diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 747a5ef47c9..ace26a48b7f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ Note: Upstart/SysV init based OS types are not supported.
 ## Supported Components
 
 - Core
-  - [kubernetes](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes) v1.25.6
+  - [kubernetes](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes) v1.26.1
   - [etcd](https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd) v3.5.6
   - [docker](https://www.docker.com/) v20.10 (see note)
   - [containerd](https://containerd.io/) v1.6.16
diff --git a/inventory/sample/group_vars/k8s_cluster/k8s-cluster.yml b/inventory/sample/group_vars/k8s_cluster/k8s-cluster.yml
index f2d8d780ca8..7e2d773585c 100644
--- a/inventory/sample/group_vars/k8s_cluster/k8s-cluster.yml
+++ b/inventory/sample/group_vars/k8s_cluster/k8s-cluster.yml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ kube_token_dir: "{{ kube_config_dir }}/tokens"
 kube_api_anonymous_auth: true
 
 ## Change this to use another Kubernetes version, e.g. a current beta release
-kube_version: v1.25.6
+kube_version: v1.26.1
 
 # Where the binaries will be downloaded.
 # Note: ensure that you've enough disk space (about 1G)
diff --git a/roles/download/defaults/main.yml b/roles/download/defaults/main.yml
index e3a1fed037f..df301b0c712 100644
--- a/roles/download/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/download/defaults/main.yml
@@ -199,11 +199,11 @@ crio_archive_checksums:
     v1.25.1: 0
     v1.24.3: 0
   arm64:
-    v1.26.0: 0
+    v1.26.0: 8605b166d00c674e6363ee2336600fa6c6730a6a724f03ab3b72a0d5f9efcd1d
     v1.25.1: add26675dc993b292024d007fd69980d8d1e75c675851d0cb687fe1dfd1f3008
     v1.24.3: d8040602e03c90e4482b4ce97b63c2cf1301cd2afb0aa722342f40f3537a1a1f
   amd64:
-    v1.26.0: 0
+    v1.26.0: 79837d8b7af95547b92dbab105268dd6382ce2a7afbddad93cc168ab0ca766c8
     v1.25.1: 49f98a38805740c40266a5bf3badc28e4ca725ccf923327c75c00fccc241f562
     v1.24.3: 43f6e3a7ad6ae8cf05ed0f1e493578c28abf6a798aedb8ee9643ff7c25a68ca3
   ppc64le:
diff --git a/roles/kubespray-defaults/defaults/main.yaml b/roles/kubespray-defaults/defaults/main.yaml
index b41396d500f..2d49eba7a3d 100644
--- a/roles/kubespray-defaults/defaults/main.yaml
+++ b/roles/kubespray-defaults/defaults/main.yaml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ is_fedora_coreos: false
 disable_swap: true
 
 ## Change this to use another Kubernetes version, e.g. a current beta release
-kube_version: v1.25.6
+kube_version: v1.26.1
 
 ## The minimum version working
 kube_version_min_required: v1.24.0