diff --git a/src/__tests__/download.test.js b/src/__tests__/download.test.js
index 4145210c..5d76769b 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/download.test.js
+++ b/src/__tests__/download.test.js
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ describe('download module test suite', () => {
       // Then
       expect(axios).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
         expect.objectContaining({
-          url: 'https://api.github.com/repos/kubernetes-sigs/cri-tools/releases/tags/v1.25.0',
+          url: 'https://api.github.com/repos/kubernetes-sigs/cri-tools/releases/tags/v1.26.1',
           headers: {Authorization: 'token secret-token'}
         })
       );
diff --git a/src/download.js b/src/download.js
index 736bf720..878648d6 100644
--- a/src/download.js
+++ b/src/download.js
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ const installCniPlugins = async (inputs = {}) => {
 
 const installCriCtl = async (inputs = {}) => {
   core.info(`Downloading cri-ctl`);
-  const tag = 'v1.25.0';
+  const tag = 'v1.26.1';
   const tar = await downloadGitHubArtifact({
     inputs,
     releaseUrl: `https://api.github.com/repos/kubernetes-sigs/cri-tools/releases/tags/${tag}`,