diff --git a/doc/tutorials/introduction/cross_referencing/tutorial_cross_referencing.markdown b/doc/tutorials/introduction/cross_referencing/tutorial_cross_referencing.markdown
index ec44a0f59f42..567be7b49546 100644
--- a/doc/tutorials/introduction/cross_referencing/tutorial_cross_referencing.markdown
+++ b/doc/tutorials/introduction/cross_referencing/tutorial_cross_referencing.markdown
@@ -36,14 +36,14 @@ Open your Doxyfile using your favorite text editor and search for the key
 `TAGFILES`. Change it as follows:
 
 @code
-TAGFILES = ./docs/doxygen-tags/opencv.tag=http://docs.opencv.org/3.4.3
+TAGFILES = ./docs/doxygen-tags/opencv.tag=http://docs.opencv.org/4.0.0-rc
 @endcode
 
 If you had other definitions already, you can append the line using a `\`:
 
 @code
 TAGFILES = ./docs/doxygen-tags/libstdc++.tag=https://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/libstdc++/latest-doxygen \
-           ./docs/doxygen-tags/opencv.tag=http://docs.opencv.org/3.4.3
+           ./docs/doxygen-tags/opencv.tag=http://docs.opencv.org/4.0.0-rc
 @endcode
 
 Doxygen can now use the information from the tag file to link to the OpenCV
diff --git a/modules/core/include/opencv2/core/version.hpp b/modules/core/include/opencv2/core/version.hpp
index 73d61a50421f..4b9b50959c75 100644
--- a/modules/core/include/opencv2/core/version.hpp
+++ b/modules/core/include/opencv2/core/version.hpp
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 #define CV_VERSION_MAJOR    4
 #define CV_VERSION_MINOR    0
 #define CV_VERSION_REVISION 0
-#define CV_VERSION_STATUS   "-pre"
+#define CV_VERSION_STATUS   "-rc"
 
 #define CVAUX_STR_EXP(__A)  #__A
 #define CVAUX_STR(__A)      CVAUX_STR_EXP(__A)
diff --git a/platforms/maven/opencv-it/pom.xml b/platforms/maven/opencv-it/pom.xml
index f6d495a75b0c..65bebbc93804 100644
--- a/platforms/maven/opencv-it/pom.xml
+++ b/platforms/maven/opencv-it/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.opencv</groupId>
         <artifactId>opencv-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>3.4.3</version>
+        <version>4.0.0-rc</version>
     </parent>
     <groupId>org.opencv</groupId>
     <artifactId>opencv-it</artifactId>
diff --git a/platforms/maven/opencv/pom.xml b/platforms/maven/opencv/pom.xml
index f0e1e43c6cee..b113b2e4fbe9 100644
--- a/platforms/maven/opencv/pom.xml
+++ b/platforms/maven/opencv/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <parent>
         <groupId>org.opencv</groupId>
         <artifactId>opencv-parent</artifactId>
-        <version>3.4.3</version>
+        <version>4.0.0-rc</version>
     </parent>
     <groupId>org.opencv</groupId>
     <artifactId>opencv</artifactId>
diff --git a/platforms/maven/pom.xml b/platforms/maven/pom.xml
index fe4c22db7ab2..e2c56e67f740 100644
--- a/platforms/maven/pom.xml
+++ b/platforms/maven/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
     <groupId>org.opencv</groupId>
     <artifactId>opencv-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>3.4.3</version>
+    <version>4.0.0-rc</version>
     <packaging>pom</packaging>
     <name>OpenCV Parent POM</name>
     <licenses>