diff --git a/docs/users/fbc_autorelease.md b/docs/users/fbc_autorelease.md
index 638356b4f..f18d78096 100644
--- a/docs/users/fbc_autorelease.md
+++ b/docs/users/fbc_autorelease.md
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ catalog_templates:
     replaces: aqua.0.0.1
   - template_name: semver.yaml
     channels: [Fast, Stable]
+    defaultChannel: Stable
 ```
 The example above shows a release configuration where operator bundle is going to be
 released to the `my-channel` channel in the `basic.yaml` catalog template and to the
@@ -54,6 +55,9 @@ released to the `my-channel` channel in the `basic.yaml` catalog template and to
 The `replaces` field is optional and it specifies the bundle that the new bundle
 replaces in the update graph.
 
+The `defaultChannel` field is optional and it specifies which channel should be 
+the default for installing an operator.
+
 ### File structure
 The schema of the file is available here: [release-config.yaml schema](https://github.com/redhat-openshift-ecosystem/operator-pipelines/blob/main/operatorcert/schemas/release-config-schema.json).
 The schema is validated automatically in the pipeline and the PR will fail with explanations if the file is not valid.
@@ -65,6 +69,7 @@ Here is a summary of the file structure:
     * `template_name` - the name of the catalog template file in the `catalog-templates` directory.
     * `channels` - a list of channels where the bundle should be released.
         * In case of using `SemVer` a user can pick from allowed values: `Fast`, `Stable` and `Candidate`.
+    * `defaultChannel` - the default channel for the operator package (**Optional**). If not specified, defaults to the first channel listed in the channels list.
     * `replaces` - the bundle that the new bundle replaces in the update graph. (**Optional**, only for the basic templates)
     * `skips` - a list of bundles that should be skipped in the update graph. (**Optional**, only for the basic templates)
     * `skipRange` - a range of bundles that should be skipped in the update graph. (**Optional**, only for the basic templates)
diff --git a/operatorcert/entrypoints/add_bundle_to_fbc.py b/operatorcert/entrypoints/add_bundle_to_fbc.py
index dbfa349e2..07223adfe 100644
--- a/operatorcert/entrypoints/add_bundle_to_fbc.py
+++ b/operatorcert/entrypoints/add_bundle_to_fbc.py
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ def create(
         package = {
             "schema": "olm.package",
             "name": self.operator.operator_name,
-            "defaultChannel": channels[0]["name"],
+            "defaultChannel": release_config.get("defaultChannel", channels[0]["name"]),
         }
         bundle_obj = {"schema": "olm.bundle", "image": bundle_pullspec}
 
@@ -466,6 +466,13 @@ def release_bundle_to_fbc(args: argparse.Namespace, bundle: Bundle) -> None:
     for release_config_template in bundle.release_config["catalog_templates"]:
         template_name = release_config_template["template_name"]
         template_mapping = get_catalog_mapping(bundle.operator.config, template_name)
+        default_channel = release_config_template.get("defaultChannel")
+        template_channels = release_config_template["channels"]
+        if default_channel and default_channel not in template_channels:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"defaultChannel '{default_channel}' not found in '{template_name}'. "
+                f"Available channels: {template_channels}"
+            )
         if not template_mapping:
             raise ValueError(
                 f"Template mapping not found for '{template_name}' in ci.yaml."
diff --git a/operatorcert/schemas/release-config-schema.json b/operatorcert/schemas/release-config-schema.json
index 143fd15a9..4bfbaca42 100644
--- a/operatorcert/schemas/release-config-schema.json
+++ b/operatorcert/schemas/release-config-schema.json
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@
             "minItems": 1,
             "uniqueItems": true
           },
+          "defaultChannel": {
+            "description": "default channel for this template (optional, defaults to first channel)",
+            "type": "string"
+          },
           "replaces": {
             "description": "operator version which this PR replaces (optional)",
             "type": "string"
diff --git a/tests/entrypoints/test_add_bundle_to_fbc.py b/tests/entrypoints/test_add_bundle_to_fbc.py
index 3cf62fa77..c2f533b38 100644
--- a/tests/entrypoints/test_add_bundle_to_fbc.py
+++ b/tests/entrypoints/test_add_bundle_to_fbc.py
@@ -416,7 +416,9 @@ def test_release_bundle_to_fbc(
         add_bundle_to_fbc.release_bundle_to_fbc(args, bundle)
 
     bundle.release_config = {
-        "catalog_templates": [{"template_name": "fake-template.yaml"}]
+        "catalog_templates": [
+            {"template_name": "fake-template.yaml", "channels": ["alpha"]},
+        ]
     }
     mock_catalog_mapping.return_value = None
     with pytest.raises(ValueError):
@@ -434,8 +436,27 @@ def test_release_bundle_to_fbc(
 
     bundle.release_config = {
         "catalog_templates": [
-            {"template_name": "fake-basic.yaml"},
-            {"template_name": "fake-semver.yaml"},
+            {
+                "template_name": "fake-template.yaml",
+                "channels": ["alpha"],
+                "defaultChannel": "stable",
+            },
+        ]
+    }
+    mock_catalog_mapping.side_effect = [
+        {
+            "template_name": "fake-template.yaml",
+            "catalog_names": ["v4.12-fake"],
+            "type": "olm.template.basic",
+        }
+    ]
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="defaultChannel 'stable' not found"):
+        add_bundle_to_fbc.release_bundle_to_fbc(args, bundle)
+
+    bundle.release_config = {
+        "catalog_templates": [
+            {"template_name": "fake-basic.yaml", "channels": ["alpha"]},
+            {"template_name": "fake-semver.yaml", "channels": ["Fast", "Candidate"]},
         ]
     }
     mock_catalog_mapping.side_effect = [