diff --git a/.github/workflows/nodejs.yml b/.github/workflows/nodejs.yml
index 35aaadf10..98c1023a7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/nodejs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/nodejs.yml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ concurrency:
 permissions: {}
 
 env:
-  NODE_ACTIVE_LTS: "22" # see https://nodejs.org/en/about/releases/
+  NODE_ACTIVE_LTS: "24" # see https://nodejs.org/en/about/releases/
   REPORTS_DIR: "CI_reports"
   TESTS_REPORTS_ARTIFACT: tests-reports
   STANDARD_REPORTS_ARTIFACT: cs-reports
@@ -100,6 +100,8 @@ jobs:
         with:
           node-version: ${{ env.NODE_ACTIVE_LTS }}
           package-manager-cache: false
+      - name: update npm
+        run: npm install -g npm@latest
       - name: setup project
         run: |
           npm install --ignore-scripts --loglevel=silly
@@ -147,6 +149,8 @@ jobs:
         with:
           node-version: ${{ env.NODE_ACTIVE_LTS }}
           package-manager-cache: false
+      - name: update npm
+        run: npm install -g npm@latest
       - name: setup project
         run: npm install --ignore-scripts --loglevel=silly
       - name: setup tool
@@ -164,8 +168,9 @@ jobs:
         node-version:
           # action based on https://github.com/actions/node-versions/releases
           # see also: https://nodejs.org/en/about/releases/
-          - "24"      # current
-          - "22"      # active LTS
+          - "25"      # current
+          - "24"      # active LTS
+          - "22"
           - "20"
           - "20.18.0" # lowest supported
         os:
@@ -190,6 +195,9 @@ jobs:
           NODE_VERSION: '${{ matrix.node-version }}'
         run:
           case "$NODE_VERSION" in
+          '25' )
+            npm install -g npm@latest
+            ;;
           '24' | '22')
             npm i -g npm@^11
             ;;
@@ -481,6 +489,8 @@ jobs:
         with:
           node-version: ${{ env.NODE_ACTIVE_LTS }}
           package-manager-cache: false
+      - name: update npm
+        run: npm install -g npm@latest
       - name: setup project
         run: |
           set -ex
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index cd313758d..96ef7bc4b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ env:
   REPORTS_DIR: CI_reports
   PACKED_DIR: CI_packed
   PACKED_ARTIFACT: packed
-  NODE_ACTIVE_LTS: "22"
+  NODE_ACTIVE_LTS: "24"
 
 jobs:
   bump:
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ jobs:
         with:
           node-version: ${{ env.NODE_ACTIVE_LTS }}
           package-manager-cache: false
+      - name: update npm
+        run: npm install -g npm@latest
       ## ! no npm build at the moment
       - name: bump VERSION
         id: bump
@@ -106,6 +108,8 @@ jobs:
         with:
           node-version: ${{ env.NODE_ACTIVE_LTS }}
           package-manager-cache: false
+      - name: update npm
+        run: npm install -g npm@latest
       - name: setup project
         run: |
           npm install --ignore-scripts --include=optional --loglevel=silly