diff --git a/.github/workflows/validate.yaml b/.github/workflows/validate.yaml
index 168b4fa952..7f0ac8bdcd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/validate.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/validate.yaml
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Setup Node
         uses: actions/setup-node@949feb2413d6458794dcd2491c4babbbce0c15c1 # v7.1.0
         with:
-          node-version: "24"
+          node-version: "26"
 
       # Unpinned on purpose: renovate.yaml runs `renovate-version: latest`, so the
       # config has to be valid against whatever Renovate is current, not against a
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Setup Node
         uses: actions/setup-node@949feb2413d6458794dcd2491c4babbbce0c15c1 # v7.1.0
         with:
-          node-version: "24"
+          node-version: "26"
 
       # kubectl/kustomize/helm/opentofu are what the tests shell out to (kubectl kustomize,
       # helm template) to render the real manifests they assert on; python/uv provision the
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Setup Node
         uses: actions/setup-node@949feb2413d6458794dcd2491c4babbbce0c15c1 # v7.1.0
         with:
-          node-version: "24"
+          node-version: "26"
 
       - name: Install renovate for pin tests
         run: |