diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f2792e9df..c8a42204d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ Improvements:
 - Improve ergonomics of the test explorer UI by removing the project source directory, improving horizontal scrolling experience. [#4562](https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-cmake-tools/issues/4562) [@miss-programgamer](https://github.com/miss-programgamer)
 - Auto-generate `docs/cmake-settings.md` from `package.json` via CI so documentation never drifts from actual settings. [#4007](https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-cmake-tools/issues/4007)
 - Pass mandatory compiler arguments from `CMAKE_<LANG>_COMPILER` to cpptools so it can properly determine system include paths and built-in preprocessor macro definitions. Requires CMake 4.3 or newer. [#4627](https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-cmake-tools/pull/4627) [@cwalther](https://github.com/cwalther)
+- Add support for a `vsInstanceVersion` vendor field in `CMakePresets.json` so Ninja configure presets can target a specific installed Visual Studio instance (by version) when bootstrapping the developer environment, instead of always using the latest. [#4698](https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-cmake-tools/issues/4698)
 
 Bug Fixes:
 - Fix running a single test from the inline Test CodeLens or the project outline building the default (or all) target instead of the test's own executable; single-test runs now build only that test's target.
diff --git a/src/presets/preset.ts b/src/presets/preset.ts
index cb518d3fa..486495d4a 100644
--- a/src/presets/preset.ts
+++ b/src/presets/preset.ts
@@ -222,7 +222,10 @@ export type OsName = "Windows" | "Linux" | "macOS";
 
 export type VendorVsSettings = {
     'microsoft.com/VisualStudioSettings/CMake/1.0': {
-        hostOS: OsName | OsName[];
+        hostOS?: OsName | OsName[];
+        intelliSenseMode?: string;
+        sourceDir?: string;
+        vsInstanceVersion?: number;
         [key: string]: any;
     };
     [key: string]: any;
@@ -906,6 +909,20 @@ async function getVsDevEnv(opts: VsDevEnvOptions): Promise<EnvironmentWithNull |
         }
     }
 
+    // If VS instance wasn't chosen using CMAKE_GENERATOR_INSTANCE, check the vendor field
+    // for a preferred VS major version (e.g., 17 for VS2022, 18 for VS2026).
+    // This allows users to pin a specific VS version for the dev environment in Ninja presets.
+    let vendorVsVersion: number | undefined;
+    if (!vsInstall) {
+        const vendorSettings = (opts.preset.vendor as VendorVsSettings)?.['microsoft.com/VisualStudioSettings/CMake/1.0'];
+        if (vendorSettings?.vsInstanceVersion) {
+            vendorVsVersion = vendorSettings.vsInstanceVersion;
+            log.info(localize('using.vendor.vs.version',
+                "Configure preset {0}: Using Visual Studio major version {1} from vendor settings.",
+                opts.preset.name, vendorVsVersion));
+        }
+    }
+
     // If VS instance wasn't chosen using CMAKE_GENERATOR_INSTANCE, look up a matching instance
     // that supports the specified toolset.
     if (!vsInstall) {
@@ -931,6 +948,12 @@ async function getVsDevEnv(opts: VsDevEnvOptions): Promise<EnvironmentWithNull |
                         vsInstall = vs;
                         break;
                     }
+                } else if (vendorVsVersion) {
+                    // If a VS major version is specified via vendor settings, match against it.
+                    if (vs.installationVersion.startsWith(vendorVsVersion.toString())) {
+                        vsInstall = vs;
+                        break;
+                    }
                 } else if (!vsGeneratorVersion || vs.installationVersion.startsWith(vsGeneratorVersion.toString())) {
                     // If no toolset version specified then choose the latest VS instance for the given generator
                     vsInstall = vs;