k3s v1.36.1+k3s1 released on 20-05-2026
k3s v1.36.1+k3s1 is out now. It upgrades the embedded Kubernetes to upstream v1.36.1, bringing the bug fixes and security and stability improvements included in the Kubernetes 1.36.1 changelog.
See the Kubernetes release notes for details, consult the k3s release notes on GitHub, and follow the k3s documentation for upgrade guidance and full details.
What’s in this release
- Embedded Kubernetes updated to v1.36.1 — the primary functional change from v1.36.0+k3s1, carrying upstream bug fixes and security/stability patches.
- Updated core components and Go runtime (Kine v0.15.0, SQLite 3.53.0, Etcd v3.6.7-k3s1, Containerd v2.2.3-k3s1, runc v1.4.2, Flannel v0.28.4, Metrics-server v0.8.1, Traefik v3.6.13, CoreDNS v1.14.3, Helm-controller v0.17.1, Local-path-provisioner v0.0.36) and Go toolchain bumped to Go 1.26.2 to target runtime stability and compatibility.
- Backports and image/tag updates including May 2026 backports, an updated rancher/local-path-provisioner image version, and a bumped klipper-helm image tag for packaging and image fixes.
Upgrade notes
- No breaking or deprecated API changes are listed in the release notes; follow the k3s upgrade documentation for step-by-step guidance and review the Kubernetes 1.36.1 changelog for upstream details.
- If you need to roll back, use your existing rollback procedure and consult the k3s documentation; for problems or to report regressions open an issue on the k3s GitHub or join the Rancher Slack for assistance.
Please share comments on your upgrade experience — open issues on the k3s repository or join the Rancher Slack to report behaviour, ask for help, or suggest improvements.
