diff --git a/build/Dockerfile b/build/Dockerfile
index ccab5f760a..6e47d4d923 100644
--- a/build/Dockerfile
+++ b/build/Dockerfile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.17
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.18
 FROM golang:1.25 AS builder
 
 WORKDIR /go/src/github.com/nginx/nginx-gateway-fabric
diff --git a/build/Dockerfile.nginx b/build/Dockerfile.nginx
index e4a1ea78e5..83c7e066ae 100644
--- a/build/Dockerfile.nginx
+++ b/build/Dockerfile.nginx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.17
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.18
 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/build/Dockerfile.nginxplus b/build/Dockerfile.nginxplus
index 04fc193df0..a33adefb0f 100644
--- a/build/Dockerfile.nginxplus
+++ b/build/Dockerfile.nginxplus
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.17
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.18
 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 6fe376d5d1..49187a8dd5 100644
--- a/debug/Dockerfile
+++ b/debug/Dockerfile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.17
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.18
 # 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:1.25-alpine AS builder
diff --git a/tests/conformance/Dockerfile b/tests/conformance/Dockerfile
index 8237869a41..1acfb21c4b 100644
--- a/tests/conformance/Dockerfile
+++ b/tests/conformance/Dockerfile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.17
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.18
 FROM golang:1.25
 
 WORKDIR /go/src/github.com/nginx/nginx-gateway-fabric/tests/conformance
diff --git a/tests/framework/crossplane/Dockerfile b/tests/framework/crossplane/Dockerfile
index dadf7fa29c..63da0a689c 100644
--- a/tests/framework/crossplane/Dockerfile
+++ b/tests/framework/crossplane/Dockerfile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.17
+# syntax=docker/dockerfile:1.18
 FROM golang:1.25-alpine AS builder
 
 WORKDIR /