diff --git a/Include/patchlevel.h b/Include/patchlevel.h
index eced80dea90..77e724957f9 100644
--- a/Include/patchlevel.h
+++ b/Include/patchlevel.h
@@ -19,11 +19,11 @@
 #define PY_MAJOR_VERSION	3
 #define PY_MINOR_VERSION	5
 #define PY_MICRO_VERSION	3
-#define PY_RELEASE_LEVEL	PY_RELEASE_LEVEL_GAMMA
-#define PY_RELEASE_SERIAL	1
+#define PY_RELEASE_LEVEL	PY_RELEASE_LEVEL_FINAL
+#define PY_RELEASE_SERIAL	0
 
 /* Version as a string */
-#define PY_VERSION      	"3.5.3rc1+"
+#define PY_VERSION      	"3.5.3"
 /*--end constants--*/
 
 /* Version as a single 4-byte hex number, e.g. 0x010502B2 == 1.5.2b2.
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index 95535f843f2..41cfdbab0f5 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -7,11 +7,7 @@ What's New in Python 3.5.3?
 
 Release date: 2017-01-16
 
-Core and Builtins
------------------
-
-Library
--------
+There were no code changes between 3.5.3rc1 and 3.5.3 final.
 
 
 What's New in Python 3.5.3 release candidate 1?
diff --git a/README b/README
index 9856ec17e66..de3a091e07a 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-This is Python version 3.5.3 release candidate 1
-================================================
+This is Python version 3.5.3
+============================
 
 Copyright (c) 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011,
 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 Python Software Foundation.  All rights