diff --git a/.github/workflows/central-sync.yml b/.github/workflows/central-sync.yml
index 4bf031e894..9779a4e414 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/central-sync.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/central-sync.yml
@@ -14,18 +14,23 @@ jobs:
   central-sync:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
+      - name: Remove system JDKs
+        run: |
+          sudo rm -rf /usr/lib/jvm/*
+          unset JAVA_HOME
+          export PATH=$(echo "$PATH" | tr ':' '\n' | grep -v '/usr/lib/jvm' | paste -sd:)
       - name: Checkout repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v5
         with:
           ref: v${{ github.event.inputs.release_version }}
-      - uses: gradle/actions/wrapper-validation@v4
+      - uses: gradle/actions/wrapper-validation@v5
       - name: Set up JDK
         uses: actions/setup-java@v5
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
           java-version: |
-            17
             21
+            25
       - name: Publish to Sonatype OSSRH
         env:
           SONATYPE_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.SONATYPE_USERNAME }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/graalvm-dev.yml b/.github/workflows/graalvm-dev.yml
index f73c5ef1d5..da29bc9ca8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/graalvm-dev.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/graalvm-dev.yml
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ jobs:
       DEVELOCITY_CACHE_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.GRADLE_ENTERPRISE_CACHE_USERNAME }}
       DEVELOCITY_CACHE_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.GRADLE_ENTERPRISE_CACHE_PASSWORD }}
     steps:
+      - name: Remove system JDKs
+        run: |
+          sudo rm -rf /usr/lib/jvm/*
+          unset JAVA_HOME
+          export PATH=$(echo "$PATH" | tr ':' '\n' | grep -v '/usr/lib/jvm' | paste -sd:)
       - uses: actions/checkout@v5
       - name: Pre-Build Steps
         uses: micronaut-projects/github-actions/graalvm/pre-build@master
diff --git a/.github/workflows/graalvm-latest.yml b/.github/workflows/graalvm-latest.yml
index 452d2f06dc..9fe6055419 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/graalvm-latest.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/graalvm-latest.yml
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@ on:
   push:
     branches:
       - master
-      - '[1-9]+.[0-9]+.x'
+      - '[0-9]+.[0-9]+.x'
   pull_request:
     branches:
       - master
-      - '[1-9]+.[0-9]+.x'
+      - '[0-9]+.[0-9]+.x'
 jobs:
   build_matrix:
     if: github.repository != 'micronaut-projects/micronaut-project-template'
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build Matrix
         uses: micronaut-projects/github-actions/graalvm/build-matrix@master
         id: build-matrix
+        with:
+          java-version: '21'
   build:
     needs: build_matrix
     if: github.repository != 'micronaut-projects/micronaut-project-template'
@@ -35,19 +37,25 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       max-parallel: 6
       matrix:
-        java: ['17', '21']
+        java: ['21']
         native_test_task: ${{ fromJson(needs.build_matrix.outputs.matrix).native_test_task }}
     env:
       DEVELOCITY_ACCESS_KEY: ${{ secrets.GRADLE_ENTERPRISE_ACCESS_KEY }}
       DEVELOCITY_CACHE_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.GRADLE_ENTERPRISE_CACHE_USERNAME }}
       DEVELOCITY_CACHE_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.GRADLE_ENTERPRISE_CACHE_PASSWORD }}
     steps:
+      - name: Remove system JDKs
+        run: |
+          sudo rm -rf /usr/lib/jvm/*
+          unset JAVA_HOME
+          export PATH=$(echo "$PATH" | tr ':' '\n' | grep -v '/usr/lib/jvm' | paste -sd:)
       - uses: actions/checkout@v5
       - name: Pre-Build Steps
         uses: micronaut-projects/github-actions/graalvm/pre-build@master
         id: pre-build
         with:
           distribution: 'graalvm'
+          gradle-java: '21'
           java: ${{ matrix.java }}
       - name: Build Steps
         uses: micronaut-projects/github-actions/graalvm/build@master
diff --git a/.github/workflows/gradle.yml b/.github/workflows/gradle.yml
index 39c25ea5b9..a412a3a28e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/gradle.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/gradle.yml
@@ -8,18 +8,18 @@ on:
   push:
     branches:
       - master
-      - '[1-9]+.[0-9]+.x'
+      - '[0-9]+.[0-9]+.x'
   pull_request:
     branches:
       - master
-      - '[1-9]+.[0-9]+.x'
+      - '[0-9]+.[0-9]+.x'
 jobs:
   build:
     if: github.repository != 'micronaut-projects/micronaut-project-template'
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        java: ['17', '21']
+        java: ['21', '25']
     env:
       DEVELOCITY_ACCESS_KEY: ${{ secrets.GRADLE_ENTERPRISE_ACCESS_KEY }}
       DEVELOCITY_CACHE_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.GRADLE_ENTERPRISE_CACHE_USERNAME }}
@@ -34,6 +34,11 @@ jobs:
       OSS_INDEX_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.OSS_INDEX_PASSWORD }}
     steps:
        # https://github.com/actions/virtual-environments/issues/709
+      - name: Remove system JDKs
+        run: |
+          sudo rm -rf /usr/lib/jvm/*
+          unset JAVA_HOME
+          export PATH=$(echo "$PATH" | tr ':' '\n' | grep -v '/usr/lib/jvm' | paste -sd:)
       - name: "🗑 Free disk space"
         run: |
          sudo rm -rf "/usr/local/share/boost"
@@ -54,14 +59,14 @@ jobs:
           github-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 
       - name: "🔧 Setup Gradle"
-        uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@v4
+        uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@v5
 
       - name: "❓ Optional setup step"
         run: |
           [ -f ./setup.sh ] && ./setup.sh || [ ! -f ./setup.sh ]
 
       - name: "🚔 Sonatype Scan"
-        if: env.OSS_INDEX_PASSWORD != '' && matrix.java == '17'
+        if: env.OSS_INDEX_PASSWORD != '' && matrix.java == '21'
         id: sonatypescan
         run: |
           ./gradlew ossIndexAudit --no-parallel --info
@@ -69,10 +74,10 @@ jobs:
       - name: "🛠 Build with Gradle"
         id: gradle
         run: |
-          ./gradlew jacocoReport check --no-daemon --continue
+          ./gradlew check jacocoReport --no-daemon --continue
 
       - name: "🔎 Run static analysis"
-        if: env.SONAR_TOKEN != '' && matrix.java == '17'
+        if: env.SONAR_TOKEN != '' && matrix.java == '21'
         run: |
           ./gradlew sonar --no-parallel --continue
 
@@ -85,14 +90,14 @@ jobs:
           check_retries: 'true'
 
       - name: "📜 Upload binary compatibility check results"
-        if: matrix.java == '17'
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@65c4c4a1ddee5b72f698fdd19549f0f0fb45cf08 # v4.6.0
+        if: matrix.java == '21'
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@ea165f8d65b6e75b540449e92b4886f43607fa02 # v4.6.2
         with:
           name: binary-compatibility-reports
           path: "**/build/reports/binary-compatibility-*.html"
 
       - name: "📦 Publish to Sonatype Snapshots"
-        if: success() && github.event_name == 'push' && matrix.java == '17'
+        if: success() && github.event_name == 'push' && matrix.java == '21'
         env:
           SONATYPE_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.SONATYPE_USERNAME }}
           SONATYPE_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.SONATYPE_PASSWORD }}
@@ -107,7 +112,7 @@ jobs:
           if_false: ${{ github.repository }}
 
       - name: "📑 Publish to Github Pages"
-        if: success() && github.event_name == 'push' && matrix.java == '17'
+        if: success() && github.event_name == 'push' && matrix.java == '21'
         uses: micronaut-projects/github-pages-deploy-action@master
         env:
           TARGET_REPOSITORY: ${{ steps.docs_target.outputs.value }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-snapshot.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-snapshot.yml
index b521c01601..6c33fedaea 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-snapshot.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-snapshot.yml
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@ jobs:
     if: github.repository != 'micronaut-projects/micronaut-project-template'
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
+      - name: Remove system JDKs
+        run: |
+          sudo rm -rf /usr/lib/jvm/*
+          unset JAVA_HOME
+          export PATH=$(echo "$PATH" | tr ':' '\n' | grep -v '/usr/lib/jvm' | paste -sd:)
       - uses: actions/checkout@v5
       - uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
@@ -22,8 +27,8 @@ jobs:
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
           java-version: |
-            17
             21
+            25
       - name: Publish to Sonatype Snapshots
         if: success()
         env:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 3606b1fda6..8423dc2ecd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -13,18 +13,23 @@ jobs:
       artifacts-sha256: ${{ steps.hash.outputs.artifacts-sha256 }} # Computed hashes for build artifacts.
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
+      - name: Remove system JDKs
+        run: |
+          sudo rm -rf /usr/lib/jvm/*
+          unset JAVA_HOME
+          export PATH=$(echo "$PATH" | tr ':' '\n' | grep -v '/usr/lib/jvm' | paste -sd:)
       - name: Checkout repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v5
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
-      - uses: gradle/actions/wrapper-validation@v4
+      - uses: gradle/actions/wrapper-validation@v5
       - name: Set up JDK
         uses: actions/setup-java@v5
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
           java-version: |
-            17
             21
+            25
       - name: Set the current release version
         id: release_version
         run: echo "release_version=${GITHUB_REF:11}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
@@ -68,13 +73,13 @@ jobs:
           # Store the hash in a file, which is uploaded as a workflow artifact.
           sha256sum $ARTIFACTS | base64 -w0 > artifacts-sha256
       - name: Upload build artifacts
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@65c4c4a1ddee5b72f698fdd19549f0f0fb45cf08 # v4.6.0
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@ea165f8d65b6e75b540449e92b4886f43607fa02 # v4.6.2
         with:
           name: gradle-build-outputs
           path: build/repo/${{ steps.publish.outputs.group }}/*/${{ steps.publish.outputs.version }}/*
           retention-days: 5
       - name: Upload artifacts-sha256
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@65c4c4a1ddee5b72f698fdd19549f0f0fb45cf08 # v4.6.0
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@ea165f8d65b6e75b540449e92b4886f43607fa02 # v4.6.2
         with:
           name: artifacts-sha256
           path: artifacts-sha256
diff --git a/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.jar b/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.jar
index 1b33c55baa..8bdaf60c75 100644
Binary files a/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.jar and b/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.jar differ
diff --git a/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties b/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
index d4081da476..2e1113280e 100644
--- a/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
+++ b/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 distributionBase=GRADLE_USER_HOME
 distributionPath=wrapper/dists
-distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-8.14.3-bin.zip
+distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-9.1.0-bin.zip
 networkTimeout=10000
 validateDistributionUrl=true
 zipStoreBase=GRADLE_USER_HOME
diff --git a/gradlew b/gradlew
index 23d15a9367..adff685a03 100755
--- a/gradlew
+++ b/gradlew
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
 #
-# Copyright © 2015-2021 the original authors.
+# Copyright © 2015 the original authors.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -114,7 +114,6 @@ case "$( uname )" in                #(
   NONSTOP* )        nonstop=true ;;
 esac
 
-CLASSPATH="\\\"\\\""
 
 
 # Determine the Java command to use to start the JVM.
@@ -172,7 +171,6 @@ fi
 # For Cygwin or MSYS, switch paths to Windows format before running java
 if "$cygwin" || "$msys" ; then
     APP_HOME=$( cygpath --path --mixed "$APP_HOME" )
-    CLASSPATH=$( cygpath --path --mixed "$CLASSPATH" )
 
     JAVACMD=$( cygpath --unix "$JAVACMD" )
 
@@ -212,7 +210,6 @@ DEFAULT_JVM_OPTS='"-Xmx64m" "-Xms64m"'
 
 set -- \
         "-Dorg.gradle.appname=$APP_BASE_NAME" \
-        -classpath "$CLASSPATH" \
         -jar "$APP_HOME/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.jar" \
         "$@"
 
diff --git a/gradlew.bat b/gradlew.bat
index db3a6ac207..c4bdd3ab8e 100644
--- a/gradlew.bat
+++ b/gradlew.bat
@@ -70,11 +70,10 @@ goto fail
 :execute
 @rem Setup the command line
 
-set CLASSPATH=
 
 
 @rem Execute Gradle
-"%JAVA_EXE%" %DEFAULT_JVM_OPTS% %JAVA_OPTS% %GRADLE_OPTS% "-Dorg.gradle.appname=%APP_BASE_NAME%" -classpath "%CLASSPATH%" -jar "%APP_HOME%\gradle\wrapper\gradle-wrapper.jar" %*
+"%JAVA_EXE%" %DEFAULT_JVM_OPTS% %JAVA_OPTS% %GRADLE_OPTS% "-Dorg.gradle.appname=%APP_BASE_NAME%" -jar "%APP_HOME%\gradle\wrapper\gradle-wrapper.jar" %*
 
 :end
 @rem End local scope for the variables with windows NT shell