diff --git a/example/provider-local/garden/base/cloudprofile.yaml b/example/provider-local/garden/base/cloudprofile.yaml
index f101d76a9bf..5b98e3c5c6a 100644
--- a/example/provider-local/garden/base/cloudprofile.yaml
+++ b/example/provider-local/garden/base/cloudprofile.yaml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ spec:
   - name: local
   kubernetes:
     versions:
+    - version: 1.26.0
     - version: 1.25.4
     - version: 1.24.8
     - version: 1.23.6
diff --git a/example/provider-local/shoot.yaml b/example/provider-local/shoot.yaml
index 9cb67e3fcdb..7dc9fa3da50 100644
--- a/example/provider-local/shoot.yaml
+++ b/example/provider-local/shoot.yaml
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ spec:
       maxSurge: 1
       maxUnavailable: 0
   kubernetes:
-    version: 1.25.4
+    version: 1.26.0
     kubelet:
       seccompDefault: true
       serializeImagePulls: false
diff --git a/test/e2e/gardener/common.go b/test/e2e/gardener/common.go
index 6e51a02a811..c94dc9debcb 100644
--- a/test/e2e/gardener/common.go
+++ b/test/e2e/gardener/common.go
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func DefaultShoot(name string) *gardencorev1beta1.Shoot {
 			SecretBindingName: "local",
 			CloudProfileName:  "local",
 			Kubernetes: gardencorev1beta1.Kubernetes{
-				Version:                     "1.25.4",
+				Version:                     "1.26.0",
 				EnableStaticTokenKubeconfig: pointer.Bool(true),
 				Kubelet: &gardencorev1beta1.KubeletConfig{
 					SerializeImagePulls: pointer.Bool(false),
diff --git a/test/e2e/gardener/shoot/create_update_delete.go b/test/e2e/gardener/shoot/create_update_delete.go
index 627dcc6c96a..1bcecdc483c 100644
--- a/test/e2e/gardener/shoot/create_update_delete.go
+++ b/test/e2e/gardener/shoot/create_update_delete.go
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ var _ = Describe("Shoot Tests", Label("Shoot", "default"), func() {
 
 	// explicitly use one version below the latest supported minor version so that Kubernetes version update test can be
 	// performed
-	f.Shoot.Spec.Kubernetes.Version = "1.24.8"
+	f.Shoot.Spec.Kubernetes.Version = "1.25.4"
 
 	// create two additional worker pools which explicitly specify the kubernetes version
 	pool1 := f.Shoot.Spec.Provider.Workers[0]
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ var _ = Describe("Shoot Tests", Label("Shoot", "default"), func() {
 	pool2.Name += "2"
 	pool2.Kubernetes = &gardencorev1beta1.WorkerKubernetes{Version: &f.Shoot.Spec.Kubernetes.Version}
 	pool3.Name += "3"
-	pool3.Kubernetes = &gardencorev1beta1.WorkerKubernetes{Version: pointer.String("1.23.6")}
+	pool3.Kubernetes = &gardencorev1beta1.WorkerKubernetes{Version: pointer.String("1.24.8")}
 	f.Shoot.Spec.Provider.Workers = append(f.Shoot.Spec.Provider.Workers, *pool2, *pool3)
 
 	It("Create, Update, Delete", Label("simple"), func() {