diff --git a/.buildkite/test-sample-yamls.yml b/.buildkite/test-sample-yamls.yml
index 5633773c76..f69b7f4795 100644
--- a/.buildkite/test-sample-yamls.yml
+++ b/.buildkite/test-sample-yamls.yml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
   commands:
     - ./.buildkite/setup-env.sh
     # Use KubeRay operator image from the latest release
-    - source .venv/bin/activate && BUILDKITE_ENV=true RAY_IMAGE=rayproject/ray:2.7.0 OPERATOR_IMAGE=kuberay/operator:v0.6.0 python3 tests/test_sample_raycluster_yamls.py
+    - source .venv/bin/activate && BUILDKITE_ENV=true RAY_IMAGE=rayproject/ray:2.7.0 OPERATOR_IMAGE=kuberay/operator:v1.0.0-rc.0 python3 tests/test_sample_raycluster_yamls.py
 
 - label: 'Test RayJob Sample YAMLs (nightly operator)'
   instance_size: large
@@ -58,4 +58,4 @@
   commands:
     - ./.buildkite/setup-env.sh
     # Use KubeRay operator image from the latest release
-    - source .venv/bin/activate && BUILDKITE_ENV=true RAY_IMAGE=rayproject/ray:2.7.0 OPERATOR_IMAGE=kuberay/operator:v0.6.0 python3 tests/test_sample_rayservice_yamls.py
+    - source .venv/bin/activate && BUILDKITE_ENV=true RAY_IMAGE=rayproject/ray:2.7.0 OPERATOR_IMAGE=kuberay/operator:v1.0.0-rc.0 python3 tests/test_sample_rayservice_yamls.py
diff --git a/tests/framework/utils.py b/tests/framework/utils.py
index f7c0f4cdaf..bb1ac754d4 100644
--- a/tests/framework/utils.py
+++ b/tests/framework/utils.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ class CONST:
     # Docker images
     OPERATOR_IMAGE_KEY = "kuberay-operator-image"
     RAY_IMAGE_KEY = "ray-image"
-    KUBERAY_LATEST_RELEASE = "kuberay/operator:v0.6.0"
+    KUBERAY_LATEST_RELEASE = "kuberay/operator:v1.0.0-rc.0"
 
     # Kubernetes API clients
     K8S_CR_CLIENT_KEY = "k8s-cr-api-client"