diff --git a/.github/workflows/check.yaml b/.github/workflows/check.yaml
index a7612561..47ddda4b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/check.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/check.yaml
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ jobs:
 
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        go: [ '1.22' ]
+        go: [ '1.26' ]
 
     steps:
       # Setup
diff --git a/.github/workflows/e2e-tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/e2e-tests.yaml
index c24fb533..4b167bde 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/e2e-tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/e2e-tests.yaml
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ jobs:
 
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        go-version: [ '1.22' ]
+        go-version: [ '1.26' ]
         kube-version: [ 'v1.26.6' ]
         solr-version: [ '9' ] # [ '8', '9' ]
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/smoke-tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/smoke-tests.yaml
index 8d2b1857..de7a91ef 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/smoke-tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/smoke-tests.yaml
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ jobs:
 
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        go: [ '1.22' ]
+        go: [ '1.26' ]
 
     steps:
       # Setup
diff --git a/build/Dockerfile b/build/Dockerfile
index c5f8bb03..278668d3 100644
--- a/build/Dockerfile
+++ b/build/Dockerfile
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 # Build the manager binary
-FROM golang:1.22 as builder
+FROM golang:1.26 as builder
 
 WORKDIR /workspace
 ARG GO111MODULE=on
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index ce794137..9e1daf15 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 module github.com/apache/solr-operator
 
-go 1.22.0
-
-toolchain go1.22.10
+go 1.26
 
 require (
 	github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager v1.15.4
diff --git a/hack/release/wizard/releaseWizard.yaml b/hack/release/wizard/releaseWizard.yaml
index bd344dba..e4cc97e9 100644
--- a/hack/release/wizard/releaseWizard.yaml
+++ b/hack/release/wizard/releaseWizard.yaml
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ groups:
       You will need these tools:
 
       * Python v3.4 or later, with dependencies listed in requirements.txt
-      * Go 1.22
+      * Go 1.26
       * gpg
       * git
       * svn
@@ -910,7 +910,7 @@ groups:
       Make sure you have the following installed before running the smoke test:
         - Docker (Give it enough memory and CPU to run ~12 containers, 3 of which are Solr nodes)
           More information on required resources can be found here: https://kind.sigs.k8s.io/docs/user/quick-start/#settings-for-docker-desktop
-        - Go 1.22
+        - Go 1.26
         - Kubectl
         - GnuPG
         - Helm v3.4.0+