diff --git a/tests/unit/test_change_matcher.py b/tests/unit/test_change_matcher.py
index 3133935769..b41da14231 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_change_matcher.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_change_matcher.py
@@ -71,6 +71,13 @@ class TestBranchMatcher(BaseTestMatcher):
         self.change.ref = 'baz'
         self.assertFalse(self.matcher.matches(self.change))
 
+    def test_containing_branch_partial_match(self):
+        self.change = model.Tag(self.project)
+        self.change.ref = 'refs/tags/1.0'
+        self.matcher = cm.BranchMatcher(ZuulRegex('^release-'))
+        self.change.containing_branches = ["release-1.0", "master"]
+        self.assertTrue(self.matcher.matches(self.change))
+
 
 class TestAbstractMatcherCollection(BaseTestMatcher):
 
diff --git a/tools/releasenotes/notes/harmonize-containing-branch-matcher-d0ba4ee8881cd3c1.yaml b/tools/releasenotes/notes/harmonize-containing-branch-matcher-d0ba4ee8881cd3c1.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..52ab73aa14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/releasenotes/notes/harmonize-containing-branch-matcher-d0ba4ee8881cd3c1.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+upgrade:
+  - |
+    The branch matcher for containing branches of a tag will now perform a
+    normal regex match instead of requiring a full-match. This was done to
+    harmonize the matching behavior between the different change-types.
diff --git a/zuul/change_matcher.py b/zuul/change_matcher.py
index fd9ccb3a48..1246ef7b9d 100644
--- a/zuul/change_matcher.py
+++ b/zuul/change_matcher.py
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ class BranchMatcher(AbstractChangeMatcher):
                     if self._regex == branch:
                         return True
                 else:
-                    if self.regex.fullmatch(branch):
+                    if self.regex.match(branch):
                         return True
         return False