diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index c4c8db2..4aa7ecc 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.htm
 ## [Unreleased]
 
 ---
+## [1.21] 2024-09-16
+### Changed
+- Update SAMTools version to 1.21
+
 ## [1.20] 2024-04-17
 ### Changed
 - Update SAMTools version to 1.20
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index b57235f..0a711cf 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ ARG MINIFORGE_VERSION=22.9.0-2
 FROM condaforge/mambaforge:${MINIFORGE_VERSION} AS builder
 
 # Use mamba to install tools and dependencies into /usr/local
-ARG SAMTOOLS_VERSION=1.20
+ARG SAMTOOLS_VERSION=1.21
 RUN mamba create -qy -p /usr/local \
     -c bioconda \
     -c conda-forge \
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 79b99e9..d2b9f3c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ SAMtools documentation [here](http://www.htslib.org/doc/samtools.html).
 # Version
 | Tool | Version |
 |------|---------|
-|SAMtools| 1.20  |
+|SAMtools| 1.21  |
 
 
 ---
diff --git a/metadata.yaml b/metadata.yaml
index b6abd19..dfd1fb6 100644
--- a/metadata.yaml
+++ b/metadata.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ maintainers: ['rhughwhite@mednet.ucla.edu']
 contributors: ['Rupert Hugh-White', 'Helena Winata', 'Arpi Beshlikyan', 'Jaron Arbet', 'Sorel Fitz-Gibbon', 'Beth Neilsen', 'Kiarod Pashminehazar']
 languages: ['Dockerfile']
 tools: ['SAMtools']
-version: ['1.20']
+version: ['1.21']
 purpose: 'A tool for reading/writing/editing/indexing/viewing SAM/BAM/CRAM format'
 references: 'Li H et al. Bioinformatics 25, (2009)'
 image_name: 'samtools'