diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
index ba2ead1e..516b7cf2 100644
--- a/.github/dependabot.yml
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -36,6 +36,4 @@ updates:
           - "major"
     ignore:
       - dependency-name: "org.junit:junit-bom"
-        versions: [ "[6.0.0,)" ]
-      - dependency-name: "com.google.protobuf:protobuf-bom"
-        versions: [ ">=4.35.2" ]
\ No newline at end of file
+        versions: [ "[6.0.0,)" ]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index cc001dd5..d6138926 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -47,9 +47,7 @@
         <axonserver.api.version>2026.1.0</axonserver.api.version>
 
         <grpc.version>1.79.0</grpc.version>
-        <!-- pinned to 4.35.1 to retain compatibility with the spring-boot ecosystem -->
-        <!-- protobuf forces the runtime to be >= codegen version, starting with 4.1 spring boot pins protobuf-java to 4.35.1 -->
-        <protobuf.version>4.35.1</protobuf.version>
+        <protobuf.version>4.36.1</protobuf.version>
 
         <slf4j.version>2.0.16</slf4j.version>
         <log4j.version>2.26.1</log4j.version>