chore(connect): release prep for v26.7.0rc1

[dennisweil]

Resolves :

Overview

Purpose: Release prep for Connect v26.7.0rc1.

Scope: apps/connect — version bump and release notes header.

Implementation Details

Changes:

• Bump apps/connect/pyproject.toml version to 26.7.0rc1.
• Update release_notes.md top entry to v26.7.0rc1, dated 2026-07-16.

Testing

No functional changes; metadata/release-prep only.

• The PR contains update to the release notes.

Summary by CodeRabbit

• Documentation

  • Updated the release notes for version 26.7.0rc1.
  • Added the release date of July 16, 2026.

• Chores

  • Updated the application version to 26.7.0rc1.

[coderabbitai]

Caution

Review failed

The pull request is closed.

ℹ️ Recent review info

⚙️ Run configuration

Configuration used: Organization UI

Review profile: CHILL

Plan: Pro Plus

Run ID: f66a4987-52e4-488a-a05e-95e8b3813342

📥 Commits

Reviewing files that changed from the base of the PR and between ad495d6 and 75486e7.

📒 Files selected for processing (2)

• apps/connect/pyproject.toml
• apps/connect/release_notes.md

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📝 Walkthrough

Walkthrough

The Connect project version and latest release notes entry are updated from 26.7.0 to 26.7.0rc1, with the release date changed to 2026-07-16.

Changes

Connect release metadata

Layer / File(s)	Summary
Update release version and notes apps/connect/pyproject.toml, apps/connect/release_notes.md	Project metadata and the latest changelog header now identify release 26.7.0rc1; the changelog date is 2026-07-16.

Estimated code review effort: 1 (Trivial) | ~2 minutes

✨ Finishing Touches

🧪 Generate unit tests (beta)

• Create PR with unit tests
• Commit unit tests in branch connect-release-notes-26-7

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_{Comment @coderabbitai help to get the list of available commands.}

[github-actions]

Coverage report

This PR does not seem to contain any modification to coverable code.