diff --git a/ibllib/__init__.py b/ibllib/__init__.py
index dd65637e3..f97a9f1ab 100644
--- a/ibllib/__init__.py
+++ b/ibllib/__init__.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 import logging
 import warnings
 
-__version__ = '2.40.2'
+__version__ = '3.0rc0'
 warnings.filterwarnings('always', category=DeprecationWarning, module='ibllib')
 
 # if this becomes a full-blown library we should let the logging configuration to the discretion of the dev
diff --git a/release_notes.md b/release_notes.md
index d25c71d7e..750ff23f5 100644
--- a/release_notes.md
+++ b/release_notes.md
@@ -1,3 +1,14 @@
+## Release Note 3.0.0
+
+### features
+- Support for py3.8 and 3.9 dropped
+- JobCreator Alyx task
+- Photometry sync task
+- Remove deprecated code, incl. iblatlas and brainbox/quality
+- Bugfix: badframes array dtype change int8 -> uint32
+- Brain wide map release information
+- Limited Numpy 2.0 and ONE 3.0 support
+
 ## Release Note 2.40.0
 
 ### features
@@ -7,9 +18,6 @@
 #### 2.40.1
 - Bugfix: ibllib.io.sess_params.merge_params supports tasks extractors key
 
-#### 2.40.2
-- Bugfix: badframes array dtype change int8 -> uint32
-
 ## Release Note 2.39.0
 
 ### features