diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cd1ee6bf431..f29c841fcf6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ Note: Upstart/SysV init based OS types are not supported.
   - [cri-o](http://cri-o.io/) v1.27 (experimental: see [CRI-O Note](docs/cri-o.md). Only on fedora, ubuntu and centos based OS)
 - Network Plugin
   - [cni-plugins](https://github.com/containernetworking/plugins) v1.2.0
-  - [calico](https://github.com/projectcalico/calico) v3.25.2
+  - [calico](https://github.com/projectcalico/calico) v3.26.1
   - [cilium](https://github.com/cilium/cilium) v1.13.4
   - [flannel](https://github.com/flannel-io/flannel) v0.22.0
   - [kube-ovn](https://github.com/alauda/kube-ovn) v1.11.5
diff --git a/roles/download/defaults/main/main.yml b/roles/download/defaults/main/main.yml
index f532e1885ba..a3ec520f2dd 100644
--- a/roles/download/defaults/main/main.yml
+++ b/roles/download/defaults/main/main.yml
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ github_image_repo: "ghcr.io"
 
 # TODO(mattymo): Move calico versions to roles/network_plugins/calico/defaults
 # after migration to container download
-calico_version: "v3.25.2"
+calico_version: "v3.26.1"
 calico_ctl_version: "{{ calico_version }}"
 calico_cni_version: "{{ calico_version }}"
 calico_flexvol_version: "{{ calico_version }}"