diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/6.0.0a1.yml b/changelogs/fragments/6.0.0a1.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e4f19ef577
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/6.0.0a1.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+release_summary: >-
+  This is a pre-release for the upcoming 6.0.0 major release. The main objective of this
+  pre-release is to make it possible to test the large stuctural changes by flattening
+  the directory structure. See the corresponding entry in the changelog for details.
diff --git a/galaxy.yml b/galaxy.yml
index 0a3fe09b6e..d7e3037146 100644
--- a/galaxy.yml
+++ b/galaxy.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 namespace: community
 name: general
-version: 6.0.0
+version: 6.0.0a1
 readme: README.md
 authors:
   - Ansible (https://github.com/ansible)