diff --git a/config/samples/controlplane.yaml b/config/samples/controlplane.yaml
index 93646f615..b922d4e67 100644
--- a/config/samples/controlplane.yaml
+++ b/config/samples/controlplane.yaml
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ spec:
         containers:
         - name: controller
           # renovate: datasource=docker versioning=docker
-          image: kong/kubernetes-ingress-controller:3.3.1
+          image: kong/kubernetes-ingress-controller:3.4.0
           readinessProbe:
             initialDelaySeconds: 1
             periodSeconds: 3
diff --git a/config/samples/gateway-httproute-allowedroutes.yaml b/config/samples/gateway-httproute-allowedroutes.yaml
index 2dcce890e..ad074938c 100644
--- a/config/samples/gateway-httproute-allowedroutes.yaml
+++ b/config/samples/gateway-httproute-allowedroutes.yaml
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ spec:
           containers:
           - name: controller
             # renovate: datasource=docker versioning=docker
-            image: kong/kubernetes-ingress-controller:3.3.1
+            image: kong/kubernetes-ingress-controller:3.4.0
             readinessProbe:
               initialDelaySeconds: 1
               periodSeconds: 1
diff --git a/config/samples/gateway-httproute.yaml b/config/samples/gateway-httproute.yaml
index 2af40cf69..a9bee7c18 100644
--- a/config/samples/gateway-httproute.yaml
+++ b/config/samples/gateway-httproute.yaml
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ spec:
           containers:
           - name: controller
             # renovate: datasource=docker versioning=docker
-            image: kong/kubernetes-ingress-controller:3.3.1
+            image: kong/kubernetes-ingress-controller:3.4.0
             readinessProbe:
               initialDelaySeconds: 1
               periodSeconds: 1
diff --git a/config/samples/gateway-kongplugininstallation-httproute.yaml b/config/samples/gateway-kongplugininstallation-httproute.yaml
index f034b6956..68a6fd390 100644
--- a/config/samples/gateway-kongplugininstallation-httproute.yaml
+++ b/config/samples/gateway-kongplugininstallation-httproute.yaml
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ spec:
           containers:
             - name: controller
               # renovate: datasource=docker versioning=docker
-              image: kong/kubernetes-ingress-controller:3.3.1
+              image: kong/kubernetes-ingress-controller:3.4.0
               readinessProbe:
                 initialDelaySeconds: 1
                 periodSeconds: 1
diff --git a/config/samples/gateway-with-disabled-controlplane-admission-webhook.yaml b/config/samples/gateway-with-disabled-controlplane-admission-webhook.yaml
index b741c75eb..ab8cdca6e 100644
--- a/config/samples/gateway-with-disabled-controlplane-admission-webhook.yaml
+++ b/config/samples/gateway-with-disabled-controlplane-admission-webhook.yaml
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ spec:
           containers:
           - name: controller
             # renovate: datasource=docker versioning=docker
-            image: kong/kubernetes-ingress-controller:3.3.1
+            image: kong/kubernetes-ingress-controller:3.4.0
             readinessProbe:
               initialDelaySeconds: 1
               periodSeconds: 1
diff --git a/internal/versions/controlplane.go b/internal/versions/controlplane.go
index ce0b94cca..76b657b68 100644
--- a/internal/versions/controlplane.go
+++ b/internal/versions/controlplane.go
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ const (
 	// and those tests create KIC's URLs for things like roles or CRDs.
 	// Since KIC only defines the full tags in its repo (as expected) we cannot use
 	// a partial version here, as it would not match KIC's tag.
-	DefaultControlPlaneVersion = "3.3.1" // renovate: datasource=docker depName=kong/kubernetes-ingress-controller
+	DefaultControlPlaneVersion = "3.4.0" // renovate: datasource=docker depName=kong/kubernetes-ingress-controller
 )
 
 // minimumControlPlaneVersion indicates the bare minimum version of the