Confluent.SchemaRegistry.Serdes.Protobuf</AssemblyName>
-    <VersionPrefix>2.6.1</VersionPrefix>
+    <VersionPrefix>2.6.3-RC1</VersionPrefix>
     <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <AllowUnsafeBlocks>true</AllowUnsafeBlocks>
     <GenerateDocumentationFile>true</GenerateDocumentationFile>
diff --git a/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.csproj b/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.csproj
index c0ab6abc0..5afbafbc3 100644
--- a/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.csproj
+++ b/src/Confluent.SchemaRegistry/Confluent.SchemaRegistry.csproj
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     <PackageId>Confluent.SchemaRegistry</PackageId>
     <Title>Confluent.SchemaRegistry</Title>
     <AssemblyName>Confluent.SchemaRegistry</AssemblyName>
-    <VersionPrefix>2.6.1</VersionPrefix>
+    <VersionPrefix>2.6.3-RC1</VersionPrefix>
     <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <AllowUnsafeBlocks>true</AllowUnsafeBlocks>
     <GenerateDocumentationFile>true</GenerateDocumentationFile>