diff --git a/.github/workflows/automatic-sync-main.yml b/.github/workflows/automatic-sync-main.yml
index 6e224558defd..b5a35280c58d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/automatic-sync-main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/automatic-sync-main.yml
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/setup-java@dd06d9cba3e5552c54d9f8ea23572deb30010f7c # v6
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
-          java-version: 17
+          java-version: 21
           cache: 'maven'
       - name: Build Camel Project
         run: ./mvnw -V --no-transfer-progress -Dquickly clean install
diff --git a/.github/workflows/generate-sbom-main.yml b/.github/workflows/generate-sbom-main.yml
index 572652539b81..2dab6177a975 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/generate-sbom-main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/generate-sbom-main.yml
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/setup-java@dd06d9cba3e5552c54d9f8ea23572deb30010f7c # v6
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
-          java-version: 17
+          java-version: 21
           cache: 'maven'
       - name: Build Camel Project
         run: ./mvnw -B -V --no-transfer-progress -Dquickly install
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr-build-main.yml b/.github/workflows/pr-build-main.yml
index 7c07fe206589..85321cc47b0f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr-build-main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr-build-main.yml
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        java: ['17', '25']
+        java: ['21', '25']
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v7
       with:
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index f0d0b85873df..4850c05725b0 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ Guidelines for AI agents working on this codebase.
 Apache Camel Spring Boot provides Spring Boot auto-configuration and starter modules for Apache Camel components.
 
 - Version: 4.24.0-SNAPSHOT
-- Java: 17+
+- Java: 21+
 - Build: Maven (use `./mvnw` wrapper)
 - Issue tracker: [JIRA (CAMEL project)](https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/CAMEL)
 - Related repository: [apache/camel](https://github.com/apache/camel) — Camel core
diff --git a/Jenkinsfile.sb b/Jenkinsfile.sb
index bca674c38efc..ee8d80871655 100644
--- a/Jenkinsfile.sb
+++ b/Jenkinsfile.sb
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 
 def LOCAL_REPOSITORY = env.LOCAL_REPOSITORY ?: '/home/jenkins/jenkins-slave/maven-repositories/0'
 def AGENT_LABEL = env.AGENT_LABEL ?: 'ubuntu'
-def JDK_NAME = env.JDK_NAME ?: 'jdk_17_latest'
+def JDK_NAME = env.JDK_NAME ?: 'jdk_21_latest'
 
 def MAVEN_PARAMS = '-U -B -e -fae -V -Dmaven.repo.local=/home/jenkins/.m2/repository -Dmaven.compiler.fork=true'
 
diff --git a/Jenkinsfile.sb.deploy b/Jenkinsfile.sb.deploy
index 30f0902ee98a..1d76070ed39d 100644
--- a/Jenkinsfile.sb.deploy
+++ b/Jenkinsfile.sb.deploy
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 
 def LOCAL_REPOSITORY = env.LOCAL_REPOSITORY ?: '/home/jenkins/jenkins-slave/maven-repositories/0'
 def AGENT_LABEL = env.AGENT_LABEL ?: 'ubuntu'
-def JDK_NAME = env.JDK_NAME ?: 'jdk_17_latest'
+def JDK_NAME = env.JDK_NAME ?: 'jdk_21_latest'
 
 def MAVEN_PARAMS = "-U -B -e -fae -V -Dnoassembly -Dmaven.compiler.fork=true -T1C "
 
diff --git a/Jenkinsfile.sb.ppc64le b/Jenkinsfile.sb.ppc64le
index e56aef666890..4b0eeaf4cf6c 100644
--- a/Jenkinsfile.sb.ppc64le
+++ b/Jenkinsfile.sb.ppc64le
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 
 def LOCAL_REPOSITORY = env.LOCAL_REPOSITORY ?: '/home/jenkins/jenkins-slave/maven-repositories/0'
 def AGENT_LABEL = env.AGENT_LABEL ?: 'power-for-camel'
-def JDK_NAME = env.JDK_NAME ?: 'jdk_17_latest'
+def JDK_NAME = env.JDK_NAME ?: 'jdk_21_latest'
 
 def MAVEN_PARAMS = '-U -B -e -fae -V -Dmaven.repo.local=/home/jenkins/.m2/repository -Dmaven.compiler.fork=true'
 
diff --git a/archetypes/camel-archetype-spring-boot/src/main/resources/archetype-resources/pom.xml b/archetypes/camel-archetype-spring-boot/src/main/resources/archetype-resources/pom.xml
index 1acb7d0de2ef..f5addd3bbc86 100644
--- a/archetypes/camel-archetype-spring-boot/src/main/resources/archetype-resources/pom.xml
+++ b/archetypes/camel-archetype-spring-boot/src/main/resources/archetype-resources/pom.xml
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@
         <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
         <version>${maven-compiler-plugin-version}</version>
         <configuration>
-          <release>17</release>
+          <release>21</release>
         </configuration>
       </plugin>
       <plugin>
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index d7009c9ec7f5..297ddf53ee4e 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@
         <project.reporting.outputEncoding>UTF-8</project.reporting.outputEncoding>
 
         <site-repo-url>scpexe://people.apache.org/www/camel.apache.org/maven/</site-repo-url>
-        <jdk.version>17</jdk.version>
+        <jdk.version>21</jdk.version>
         <!-- These two are here only to prevent the versions for the Apache parent pom from leaking-->
         <maven.compiler.source>${jdk.version}</maven.compiler.source>
         <maven.compiler.target>${jdk.version}</maven.compiler.target>
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@
                 <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
                 <artifactId>maven-javadoc-plugin</artifactId>
                 <configuration>
-                    <source>17</source>
+                    <source>21</source>
                     <additionalOptions>${javadoc.opts}</additionalOptions>
                     <doclint>none</doclint>
                 </configuration>
@@ -680,7 +680,7 @@
                                     <goal>jar</goal>
                                 </goals>
                                 <configuration>
-                                    <source>17</source>
+                                    <source>21</source>
                                     <doclint>none</doclint>
                                 </configuration>
                             </execution>