diff --git a/.github/workflows/validation.yaml b/.github/workflows/validation.yaml
index 59e3746..a674baa 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/validation.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/validation.yaml
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: set up Go
         uses: actions/setup-go@v5
-        with: {go-version: '^1.18'}
+        with: {go-version: '^1.21'}
 
       - name: run source checks
         uses: ./.github/actions/source-checks
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 3bbe058..c32b0ae 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 module github.com/vmware-tanzu/cartographer-site
 
-go 1.18
+go 1.21.0
+
+toolchain go1.21.5
diff --git a/hack/tools/go.mod b/hack/tools/go.mod
index cbea469..fef6012 100644
--- a/hack/tools/go.mod
+++ b/hack/tools/go.mod
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 module github.com/vmware-tanzu/cartographer-site/hack/tools
 
-go 1.18
+go 1.21.0
+
+toolchain go1.21.5
 
 require (
 	github.com/daixiang0/gci v0.12.1