diff --git a/vars/ubuntu-19.yml b/vars/ubuntu-19.yml
index 5b89d04fc..d6afbcf33 100644
--- a/vars/ubuntu-19.yml
+++ b/vars/ubuntu-19.yml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ mysql_service: mariadb
 apache_log: /var/log/apache2/access.log
 sshd_package: openssh-server
 sshd_service: ssh
-php_version: 7.2
+php_version: 7.3
 # "postgresql_version: 11.2" fails (too detailed for /etc/systemd/system/postgresql-iiab.service on Ubuntu 19.04)
 postgresql_version: 11
 systemd_location: /lib/systemd/system