diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 9f69f57b..1ff437b6 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ CRD_REF_DOCS ?= $(LOCALBIN)/crd-ref-docs
 # Important note: avoid adding spaces in the macro declarations as any
 # additional whitespace will break the renovate regex rules.
 
-KUBECTL_VERSION=v1.32.2# renovate datasource=github-tags depName=kubernetes/kubernetes
+KUBECTL_VERSION=v1.36.1# renovate datasource=github-tags depName=kubernetes/kubernetes
 TERRAFORM_VERSION=v1.14.3# renovate datasource=github-tags depName=hashicorp/terraform
 
 CONTROLLER_TOOLS_VERSION=v0.17.3# renovate datasource=go depName=sigs.k8s.io/controller-tools