diff --git a/scripts/fetch_ext_bins.sh b/scripts/fetch_ext_bins.sh
index d58c055a8..6c89f53c6 100755
--- a/scripts/fetch_ext_bins.sh
+++ b/scripts/fetch_ext_bins.sh
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ if [[ -n "${TRACE}" ]]; then
   set -x
 fi
 
-k8s_version=1.24.1
+k8s_version=1.26.1
 goarch=amd64
 goos="unknown"