diff --git a/cli/src/commands/new.rs b/cli/src/commands/new.rs
index f70f4d69..393e1500 100644
--- a/cli/src/commands/new.rs
+++ b/cli/src/commands/new.rs
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ impl NewCommand {
         let description = title.clone();
 
         // TODO(tarcieri): configurable edition
-        let edition = properties::rust::Edition::Rust2018;
+        let edition = properties::rust::Edition::Rust2021;
 
         let patch_crates_io = self.patch_crates_io.clone();
 
diff --git a/cli/src/properties/rust.rs b/cli/src/properties/rust.rs
index 232ef564..4f4daaa0 100644
--- a/cli/src/properties/rust.rs
+++ b/cli/src/properties/rust.rs
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@
 
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
-/// Rust edition used by the application (2018+)
+/// Rust edition used by the application (2021+)
 #[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Eq, PartialEq, Serialize)]
 pub enum Edition {
-    /// Rust 2018 edition (minimum supported by Abscissa)
-    #[serde(rename = "2018")]
-    Rust2018,
+    /// Rust 2021 edition (minimum supported by Abscissa)
+    #[serde(rename = "2021")]
+    Rust2021,
 }