diff --git a/.ado/jobs/npm-publish.yml b/.ado/jobs/npm-publish.yml
index 502f4fd16f6611..49430b680d6db5 100644
--- a/.ado/jobs/npm-publish.yml
+++ b/.ado/jobs/npm-publish.yml
@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@ jobs:
       fetchFilter: blob:none
       persistCredentials: true
 
+    - task: UseNode@1
+      inputs:
+        version: '22.22.0'
+      displayName: 'Use Node.js 22.22.0'
+
     - template: /.ado/templates/configure-git.yml@self
 
     - script: |
diff --git a/.nx/version-plans/version-plan-1768362735076.md b/.nx/version-plans/version-plan-1768362735076.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..4af7c1c39c07bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.nx/version-plans/version-plan-1768362735076.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+__default__: patch
+---
+
+Release 0.81.0
diff --git a/packages/react-native/Libraries/Core/ReactNativeVersion.js b/packages/react-native/Libraries/Core/ReactNativeVersion.js
index 9027e907258347..51c45d5e953185 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/Libraries/Core/ReactNativeVersion.js
+++ b/packages/react-native/Libraries/Core/ReactNativeVersion.js
@@ -17,6 +17,6 @@ export const version: $ReadOnly<{
 }> = {
   major: 0,
   minor: 81,
-  patch: 0,
+  patch: 5,
   prerelease: null,
 };
diff --git a/packages/react-native/React/Base/RCTVersion.m b/packages/react-native/React/Base/RCTVersion.m
index cf6ecb87ce391a..b66ff26500b121 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/React/Base/RCTVersion.m
+++ b/packages/react-native/React/Base/RCTVersion.m
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
     __rnVersion = @{
                   RCTVersionMajor: @(0),
                   RCTVersionMinor: @(81),
-                  RCTVersionPatch: @(0),
+                  RCTVersionPatch: @(5),
                   RCTVersionPrerelease: [NSNull null],
                   };
   });
diff --git a/packages/react-native/ReactAndroid/gradle.properties b/packages/react-native/ReactAndroid/gradle.properties
index 1ce215e65ca723..fc161668dd3f7f 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/ReactAndroid/gradle.properties
+++ b/packages/react-native/ReactAndroid/gradle.properties
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-VERSION_NAME=0.81.0
+VERSION_NAME=0.81.5
 react.internal.publishingGroup=com.facebook.react
 
 android.useAndroidX=true
diff --git a/packages/react-native/ReactAndroid/src/main/java/com/facebook/react/modules/systeminfo/ReactNativeVersion.kt b/packages/react-native/ReactAndroid/src/main/java/com/facebook/react/modules/systeminfo/ReactNativeVersion.kt
index c4df682e795346..625b2fb2bb3e98 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/ReactAndroid/src/main/java/com/facebook/react/modules/systeminfo/ReactNativeVersion.kt
+++ b/packages/react-native/ReactAndroid/src/main/java/com/facebook/react/modules/systeminfo/ReactNativeVersion.kt
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ public object ReactNativeVersion {
   public val VERSION: Map<String, Any?> = mapOf(
     "major" to 0,
     "minor" to 81,
-    "patch" to 0,
+    "patch" to 5,
     "prerelease" to null
   )
 }
diff --git a/packages/react-native/ReactCommon/cxxreact/ReactNativeVersion.h b/packages/react-native/ReactCommon/cxxreact/ReactNativeVersion.h
index 144429eca42f49..7c32c2bd7a9acb 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/ReactCommon/cxxreact/ReactNativeVersion.h
+++ b/packages/react-native/ReactCommon/cxxreact/ReactNativeVersion.h
@@ -14,14 +14,14 @@
 
 #define REACT_NATIVE_VERSION_MAJOR 0
 #define REACT_NATIVE_VERSION_MINOR 81
-#define REACT_NATIVE_VERSION_PATCH 0
+#define REACT_NATIVE_VERSION_PATCH 5
 
 namespace facebook::react {
 
 constexpr struct {
   int32_t Major = 0;
   int32_t Minor = 81;
-  int32_t Patch = 0;
+  int32_t Patch = 5;
   std::string_view Prerelease = "";
 } ReactNativeVersion;
 
diff --git a/packages/react-native/package.json b/packages/react-native/package.json
index 666825082cd283..330c5c61dbb01a 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/package.json
+++ b/packages/react-native/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "react-native-macos",
-  "version": "0.81.0",
+  "version": "0.81.0-rc0",
   "description": "React Native for macOS",
   "license": "MIT",
   "repository": {
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@jest/create-cache-key-function": "^29.7.0",
-    "@react-native-macos/virtualized-lists": "0.81.0",
+    "@react-native-macos/virtualized-lists": "0.81.0-rc0",
     "@react-native/assets-registry": "0.81.5",
     "@react-native/codegen": "0.81.5",
     "@react-native/community-cli-plugin": "0.81.5",
diff --git a/packages/virtualized-lists/package.json b/packages/virtualized-lists/package.json
index efd42ac10d9e60..c5725a3c39b95e 100644
--- a/packages/virtualized-lists/package.json
+++ b/packages/virtualized-lists/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@react-native-macos/virtualized-lists",
-  "version": "0.81.0",
+  "version": "0.81.0-rc0",
   "description": "Virtualized lists for React Native macOS.",
   "license": "MIT",
   "repository": {
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 80a23bdc2f4a2c..8f55b5b13b56e4 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -3412,7 +3412,7 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: unknown
   linkType: soft
 
-"@react-native-macos/virtualized-lists@npm:0.81.0, @react-native-macos/virtualized-lists@workspace:packages/virtualized-lists":
+"@react-native-macos/virtualized-lists@npm:0.81.0-rc0, @react-native-macos/virtualized-lists@workspace:packages/virtualized-lists":
   version: 0.0.0-use.local
   resolution: "@react-native-macos/virtualized-lists@workspace:packages/virtualized-lists"
   dependencies:
@@ -12759,7 +12759,7 @@ __metadata:
   resolution: "react-native-macos@workspace:packages/react-native"
   dependencies:
     "@jest/create-cache-key-function": "npm:^29.7.0"
-    "@react-native-macos/virtualized-lists": "npm:0.81.0"
+    "@react-native-macos/virtualized-lists": "npm:0.81.0-rc0"
     "@react-native/assets-registry": "npm:0.81.5"
     "@react-native/codegen": "npm:0.81.5"
     "@react-native/community-cli-plugin": "npm:0.81.5"