diff --git a/inventory/group_vars/k8s-cluster.yml b/inventory/group_vars/k8s-cluster.yml
index ae568a515..35f79ef17 100644
--- a/inventory/group_vars/k8s-cluster.yml
+++ b/inventory/group_vars/k8s-cluster.yml
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ kube_users_dir: "{{ kube_config_dir }}/users"
 kube_api_anonymous_auth: false
 
 ## Change this to use another Kubernetes version, e.g. a current beta release
-kube_version: v1.5.3
+kube_version: v1.6.1
 
 # Where the binaries will be downloaded.
 # Note: ensure that you've enough disk space (about 1G)
diff --git a/roles/download/defaults/main.yml b/roles/download/defaults/main.yml
index 42e79cdc7..a0c0b8ded 100644
--- a/roles/download/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/download/defaults/main.yml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ download_localhost: False
 download_always_pull: False
 
 # Versions
-kube_version: v1.5.3
+kube_version: v1.6.1
 etcd_version: v3.0.6
 #TODO(mattymo): Move calico versions to roles/network_plugins/calico/defaults
 # after migration to container download
diff --git a/roles/kargo-defaults/defaults/main.yaml b/roles/kargo-defaults/defaults/main.yaml
index 22274eeb8..d5dd981d3 100644
--- a/roles/kargo-defaults/defaults/main.yaml
+++ b/roles/kargo-defaults/defaults/main.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ bootstrap_os: none
 kube_api_anonymous_auth: false
 
 ## Change this to use another Kubernetes version, e.g. a current beta release
-kube_version: v1.5.3
+kube_version: v1.6.1
 
 # Directory where the binaries will be installed
 bin_dir: /usr/local/bin