diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 55077ba23cb..de92d3f9538 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ env:
   # backwards compatibility with the previous two minor releases and we
   # explicitly test our code for these versions so keeping this at prior
   # versions does not add value.
-  DEFAULT_GO_VERSION: "~1.25.0"
+  DEFAULT_GO_VERSION: "~1.26.0"
 jobs:
   lint:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ jobs:
   compatibility-test:
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        go-version: ["1.25.0", "1.24.0"]
+        go-version: ["1.26.0", "1.25.0", "1.24.0"]
         platform:
           - os: ubuntu-latest
             arch: "386"
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 9602d322665..aeb97652f89 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,10 +8,14 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.htm
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+This release is the last to support [Go 1.24].
+The next release will require at least [Go 1.25].
+
 ### Added
 
 - `WithSpanKind` option in `go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/instrumentation/google.golang.org/grpc/otelgrpc` to override the default span kind. (#8506)
 - Add `const Version` in `go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/bridges/otelzap`. (#8544)
+- Support testing of [Go 1.26]. (#8549)
 
 ### Fixed
 
@@ -1748,6 +1752,7 @@ First official tagged release of `contrib` repository.
 
 <!-- Released section ended -->
 
+[Go 1.26]: https://go.dev/doc/go1.26
 [Go 1.25]: https://go.dev/doc/go1.25
 [Go 1.24]: https://go.dev/doc/go1.24
 [Go 1.23]: https://go.dev/doc/go1.23
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b1d71270b61..3e93c841788 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -52,16 +52,22 @@ This project is tested on the following systems.
 
 | OS       | Go Version | Architecture |
 | -------- | ---------- | ------------ |
+| Ubuntu   | 1.26       | amd64        |
 | Ubuntu   | 1.25       | amd64        |
 | Ubuntu   | 1.24       | amd64        |
+| Ubuntu   | 1.26       | 386          |
 | Ubuntu   | 1.25       | 386          |
 | Ubuntu   | 1.24       | 386          |
+| macOS    | 1.26       | amd64        |
 | macOS    | 1.25       | amd64        |
 | macOS    | 1.24       | amd64        |
+| macOS    | 1.26       | arm64        |
 | macOS    | 1.25       | arm64        |
 | macOS    | 1.24       | arm64        |
+| Windows  | 1.26       | amd64        |
 | Windows  | 1.25       | amd64        |
 | Windows  | 1.24       | amd64        |
+| Windows  | 1.26       | 386          |
 | Windows  | 1.25       | 386          |
 | Windows  | 1.24       | 386          |