diff --git a/release.yaml b/release.yaml
index 0a62365d..c16b344b 100644
--- a/release.yaml
+++ b/release.yaml
@@ -183,19 +183,19 @@ docker-images:
         tag: v1.4.0
       admission-controller:
         name: europe-docker.pkg.dev/gardener-project/releases/gardener/admission-controller
-        tag: v1.96.6
+        tag: v1.97.4
       api-server:
         name: europe-docker.pkg.dev/gardener-project/releases/gardener/apiserver
-        tag: v1.96.6
+        tag: v1.97.4
       controller-manager:
         name: europe-docker.pkg.dev/gardener-project/releases/gardener/controller-manager
-        tag: v1.96.6
+        tag: v1.97.4
       extension-provider-gcp:
         name: europe-docker.pkg.dev/gardener-project/releases/gardener/extensions/provider-gcp
         tag: v1.37.2
       gardenlet:
         name: europe-docker.pkg.dev/gardener-project/releases/gardener/gardenlet
-        tag: v1.96.6
+        tag: v1.97.4
       metrics-exporter:
         name: europe-docker.pkg.dev/gardener-project/releases/gardener/metrics-exporter
         tag: 0.30.0
@@ -207,10 +207,10 @@ docker-images:
         tag: v1.36.0
       operator:
         name: europe-docker.pkg.dev/gardener-project/releases/gardener/operator
-        tag: v1.96.6
+        tag: v1.97.4
       scheduler:
         name: europe-docker.pkg.dev/gardener-project/releases/gardener/scheduler
-        tag: v1.96.6
+        tag: v1.97.4
       shoot-cert-service:
         name: europe-docker.pkg.dev/gardener-project/releases/gardener/extensions/shoot-cert-service
         tag: v1.44.2
@@ -273,5 +273,5 @@ repositories:
         ref: v0.15.4
         url: https://github.com/gardener/etcd-backup-restore.git
       gardener:
-        ref: v1.96.6
+        ref: v1.97.4
         url: https://github.com/gardener/gardener.git