diff --git a/Mk/Uses/php.mk b/Mk/Uses/php.mk
index ab8d54ec0..8f1dd7cc6 100644
--- a/Mk/Uses/php.mk
+++ b/Mk/Uses/php.mk
@@ -190,8 +190,8 @@ PHP_EXT_DIR=   20180731
 PHP_EXT_INC=    pcre spl
 .    else
 # (rene) default to DEFAULT_VERSIONS
-PHP_EXT_DIR=	20190902
-PHP_EXT_INC=	hash pcre spl
+PHP_EXT_DIR=   20200930
+PHP_EXT_INC=    hash json pcre spl
 .    endif
 
 # Try to figure out what the PHP_EXT_DIR should be WRT the
diff --git a/Mk/bsd.default-versions.mk b/Mk/bsd.default-versions.mk
index c09e3c31e..327b477fe 100644
--- a/Mk/bsd.default-versions.mk
+++ b/Mk/bsd.default-versions.mk
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ PERL5_DEFAULT:=		${_PERL5_FROM_BIN:R}
 # Possible values: 9.6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
 PGSQL_DEFAULT?=		13
 # Possible values: 7.3, 7.4, 8.0, 8.1
-PHP_DEFAULT?=		7.4
+PHP_DEFAULT?=		8.0
 # Possible values: 2.7, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.11
 PYTHON_DEFAULT?=	3.8
 # Possible values: 2.7
diff --git a/UPDATING b/UPDATING
index 9bd25062a..3ad421558 100644
--- a/UPDATING
+++ b/UPDATING
@@ -5,6 +5,22 @@ they are unavoidable.
 You should get into the habit of checking this file for changes each time
 you update your ports collection, before attempting any port upgrades.
 
+20220124:
+  AFFECTS: users of lang/php74
+  AUTHOR: tz@FreeBSD.org
+
+  The default version of PHP has been switched from 7.4 to 8.0.
+
+  If you use binary packages you should make a list of php packages
+  before running 'pkg upgrade':
+
+ # pkg info php7\* > ~/installed-php-ports-list
+
+  After the upgrade, check with such list if all your php extensions
+  are still installed, and reinstall them if needed.
+
+  If you use mod_php74 you need to deinstall it and install mod_php80.
+
 20220120:
   AFFECTS: users of x11-wm/dwm
   AUTHOR: 0mp@FreeBSD.org
diff --git a/databases/xapian-bindings/Makefile b/databases/xapian-bindings/Makefile
index dd3e2d686..4b2b48f07 100644
--- a/databases/xapian-bindings/Makefile
+++ b/databases/xapian-bindings/Makefile
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@ USES=		metaport
 PORTSCOUT=	limitw:1,even
 
 OPTIONS_DEFINE=	LUA PERL PHP PYTHON RUBY
-OPTIONS_DEFAULT=LUA PERL PHP PYTHON RUBY
+# While switching php DEFAULT OPTION PHP is creating circular
+# dependency. For now remove default OPTION PHP
+OPTIONS_DEFAULT=LUA PERL PYTHON RUBY
 
 LUA_RUN_DEPENDS=	${LUA_PKGNAMEPREFIX}xapian>=${PORTVERSION}:databases/lua-xapian@${LUA_FLAVOR}
 LUA_USES=		lua:run