diff --git a/tools/releases/version.sh b/tools/releases/version.sh
index 6b62c872d744..bc8c282b3768 100755
--- a/tools/releases/version.sh
+++ b/tools/releases/version.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ function envoy_version() {
   # - if ENVOY_TAG is a real git tag like 'v1.20.0' then the version is equal to '1.20.0' (without the first letter 'v').
   # - if ENVOY_TAG is a commit hash then the version will look like '1.20.1-dev-b16d390f'
 
-  ENVOY_TAG=${ENVOY_TAG:-"v1.25.11"}
+  ENVOY_TAG=${ENVOY_TAG:-"v1.26.7"}
   ENVOY_VERSION=$(curl --silent --location "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/envoyproxy/envoy/${ENVOY_TAG}/VERSION.txt")
 
   # for envoy versions older than v1.22.0 file 'VERSION.txt' used to be called 'VERSION'