>
> > That, and the HISTORY file contains a release date for 26.2 as well.
>
> It's the same problem.  Suppose we update HISTORY to the date of RC1.
> If RC1 becomes Emacs 26.2, the date in HISTORY is correct; otherwise
> we will commit a modified HISTORY with the release of the next RC.
>

Just a note: with my proposal there is always a difference between 26.2-rc1
and 26.2 (the names), so the history date would change as well.

Philippe