diff --git a/conformance/tests/Dockerfile b/conformance/tests/Dockerfile
index 023907417d..8961cfe20a 100644
--- a/conformance/tests/Dockerfile
+++ b/conformance/tests/Dockerfile
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # this is here so we can grab the latest version of kind and have dependabot keep it up to date
 FROM kindest/node:v1.27.3
 
-FROM golang:1.20
+FROM golang:1.21
 
 WORKDIR /go/src/github.com/nginxinc/nginx-kubernetes-gateway/conformance/tests/