diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 6f8d7bced..bf024661e 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "uipath"
-version = "2.6.25"
+version = "2.6.26"
 description = "Python SDK and CLI for UiPath Platform, enabling programmatic interaction with automation services, process management, and deployment tools."
 readme = { file = "README.md", content-type = "text/markdown" }
 requires-python = ">=3.11"
diff --git a/src/uipath/_cli/_evals/_models/_evaluation_set.py b/src/uipath/_cli/_evals/_models/_evaluation_set.py
index 714a88034..bf1a08d89 100644
--- a/src/uipath/_cli/_evals/_models/_evaluation_set.py
+++ b/src/uipath/_cli/_evals/_models/_evaluation_set.py
@@ -186,14 +186,3 @@ class EvaluationStatus(IntEnum):
     IN_PROGRESS = 1
     COMPLETED = 2
     FAILED = 3
-
-
-def _discriminate_eval_set(
-    v: Any,
-) -> Literal["evaluation_set", "legacy_evaluation_set"]:
-    """Discriminator function that returns a tag based on version field."""
-    if isinstance(v, dict):
-        version = v.get("version")
-        if version == "1.0":
-            return "evaluation_set"
-    return "legacy_evaluation_set"
diff --git a/src/uipath/_cli/_utils/_eval_set.py b/src/uipath/_cli/_utils/_eval_set.py
index a36e96f6e..b4ac727b1 100644
--- a/src/uipath/_cli/_utils/_eval_set.py
+++ b/src/uipath/_cli/_utils/_eval_set.py
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 import json
 from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any
 
 import click
-from pydantic import TypeAdapter, ValidationError
+from pydantic import ValidationError
 
 from uipath._cli._evals._models._evaluation_set import (
     EvaluationItem,
@@ -19,6 +20,24 @@
 EVAL_SETS_DIRECTORY_NAME = "evaluations/eval-sets"
 
 
+def discriminate_eval_set(data: dict[str, Any]) -> EvaluationSet | LegacyEvaluationSet:
+    """Discriminate and parse evaluation set based on version field.
+
+    Uses explicit version checking instead of Pydantic's smart union matching
+    to avoid incorrect type selection when both types have matching fields.
+
+    Args:
+        data: Dictionary containing evaluation set data
+
+    Returns:
+        Either EvaluationSet (for version 1.0) or LegacyEvaluationSet
+    """
+    version = data.get("version")
+    if isinstance(version, (int, float, str)) and float(version) >= 1:
+        return EvaluationSet.model_validate(data)
+    return LegacyEvaluationSet.model_validate(data)
+
+
 class EvalHelpers:
     @staticmethod
     def auto_discover_eval_set() -> str:
@@ -100,9 +119,7 @@ def load_eval_set(
             ) from e
 
         try:
-            eval_set: EvaluationSet | LegacyEvaluationSet = TypeAdapter(
-                EvaluationSet | LegacyEvaluationSet
-            ).validate_python(data)
+            eval_set = discriminate_eval_set(data)
             if isinstance(eval_set, LegacyEvaluationSet):
 
                 def migrate_evaluation_item(
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index ac590d185..fc6d8b446 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -2491,7 +2491,7 @@ wheels = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "uipath"
-version = "2.6.25"
+version = "2.6.26"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "applicationinsights" },