diff --git a/MODULE.bazel b/MODULE.bazel
index 81d80ed7e1a..fdaaaff317e 100644
--- a/MODULE.bazel
+++ b/MODULE.bazel
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module(
     name = "grpc-java",
-    version = "1.80.0-SNAPSHOT",  # CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    version = "1.81.0-SNAPSHOT",  # CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
     compatibility_level = 0,
     repo_name = "io_grpc_grpc_java",
 )
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 10a5c5cbbc2..2cf3439ea76 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ subprojects {
     apply plugin: "net.ltgt.errorprone"
 
     group = "io.grpc"
-    version = "1.80.0-SNAPSHOT" // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    version = "1.81.0-SNAPSHOT" // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 
     repositories {
         maven { // The google mirror is less flaky than mavenCentral()
diff --git a/compiler/src/test/golden/TestDeprecatedService.java.txt b/compiler/src/test/golden/TestDeprecatedService.java.txt
index ed2eab9a696..1c37c9a8af9 100644
--- a/compiler/src/test/golden/TestDeprecatedService.java.txt
+++ b/compiler/src/test/golden/TestDeprecatedService.java.txt
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import static io.grpc.MethodDescriptor.generateFullMethodName;
  * </pre>
  */
 @javax.annotation.Generated(
-    value = "by gRPC proto compiler (version 1.80.0-SNAPSHOT)",
+    value = "by gRPC proto compiler (version 1.81.0-SNAPSHOT)",
     comments = "Source: grpc/testing/compiler/test.proto")
 @io.grpc.stub.annotations.GrpcGenerated
 @java.lang.Deprecated
diff --git a/compiler/src/test/golden/TestService.java.txt b/compiler/src/test/golden/TestService.java.txt
index 2afdfdbf206..08eb2fb6ac3 100644
--- a/compiler/src/test/golden/TestService.java.txt
+++ b/compiler/src/test/golden/TestService.java.txt
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import static io.grpc.MethodDescriptor.generateFullMethodName;
  * </pre>
  */
 @javax.annotation.Generated(
-    value = "by gRPC proto compiler (version 1.80.0-SNAPSHOT)",
+    value = "by gRPC proto compiler (version 1.81.0-SNAPSHOT)",
     comments = "Source: grpc/testing/compiler/test.proto")
 @io.grpc.stub.annotations.GrpcGenerated
 public final class TestServiceGrpc {
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/io/grpc/internal/GrpcUtil.java b/core/src/main/java/io/grpc/internal/GrpcUtil.java
index c3ff3628465..deae5d831b8 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/io/grpc/internal/GrpcUtil.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/io/grpc/internal/GrpcUtil.java
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ public byte[] parseAsciiString(byte[] serialized) {
 
   public static final Splitter ACCEPT_ENCODING_SPLITTER = Splitter.on(',').trimResults();
 
-  public static final String IMPLEMENTATION_VERSION = "1.80.0-SNAPSHOT"; // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+  public static final String IMPLEMENTATION_VERSION = "1.81.0-SNAPSHOT"; // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 
   /**
    * The default timeout in nanos for a keepalive ping request.
diff --git a/examples/MODULE.bazel b/examples/MODULE.bazel
index 489cf3e3f5c..2e90a63c219 100644
--- a/examples/MODULE.bazel
+++ b/examples/MODULE.bazel
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-bazel_dep(name = "grpc-java", version = "1.80.0-SNAPSHOT", repo_name = "io_grpc_grpc_java")  # CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+bazel_dep(name = "grpc-java", version = "1.81.0-SNAPSHOT", repo_name = "io_grpc_grpc_java")  # CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 bazel_dep(name = "rules_java", version = "9.3.0")
 bazel_dep(name = "grpc-proto", version = "0.0.0-20240627-ec30f58", repo_name = "io_grpc_grpc_proto")
 bazel_dep(name = "protobuf", version = "33.1", repo_name = "com_google_protobuf")
diff --git a/examples/android/clientcache/app/build.gradle b/examples/android/clientcache/app/build.gradle
index 2870850562d..0f1dedf11bc 100644
--- a/examples/android/clientcache/app/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/android/clientcache/app/build.gradle
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ android {
 protobuf {
     protoc { artifact = 'com.google.protobuf:protoc:3.25.1' }
     plugins {
-        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
         }
     }
     generateProtoTasks {
@@ -54,11 +54,11 @@ dependencies {
     implementation 'androidx.appcompat:appcompat:1.0.0'
 
     // You need to build grpc-java to obtain these libraries below.
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 
     testImplementation 'junit:junit:4.13.2'
     testImplementation 'com.google.truth:truth:1.4.5'
-    testImplementation 'io.grpc:grpc-testing:1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    testImplementation 'io.grpc:grpc-testing:1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 }
diff --git a/examples/android/helloworld/app/build.gradle b/examples/android/helloworld/app/build.gradle
index afc2a97e92f..6308e03b6ac 100644
--- a/examples/android/helloworld/app/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/android/helloworld/app/build.gradle
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ android {
 protobuf {
     protoc { artifact = 'com.google.protobuf:protoc:3.25.1' }
     plugins {
-        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
         }
     }
     generateProtoTasks {
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ dependencies {
     implementation 'androidx.appcompat:appcompat:1.0.0'
 
     // You need to build grpc-java to obtain these libraries below.
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 }
diff --git a/examples/android/routeguide/app/build.gradle b/examples/android/routeguide/app/build.gradle
index c6fb344e82e..78d309c166c 100644
--- a/examples/android/routeguide/app/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/android/routeguide/app/build.gradle
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ android {
 protobuf {
     protoc { artifact = 'com.google.protobuf:protoc:3.25.1' }
     plugins {
-        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
         }
     }
     generateProtoTasks {
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ dependencies {
     implementation 'androidx.appcompat:appcompat:1.0.0'
 
     // You need to build grpc-java to obtain these libraries below.
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 }
diff --git a/examples/android/strictmode/app/build.gradle b/examples/android/strictmode/app/build.gradle
index fad9bfb58fb..b752bc4ffd3 100644
--- a/examples/android/strictmode/app/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/android/strictmode/app/build.gradle
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ android {
 protobuf {
     protoc { artifact = 'com.google.protobuf:protoc:3.25.1' }
     plugins {
-        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
         }
     }
     generateProtoTasks {
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ dependencies {
     implementation 'androidx.appcompat:appcompat:1.0.0'
 
     // You need to build grpc-java to obtain these libraries below.
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 }
diff --git a/examples/build.gradle b/examples/build.gradle
index cfaea82333a..62e50d38861 100644
--- a/examples/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/build.gradle
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.8'
 def protocVersion = protobufVersion
 
diff --git a/examples/example-alts/build.gradle b/examples/example-alts/build.gradle
index 939b6ff73e4..47268ab6510 100644
--- a/examples/example-alts/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-alts/build.gradle
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.8'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-debug/build.gradle b/examples/example-debug/build.gradle
index bb7c85cb2be..940543a3681 100644
--- a/examples/example-debug/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-debug/build.gradle
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.8'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-debug/pom.xml b/examples/example-debug/pom.xml
index cef96ad17fe..10734935ee6 100644
--- a/examples/example-debug/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/example-debug/pom.xml
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.80.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.81.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>example-debug</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.80.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.81.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protoc.version>3.25.8</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
     <maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
diff --git a/examples/example-dualstack/build.gradle b/examples/example-dualstack/build.gradle
index 0b5e165f692..f2947c641cf 100644
--- a/examples/example-dualstack/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-dualstack/build.gradle
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.8'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-dualstack/pom.xml b/examples/example-dualstack/pom.xml
index 96be352c45f..f5e720a9128 100644
--- a/examples/example-dualstack/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/example-dualstack/pom.xml
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.80.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.81.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>example-dualstack</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.80.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.81.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protoc.version>3.25.8</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
     <maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
diff --git a/examples/example-gauth/build.gradle b/examples/example-gauth/build.gradle
index 48294d0a5b3..9846cf3fd84 100644
--- a/examples/example-gauth/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-gauth/build.gradle
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.8'
 def protocVersion = protobufVersion
 
diff --git a/examples/example-gauth/pom.xml b/examples/example-gauth/pom.xml
index 9c520141027..4b64eaed454 100644
--- a/examples/example-gauth/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/example-gauth/pom.xml
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.80.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.81.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>example-gauth</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.80.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.81.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protobuf.version>3.25.8</protobuf.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
     <maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
diff --git a/examples/example-gcp-csm-observability/build.gradle b/examples/example-gcp-csm-observability/build.gradle
index 6d20464e567..63c6d20125d 100644
--- a/examples/example-gcp-csm-observability/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-gcp-csm-observability/build.gradle
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.8'
 def openTelemetryVersion = '1.56.0'
 def openTelemetryPrometheusVersion = '1.56.0-alpha'
diff --git a/examples/example-gcp-observability/build.gradle b/examples/example-gcp-observability/build.gradle
index c64eed714c9..a41e7cdd629 100644
--- a/examples/example-gcp-observability/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-gcp-observability/build.gradle
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.8'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-hostname/build.gradle b/examples/example-hostname/build.gradle
index 0facab784d3..6117b8c32a1 100644
--- a/examples/example-hostname/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-hostname/build.gradle
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.8'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-hostname/pom.xml b/examples/example-hostname/pom.xml
index c21e85d1333..ed90d481587 100644
--- a/examples/example-hostname/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/example-hostname/pom.xml
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.80.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.81.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>example-hostname</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.80.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.81.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protoc.version>3.25.8</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
     <maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
diff --git a/examples/example-jwt-auth/build.gradle b/examples/example-jwt-auth/build.gradle
index 224d822f2e3..5614a72742c 100644
--- a/examples/example-jwt-auth/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-jwt-auth/build.gradle
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.8'
 def protocVersion = protobufVersion
 
diff --git a/examples/example-jwt-auth/pom.xml b/examples/example-jwt-auth/pom.xml
index 6208b1251f0..7befaf500c5 100644
--- a/examples/example-jwt-auth/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/example-jwt-auth/pom.xml
@@ -7,13 +7,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.80.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.81.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>example-jwt-auth</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.80.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.81.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protobuf.version>3.25.8</protobuf.version>
     <protoc.version>3.25.8</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
diff --git a/examples/example-oauth/build.gradle b/examples/example-oauth/build.gradle
index 63dd47fc61b..d2eda15ab3d 100644
--- a/examples/example-oauth/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-oauth/build.gradle
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.8'
 def protocVersion = protobufVersion
 
diff --git a/examples/example-oauth/pom.xml b/examples/example-oauth/pom.xml
index cac1a949a85..480923df5f4 100644
--- a/examples/example-oauth/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/example-oauth/pom.xml
@@ -7,13 +7,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.80.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.81.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>example-oauth</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.80.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.81.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protobuf.version>3.25.8</protobuf.version>
     <protoc.version>3.25.8</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
diff --git a/examples/example-opentelemetry/build.gradle b/examples/example-opentelemetry/build.gradle
index ab703b5acda..a24900c0fe5 100644
--- a/examples/example-opentelemetry/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-opentelemetry/build.gradle
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.8'
 def openTelemetryVersion = '1.56.0'
 def openTelemetryPrometheusVersion = '1.56.0-alpha'
diff --git a/examples/example-orca/build.gradle b/examples/example-orca/build.gradle
index 049158088ec..674c4bdf2f7 100644
--- a/examples/example-orca/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-orca/build.gradle
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ java {
     targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
 }
 
-def grpcVersion = '1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.8'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-reflection/build.gradle b/examples/example-reflection/build.gradle
index c06f276c2a0..aa870967135 100644
--- a/examples/example-reflection/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-reflection/build.gradle
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ java {
     targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
 }
 
-def grpcVersion = '1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.8'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-servlet/build.gradle b/examples/example-servlet/build.gradle
index a41e998a455..7f23c83e0d9 100644
--- a/examples/example-servlet/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-servlet/build.gradle
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ java {
     targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
 }
 
-def grpcVersion = '1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.8'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-tls/build.gradle b/examples/example-tls/build.gradle
index 8d410146570..456cb8b4f73 100644
--- a/examples/example-tls/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-tls/build.gradle
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.8'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-tls/pom.xml b/examples/example-tls/pom.xml
index 9dd823ad563..ff9d01253f5 100644
--- a/examples/example-tls/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/example-tls/pom.xml
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.80.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.81.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>example-tls</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.80.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.81.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protoc.version>3.25.8</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
     <maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
diff --git a/examples/example-xds/build.gradle b/examples/example-xds/build.gradle
index f04cedc5a74..e8b3f3dd395 100644
--- a/examples/example-xds/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-xds/build.gradle
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.80.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.81.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.8'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/pom.xml b/examples/pom.xml
index 4deaaca54a4..5375b930b3b 100644
--- a/examples/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/pom.xml
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.80.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.81.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>examples</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.80.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.81.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protobuf.version>3.25.8</protobuf.version>
     <protoc.version>3.25.8</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for JDK 8 -->
diff --git a/protoc-29.4-linux-x86_64.zip b/protoc-29.4-linux-x86_64.zip
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1d1f1399679
Binary files /dev/null and b/protoc-29.4-linux-x86_64.zip differ