diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 07c3efad8d..f72019128e 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-v1.17.0
+v1.18.0
diff --git a/go.mod.new b/go.mod.new
index 8297d6a194..23dd1a18dc 100644
--- a/go.mod.new
+++ b/go.mod.new
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ require (
 	sigs.k8s.io/controller-tools v0.1.12 // indirect
 	sigs.k8s.io/kubebuilder v1.0.8
 	sigs.k8s.io/testing_frameworks v0.1.1
-	sigs.k8s.io/apiserver-builder-alpha v1.17.0
+	sigs.k8s.io/apiserver-builder-alpha v1.18.0
 )
 
 replace sigs.k8s.io/controller-tools => sigs.k8s.io/controller-tools v0.1.12