diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/5.0.0-a1.yml b/changelogs/fragments/5.0.0-a1.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a63a283c9a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/5.0.0-a1.yml
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+release_summary: Alpha release for community.general 5.0.0.
diff --git a/galaxy.yml b/galaxy.yml
index 6dc58b3f0f..43726bfedb 100644
--- a/galaxy.yml
+++ b/galaxy.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 namespace: community
 name: general
-version: 5.0.0
+version: 5.0.0-a1
 readme: README.md
 authors:
   - Ansible (https://github.com/ansible)