diff --git a/src/Parser/BlockParser.php b/src/Parser/BlockParser.php
index a8c705b..117d9d3 100644
--- a/src/Parser/BlockParser.php
+++ b/src/Parser/BlockParser.php
@@ -2229,13 +2229,49 @@ protected function tryParseTable(Node $parent, array $lines, int $start): ?int
             }
 
             // Parse regular row
-            $row = new TableRow(false);
             $cells = $this->parseTableCells($currentLine);
+            $rowHasHeaderCell = false;
+            $parsedCells = [];
 
             foreach ($cells as $index => $cellContent) {
-                $alignment = $alignments[$index] ?? TableCell::ALIGN_DEFAULT;
-                $cell = new TableCell(false, $alignment);
-                $this->inlineParser->parse($cell, trim($cellContent), $i);
+                $trimmed = trim($cellContent);
+                $isHeader = false;
+                $cellAlignment = $alignments[$index] ?? TableCell::ALIGN_DEFAULT;
+
+                // Check for |= header cell syntax (Creole-style)
+                // Supports: |= Header |=< Left |=> Right |=~ Center
+                if (str_starts_with($trimmed, '=')) {
+                    $isHeader = true;
+                    $rowHasHeaderCell = true;
+                    $trimmed = substr($trimmed, 1); // Remove =
+
+                    // Check for alignment marker after =
+                    if (str_starts_with($trimmed, '<')) {
+                        $cellAlignment = TableCell::ALIGN_LEFT;
+                        $trimmed = substr($trimmed, 1);
+                    } elseif (str_starts_with($trimmed, '>')) {
+                        $cellAlignment = TableCell::ALIGN_RIGHT;
+                        $trimmed = substr($trimmed, 1);
+                    } elseif (str_starts_with($trimmed, '~')) {
+                        $cellAlignment = TableCell::ALIGN_CENTER;
+                        $trimmed = substr($trimmed, 1);
+                    }
+
+                    $cellContent = $trimmed;
+                }
+
+                $parsedCells[] = [
+                    'content' => trim($cellContent),
+                    'isHeader' => $isHeader,
+                    'alignment' => $cellAlignment,
+                ];
+            }
+
+            // Create the row (header row if any cell has |= syntax)
+            $row = new TableRow($rowHasHeaderCell);
+            foreach ($parsedCells as $cellData) {
+                $cell = new TableCell($cellData['isHeader'], $cellData['alignment']);
+                $this->inlineParser->parse($cell, $cellData['content'], $i);
                 $row->appendChild($cell);
             }
 
diff --git a/tests/TestCase/Parser/BlockParserTest.php b/tests/TestCase/Parser/BlockParserTest.php
index 20a1e38..f5dc494 100644
--- a/tests/TestCase/Parser/BlockParserTest.php
+++ b/tests/TestCase/Parser/BlockParserTest.php
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
 use Djot\Node\Block\ListBlock;
 use Djot\Node\Block\Paragraph;
 use Djot\Node\Block\Table;
+use Djot\Node\Block\TableCell;
+use Djot\Node\Block\TableRow;
 use Djot\Node\Block\ThematicBreak;
 use Djot\Node\Document;
 use Djot\Parser\BlockParser;
@@ -204,6 +206,84 @@ public function testParseTable(): void
         $this->assertInstanceOf(Table::class, $doc->getChildren()[0]);
     }
 
+    public function testParseTableWithEqualsHeaderSyntax(): void
+    {
+        // Creole-style |= header syntax (no separator row needed)
+        $doc = $this->parser->parse("|= Name |= Age |\n| Alice | 28 |");
+
+        $this->assertCount(1, $doc->getChildren());
+        $table = $doc->getChildren()[0];
+        $this->assertInstanceOf(Table::class, $table);
+
+        $rows = $table->getChildren();
+        $this->assertCount(2, $rows);
+
+        // First row should be a header row
+        $headerRow = $rows[0];
+        $this->assertInstanceOf(TableRow::class, $headerRow);
+        $this->assertTrue($headerRow->isHeader());
+
+        // Header cells should be marked as headers
+        $headerCells = $headerRow->getChildren();
+        $this->assertCount(2, $headerCells);
+        $this->assertInstanceOf(TableCell::class, $headerCells[0]);
+        $this->assertTrue($headerCells[0]->isHeader());
+        $this->assertTrue($headerCells[1]->isHeader());
+
+        // Second row should be a data row
+        $dataRow = $rows[1];
+        $this->assertInstanceOf(TableRow::class, $dataRow);
+        $this->assertFalse($dataRow->isHeader());
+    }
+
+    public function testParseTableWithEqualsHeaderAlignment(): void
+    {
+        // |=< left, |=> right, |=~ center
+        $doc = $this->parser->parse("|=< Left |=> Right |=~ Center |\n| A | B | C |");
+
+        $table = $doc->getChildren()[0];
+        $this->assertInstanceOf(Table::class, $table);
+
+        $headerRow = $table->getChildren()[0];
+        $cells = $headerRow->getChildren();
+
+        $this->assertSame(TableCell::ALIGN_LEFT, $cells[0]->getAlignment());
+        $this->assertSame(TableCell::ALIGN_RIGHT, $cells[1]->getAlignment());
+        $this->assertSame(TableCell::ALIGN_CENTER, $cells[2]->getAlignment());
+    }
+
+    public function testParseTableWithMixedHeaderCells(): void
+    {
+        // Mix of header and regular cells in a row
+        $doc = $this->parser->parse("|= Header | Regular |\n| Data | Data |");
+
+        $table = $doc->getChildren()[0];
+        $rows = $table->getChildren();
+
+        // Row with any header cell is marked as header row
+        $firstRow = $rows[0];
+        $this->assertTrue($firstRow->isHeader());
+
+        $cells = $firstRow->getChildren();
+        $this->assertTrue($cells[0]->isHeader());
+        $this->assertFalse($cells[1]->isHeader());
+    }
+
+    public function testParseTableWithEqualsHeaderNoSeparatorNeeded(): void
+    {
+        // Unlike traditional tables, |= syntax doesn't need separator row
+        $doc = $this->parser->parse("|= A |= B |\n| 1 | 2 |\n| 3 | 4 |");
+
+        $table = $doc->getChildren()[0];
+        $rows = $table->getChildren();
+
+        // Should have 3 rows (1 header + 2 data), no separator consumed
+        $this->assertCount(3, $rows);
+        $this->assertTrue($rows[0]->isHeader());
+        $this->assertFalse($rows[1]->isHeader());
+        $this->assertFalse($rows[2]->isHeader());
+    }
+
     public function testParseBlockAttributes(): void
     {
         $doc = $this->parser->parse("{.highlight}\n# Heading");