diff --git a/ci/cpu/build.sh b/ci/cpu/build.sh
index 71228cb846..6ad788d017 100755
--- a/ci/cpu/build.sh
+++ b/ci/cpu/build.sh
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ export CMAKE_GENERATOR="Ninja"
 export CONDA_BLD_DIR="${WORKSPACE}/.conda-bld"
 
 # ucx-py version
-export UCX_PY_VERSION='0.25.*'
+export UCX_PY_VERSION='0.26.*'
 
 ################################################################################
 # SETUP - Check environment
diff --git a/ci/release/update-version.sh b/ci/release/update-version.sh
index 166698110f..f22e883843 100755
--- a/ci/release/update-version.sh
+++ b/ci/release/update-version.sh
@@ -39,3 +39,4 @@ for FILE in conda/environments/*.yml; do
 done
 
 sed_runner "s/export UCX_PY_VERSION=.*/export UCX_PY_VERSION='${NEXT_UCX_PY_VERSION}'/g" ci/gpu/build.sh
+sed_runner "s/export UCX_PY_VERSION=.*/export UCX_PY_VERSION='${NEXT_UCX_PY_VERSION}'/g" ci/cpu/build.sh