@@ -20,8 +20,12 @@ upgrading your version of coverage.py.
     ..  Version 9.8.1 — 2027-07-27
     ..  --------------------------
 
-Unreleased
-----------
+.. start-releases
+
+.. _changes_7-16-1:
+
+Version 7.16.1 — 2026-09-13
+---------------------------
 
 - Fix: when the body of an irrefutable ``case`` (like ``case _:``) is entirely
   excluded, the ``case`` line is now excluded too, just as an excluded
@@ -35,8 +39,6 @@ Unreleased
 .. _pull 2269: https://github.com/coveragepy/coveragepy/pull/2269
 .. _issue 2279: https://github.com/coveragepy/coveragepy/issues/2279
 
-.. start-releases
-
 .. _changes_7-16-0:
 
 Version 7.16.0 — 2026-08-28
 
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ Coverage.py runs on these versions of Python:
 
 .. PYVERSIONS
 
-* Python 3.10 through 3.15 rc1, including free-threading.
+* Python 3.10 through 3.15 rc2, including free-threading.
 * PyPy3 versions 3.10 and 3.11.
 
 Documentation is on `Read the Docs`_.  Code repository and issue tracker are on
 
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@
 
 # version_info: same semantics as sys.version_info.
 # _dev: the .devN suffix if any.
-version_info = (7, 16, 1, "alpha", 0)
-_dev = 1
+version_info = (7, 16, 1, "final", 0)
+_dev = 0
 
 
 def _make_version(
 
@@ -69,11 +69,11 @@
 # @@@ editable
 copyright = "2009–2026, Ned Batchelder"  # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
 # The short X.Y.Z version.
-version = "7.16.0"
+version = "7.16.1"
 # The full version, including alpha/beta/rc tags.
-release = "7.16.0"
+release = "7.16.1"
 # The date of release, in "monthname day, year" format.
-release_date = "August 28, 2026"
+release_date = "September 13, 2026"
 # @@@ end
 
 rst_epilog = f"""
 
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ supported on:
 
 .. PYVERSIONS
 
-* Python 3.10 through 3.15 rc1, including free-threading.
+* Python 3.10 through 3.15 rc2, including free-threading.
 * PyPy3 versions 3.10 and 3.11.
 
 .. ifconfig:: prerelease