diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-wheel.yml b/.github/workflows/build-wheel.yml
index d015c49fa8..b2be4af40b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-wheel.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-wheel.yml
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ jobs:
           - "3.11"
           - "3.12"
           - "3.13"
+          - "3.13t"
     name: py${{ matrix.python-version }}
     runs-on: ${{ (inputs.host-platform == 'linux-64' && 'linux-amd64-cpu8') ||
                  (inputs.host-platform == 'linux-aarch64' && 'linux-arm64-cpu8') ||
@@ -116,6 +117,7 @@ jobs:
           CIBW_REPAIR_WHEEL_COMMAND_WINDOWS: "delvewheel repair --namespace-pkg cuda -w {dest_dir} {wheel}"
           CIBW_ENVIRONMENT: >
             CUDA_PYTHON_PARALLEL_LEVEL=${{ env.CUDA_PYTHON_PARALLEL_LEVEL }}
+          CIBW_ENABLE: "cpython-freethreading"
         with:
           package-dir: ./cuda_core/
           output-dir: ${{ env.CUDA_CORE_ARTIFACTS_DIR }}
@@ -163,6 +165,7 @@ jobs:
             CUDA_PYTHON_PARALLEL_LEVEL=${{ env.CUDA_PYTHON_PARALLEL_LEVEL }}
           CIBW_BEFORE_BUILD_WINDOWS: "pip install delvewheel"
           CIBW_REPAIR_WHEEL_COMMAND_WINDOWS: "delvewheel repair --namespace-pkg cuda -w {dest_dir} {wheel}"
+          CIBW_ENABLE: "cpython-freethreading"
         with:
           package-dir: ./cuda_bindings/
           output-dir: ${{ env.CUDA_BINDINGS_ARTIFACTS_DIR }}
@@ -223,6 +226,10 @@ jobs:
           # workaround for actions/runner-images#12377 (the cached 3.13.4 is buggy on Windows)
           python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version == '3.13' && '3.13.5' || matrix.python-version }}
 
+      - name: verify free-threaded build
+        if: endsWith(matrix.python-verison, 't')
+        run: python -c 'import sys; assert not sys._is_gil_enabled()'
+
       - name: Set up Python include paths
         run: |
           if [[ "${{ inputs.host-platform }}" == linux* ]]; then
diff --git a/ci/test-matrix.json b/ci/test-matrix.json
index 9311df909d..0d6fdb7e71 100644
--- a/ci/test-matrix.json
+++ b/ci/test-matrix.json
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
       { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.12", "CUDA_VER": "13.0.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "0", "GPU": "l4", "DRIVER": "latest" },
       { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.13", "CUDA_VER": "12.9.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "0", "GPU": "l4", "DRIVER": "latest" },
       { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.13", "CUDA_VER": "13.0.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "l4", "DRIVER": "latest" },
+      { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.13t", "CUDA_VER": "13.0.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "l4", "DRIVER": "latest" },
       { "ARCH": "arm64", "PY_VER": "3.9",  "CUDA_VER": "12.9.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "0", "GPU": "a100", "DRIVER": "latest" },
       { "ARCH": "arm64", "PY_VER": "3.9",  "CUDA_VER": "13.0.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "a100", "DRIVER": "latest" },
       { "ARCH": "arm64", "PY_VER": "3.10", "CUDA_VER": "12.9.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "a100", "DRIVER": "latest" },
@@ -23,7 +24,8 @@
       { "ARCH": "arm64", "PY_VER": "3.12", "CUDA_VER": "12.9.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "a100", "DRIVER": "latest" },
       { "ARCH": "arm64", "PY_VER": "3.12", "CUDA_VER": "13.0.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "0", "GPU": "a100", "DRIVER": "latest" },
       { "ARCH": "arm64", "PY_VER": "3.13", "CUDA_VER": "12.9.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "0", "GPU": "a100", "DRIVER": "latest" },
-      { "ARCH": "arm64", "PY_VER": "3.13", "CUDA_VER": "13.0.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "a100", "DRIVER": "latest" }
+      { "ARCH": "arm64", "PY_VER": "3.13", "CUDA_VER": "13.0.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "a100", "DRIVER": "latest" },
+      { "ARCH": "arm64", "PY_VER": "3.13t", "CUDA_VER": "13.0.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "a100", "DRIVER": "latest" }
     ],
     "nightly": [
       { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.9",  "CUDA_VER": "11.8.0", "LOCAL_CTK": "0", "GPU": "l4", "DRIVER": "earliest" },
@@ -51,6 +53,11 @@
       { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.13", "CUDA_VER": "12.0.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "l4", "DRIVER": "latest" },
       { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.13", "CUDA_VER": "12.9.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "0", "GPU": "l4", "DRIVER": "latest" },
       { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.13", "CUDA_VER": "12.9.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "l4", "DRIVER": "latest" },
+      { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.13t", "CUDA_VER": "11.8.0", "LOCAL_CTK": "0", "GPU": "l4", "DRIVER": "earliest" },
+      { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.13t", "CUDA_VER": "11.8.0", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "l4", "DRIVER": "latest" },
+      { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.13t", "CUDA_VER": "12.0.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "l4", "DRIVER": "latest" },
+      { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.13t", "CUDA_VER": "12.9.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "0", "GPU": "l4", "DRIVER": "latest" },
+      { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.13t", "CUDA_VER": "12.9.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "l4", "DRIVER": "latest" },
       { "ARCH": "arm64", "PY_VER": "3.9",  "CUDA_VER": "11.8.0", "LOCAL_CTK": "0", "GPU": "a100", "DRIVER": "earliest" },
       { "ARCH": "arm64", "PY_VER": "3.9",  "CUDA_VER": "11.8.0", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "a100", "DRIVER": "latest" },
       { "ARCH": "arm64", "PY_VER": "3.9",  "CUDA_VER": "12.0.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "a100", "DRIVER": "latest" },
@@ -88,13 +95,17 @@
       { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.12", "CUDA_VER": "12.9.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "0", "GPU": "l4", "DRIVER": "latest" },
       { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.12", "CUDA_VER": "12.9.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "t4", "DRIVER": "latest" },
       { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.13", "CUDA_VER": "13.0.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "0", "GPU": "t4", "DRIVER": "latest" },
-      { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.13", "CUDA_VER": "13.0.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "l4", "DRIVER": "latest" }
+      { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.13", "CUDA_VER": "13.0.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "l4", "DRIVER": "latest" },
+      { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.13t", "CUDA_VER": "13.0.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "0", "GPU": "t4", "DRIVER": "latest" },
+      { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.13t", "CUDA_VER": "13.0.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "l4", "DRIVER": "latest" }
     ],
     "nightly": [
       { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.12", "CUDA_VER": "11.8.0", "LOCAL_CTK": "0", "GPU": "l4", "DRIVER": "latest" },
       { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.12", "CUDA_VER": "11.8.0", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "t4", "DRIVER": "latest" },
       { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.12", "CUDA_VER": "12.9.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "0", "GPU": "t4", "DRIVER": "latest" },
-      { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.12", "CUDA_VER": "12.9.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "l4", "DRIVER": "latest" }
+      { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.12", "CUDA_VER": "12.9.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "l4", "DRIVER": "latest" },
+      { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.13t", "CUDA_VER": "13.0.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "0", "GPU": "t4", "DRIVER": "latest" },
+      { "ARCH": "amd64", "PY_VER": "3.13t", "CUDA_VER": "13.0.1", "LOCAL_CTK": "1", "GPU": "l4", "DRIVER": "latest" }
     ]
   }
 }
diff --git a/ci/tools/run-tests b/ci/tools/run-tests
index 22d6bd07c6..8686590974 100755
--- a/ci/tools/run-tests
+++ b/ci/tools/run-tests
@@ -77,12 +77,18 @@ elif [[ "${test_module}" == "core" ]]; then
   echo "Installing core wheel"
   pwd
   ls
+
+  FREE_THREADING=""
+  if python -c 'import sys; assert not sys._is_gil_enabled()' 2> /dev/null; then
+    FREE_THREADING+="-ft"
+  fi
+
   if [[ "${LOCAL_CTK}" == 1 ]]; then
     # We already installed cuda-bindings, and all CTK components exist locally,
     # so just install the test dependencies.
-    pip install $(ls *.whl)["test-cu${TEST_CUDA_MAJOR}"]
+    pip install $(ls *.whl)["test-cu${TEST_CUDA_MAJOR}${FREE_THREADING}"]
   else
-    pip install $(ls *.whl)["cu${TEST_CUDA_MAJOR}","test-cu${TEST_CUDA_MAJOR}"]
+    pip install $(ls *.whl)["cu${TEST_CUDA_MAJOR}","test-cu${TEST_CUDA_MAJOR}${FREE_THREADING}"]
   fi
   popd
   pushd ./cuda_core
diff --git a/cuda_bindings/pyproject.toml b/cuda_bindings/pyproject.toml
index 459050038f..b7dbd7a665 100644
--- a/cuda_bindings/pyproject.toml
+++ b/cuda_bindings/pyproject.toml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-NVIDIA-SOFTWARE-LICENSE
 
 [build-system]
-requires = ["setuptools>=77.0.0", "cython>=3.0,<3.1.0", "pyclibrary>=0.1.7"]
+requires = ["setuptools>=77.0.0", "cython>=3.1,<3.2", "pyclibrary>=0.1.7"]
 build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ all = [
 ]
 
 test = [
-    "cython>=3.0,<3.1.0",
+    "cython>=3.1,<3.2",
     "setuptools>=77.0.0",
     "numpy>=1.21.1",
     "pytest>=6.2.4",
diff --git a/cuda_core/pyproject.toml b/cuda_core/pyproject.toml
index 3609396617..690a49a05f 100644
--- a/cuda_core/pyproject.toml
+++ b/cuda_core/pyproject.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
 [build-system]
-requires = ["setuptools>=77.0.0", "Cython>=3.0"]
+requires = ["setuptools>=77.0.0", "Cython>=3.1"]
 build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 
@@ -49,10 +49,16 @@ dependencies = [
 cu11 = ["cuda-bindings[all]==11.8.*"]
 cu12 = ["cuda-bindings[all]==12.*"]
 cu13 = ["cuda-bindings[all]==13.*"]
-test = ["cython>=3.0", "setuptools", "pytest>=6.2.4"]
+# TODO: these should all be in development dependencies; optional dependencies
+# are for features exposed to *users*, not a dumping ground for all tooling
+# needed to build and test the project
+test = ["cython>=3.1", "setuptools", "pytest>=6.2.4"]
 test-cu11 = ["cuda-core[test]", "cupy-cuda11x", "cuda-toolkit[cudart]==11.*"]  # runtime headers needed by CuPy
 test-cu12 = ["cuda-core[test]", "cupy-cuda12x", "cuda-toolkit[cudart]==12.*"]  # runtime headers needed by CuPy
 test-cu13 = ["cuda-core[test]", "cupy-cuda13x", "cuda-toolkit[cudart]==13.*"]  # runtime headers needed by CuPy
+# free threaded build, cupy doesn't support free-threaded builds yet, so avoid installing it for now
+# TODO: cupy should support free threaded builds
+test-cu13-ft = ["cuda-core[test]", "cuda-toolkit[cudart]==13.*"]
 
 [project.urls]
 homepage = "https://nvidia.github.io/cuda-python/"