diff --git a/build/Dockerfile b/build/Dockerfile
index 7495a0b71e..26d511c25d 100644
--- a/build/Dockerfile
+++ b/build/Dockerfile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.15
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.16
 FROM golang:1.24 AS builder
 
 WORKDIR /go/src/github.com/nginx/nginx-gateway-fabric
diff --git a/build/Dockerfile.nginx b/build/Dockerfile.nginx
index 34190265df..240b5d3ff8 100644
--- a/build/Dockerfile.nginx
+++ b/build/Dockerfile.nginx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.15
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.16
 # TODO(sberman): the commented out lines are for when we use the published agent release
 # FROM scratch AS nginx-files
 
diff --git a/build/Dockerfile.nginxplus b/build/Dockerfile.nginxplus
index 2a662d4bf3..94ea32bb99 100644
--- a/build/Dockerfile.nginxplus
+++ b/build/Dockerfile.nginxplus
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.15
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.16
 FROM scratch AS nginx-files
 
 # the following links can be replaced with local files if needed, i.e. ADD --chown=101:1001 <local_file> <container_file>
diff --git a/debug/Dockerfile b/debug/Dockerfile
index ddec81b7a7..6e5fe67b9c 100644
--- a/debug/Dockerfile
+++ b/debug/Dockerfile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.15
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.16
 # This Dockerfile builds an image with the dlv debugger. See the debugging guide in the developer docs for details
 # on how to use it.
 FROM golang:1.24-alpine AS builder
diff --git a/tests/conformance/Dockerfile b/tests/conformance/Dockerfile
index af79ab0a69..064cd29a35 100644
--- a/tests/conformance/Dockerfile
+++ b/tests/conformance/Dockerfile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.15
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.16
 FROM golang:1.24
 
 WORKDIR /go/src/github.com/nginx/nginx-gateway-fabric/tests/conformance
diff --git a/tests/framework/crossplane/Dockerfile b/tests/framework/crossplane/Dockerfile
index b369af6ac7..67a40d6b1d 100644
--- a/tests/framework/crossplane/Dockerfile
+++ b/tests/framework/crossplane/Dockerfile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.15
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.16
 FROM golang:1.24-alpine AS builder
 
 WORKDIR /