diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/ubuntu-common/environment.d/10-ubuntu-distro-name.bash b/diskimage_builder/elements/ubuntu-common/environment.d/10-ubuntu-distro-name.bash
index 8261112da..215e831e5 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/ubuntu-common/environment.d/10-ubuntu-distro-name.bash
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/ubuntu-common/environment.d/10-ubuntu-distro-name.bash
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 export DISTRO_NAME=${DISTRO_NAME:-ubuntu}
-export DIB_RELEASE=${DIB_RELEASE:-bionic}
+export DIB_RELEASE=${DIB_RELEASE:-focal}
 export DIB_DEBIAN_COMPONENTS=${DIB_DEBIAN_COMPONENTS:-main,universe}
 export EFI_BOOT_DIR="EFI/ubuntu"
 
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/bump-ubuntu-release-42469e6868ee162b.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/bump-ubuntu-release-42469e6868ee162b.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6ed3fbb65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/bump-ubuntu-release-42469e6868ee162b.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+---
+upgrade:
+  - |
+    Bumped the default Ubuntu release to focal.