diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1ed532ab8..7d1708f6e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ Note: Upstart/SysV init based OS types are not supported.
 ## Supported Components
 
 - Core
-  - [kubernetes](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes) v1.20.7
+  - [kubernetes](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes) v1.21.1
   - [etcd](https://github.com/coreos/etcd) v3.4.13
   - [docker](https://www.docker.com/) v19.03 (see note)
   - [containerd](https://containerd.io/) v1.4.4
diff --git a/inventory/sample/group_vars/k8s_cluster/k8s-cluster.yml b/inventory/sample/group_vars/k8s_cluster/k8s-cluster.yml
index 9485537b4..b0f963008 100644
--- a/inventory/sample/group_vars/k8s_cluster/k8s-cluster.yml
+++ b/inventory/sample/group_vars/k8s_cluster/k8s-cluster.yml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ kube_token_dir: "{{ kube_config_dir }}/tokens"
 kube_api_anonymous_auth: true
 
 ## Change this to use another Kubernetes version, e.g. a current beta release
-kube_version: v1.20.7
+kube_version: v1.21.1
 
 # Where the binaries will be downloaded.
 # Note: ensure that you've enough disk space (about 1G)
diff --git a/roles/kubespray-defaults/defaults/main.yaml b/roles/kubespray-defaults/defaults/main.yaml
index c7ee585c7..b7ab8a95d 100644
--- a/roles/kubespray-defaults/defaults/main.yaml
+++ b/roles/kubespray-defaults/defaults/main.yaml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ is_fedora_coreos: false
 disable_swap: true
 
 ## Change this to use another Kubernetes version, e.g. a current beta release
-kube_version: v1.20.7
+kube_version: v1.21.1
 
 ## The minimum version working
 kube_version_min_required: v1.19.0