diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 735dfc72..b71733e6 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -63,6 +63,13 @@ config_h = configuration_data()
 
 package_bugreport = 'http://bugzilla.gnome.org/enter_bug.cgi?product=' + meson.project_name()
 
+# release tag for the about dialog and metainfo release infos
+if development_release
+  release_tag = calendar_version.replace('.', '~')
+else
+  release_tag = calendar_version
+endif
+
 # package
 set_defines = [
   ['PACKAGE', meson.project_name()],
@@ -71,7 +78,8 @@ set_defines = [
   ['PACKAGE_STRING', '@0@ @1@'.format(meson.project_name(), calendar_version)],
   ['PACKAGE_TARNAME', meson.project_name()],
   ['PACKAGE_URL', 'https://apps.gnome.org/Calendar/'],
-  ['MAJOR_VERSION', calendar_major_version + '.' + '0'],
+  ['MAJOR_VERSION', calendar_major_version],
+  ['RELEASE_TAG', release_tag],
   ['PACKAGE_VERSION', calendar_version + rev],
   ['VERSION', calendar_version + rev],
   ['GETTEXT_PACKAGE', meson.project_name()],
diff --git a/src/appdata/org.gnome.Calendar.metainfo.xml.in.in b/src/appdata/org.gnome.Calendar.metainfo.xml.in.in
index 48fab2e0..3ab9e1f8 100644
--- a/src/appdata/org.gnome.Calendar.metainfo.xml.in.in
+++ b/src/appdata/org.gnome.Calendar.metainfo.xml.in.in
@@ -115,6 +115,8 @@
   <update_contact>gbsneto@gnome.org</update_contact>
 
   <releases>
+    <release date="2026-09-13" version="52~alpha" type="development" />
+
     <release date="2026-09-11" version="51.0" type="stable">
       <description>
         <p>
diff --git a/src/gui/gcal-application.c b/src/gui/gcal-application.c
index 03a00a46..b0917cc4 100644
--- a/src/gui/gcal-application.c
+++ b/src/gui/gcal-application.c
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ gcal_application_show_about (GSimpleAction *simple,
   copyright = build_about_copyright (self);
   troubleshooting = build_system_information ();
 
-  about = adw_about_dialog_new_from_appdata ("/org/gnome/calendar/appdata", MAJOR_VERSION);
+  about = adw_about_dialog_new_from_appdata ("/org/gnome/calendar/appdata", RELEASE_TAG);
 
   adw_about_dialog_set_designers (ADW_ABOUT_DIALOG (about), designers);
   adw_about_dialog_set_copyright (ADW_ABOUT_DIALOG (about), copyright);