diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8b30f367a..747a5ef47 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ Note: Upstart/SysV init based OS types are not supported.
   - [kubernetes](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes) v1.25.6
   - [etcd](https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd) v3.5.6
   - [docker](https://www.docker.com/) v20.10 (see note)
-  - [containerd](https://containerd.io/) v1.6.15
+  - [containerd](https://containerd.io/) v1.6.16
   - [cri-o](http://cri-o.io/) v1.24 (experimental: see [CRI-O Note](docs/cri-o.md). Only on fedora, ubuntu and centos based OS)
 - Network Plugin
   - [cni-plugins](https://github.com/containernetworking/plugins) v1.2.0
diff --git a/roles/download/defaults/main.yml b/roles/download/defaults/main.yml
index 2f029e3e1..e3a1fed03 100644
--- a/roles/download/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/download/defaults/main.yml
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ runc_version: v1.1.4
 kata_containers_version: 2.4.1
 youki_version: 0.0.1
 gvisor_version: 20210921
-containerd_version: 1.6.15
+containerd_version: 1.6.16
 cri_dockerd_version: 0.3.0
 
 # this is relevant when container_manager == 'docker'
@@ -739,6 +739,7 @@ containerd_archive_checksums:
     1.6.13: 0
     1.6.14: 0
     1.6.15: 0
+    1.6.16: 0
   arm64:
     1.5.5: 0
     1.5.7: 0
@@ -767,6 +768,7 @@ containerd_archive_checksums:
     1.6.13: 8c7892ae7c2e96a4a9358b1064fb5519a5c0528b715beee67b72e74d7a644064
     1.6.14: 3ccb61218e60cbba0e1bbe1e5e2bf809ac1ead8eafbbff36c3195d3edd0e4809
     1.6.15: d63e4d27c51e33cd10f8b5621c559f09ece8a65fec66d80551b36cac9e61a07d
+    1.6.16: c2bf51fde02ec9cf8b9c18721bc4f53bd1f19fb2bb3251f41ece61af7347e082
   amd64:
     1.5.5: 8efc527ffb772a82021800f0151374a3113ed2439922497ff08f2596a70f10f1
     1.5.7: 109fc95b86382065ea668005c376360ddcd8c4ec413e7abe220ae9f461e0e173
@@ -795,6 +797,7 @@ containerd_archive_checksums:
     1.6.13: 97f00411587512e62ec762828e581047b23199f8744754706d09976ec24a2736
     1.6.14: 7da626d46c4edcae1eefe6d48dc6521db3e594a402715afcddc6ac9e67e1bfcd
     1.6.15: 191bb4f6e4afc237efc5c85b5866b6fdfed731bde12cceaa6017a9c7f8aeda02
+    1.6.16: 2415b431a900275c14942f87f751e1e13d513c1c2f062322b5ca5a9a2190f22a
   ppc64le:
     1.5.5: 0
     1.5.7: 0
@@ -823,6 +826,7 @@ containerd_archive_checksums:
     1.6.13: f2508ada0c8bd7d3cb09b0e7f10416aba3d643c0da7adc27efe4e76d444322ae
     1.6.14: 73025da0666079fc3bbd48cf185da320955d323c7dc42d8a4ade0e7926d62bb0
     1.6.15: 502f3e4c8ea2018aaa285fe4f704bfd560fdf93193bb829dd9302d013bc38370
+    1.6.16: 9cfd5dade6a1c2671f5c76496395afe0aa0ce902c13672b306d8d09fdbb99492
 skopeo_binary_checksums:
   arm:
     v1.10.0: 0