diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 64d78a588..74706922d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ jobs:
             zmq: bundled
 
           - os: macos-14
-            python: "3.13-dev"
+            python: "3.13"
             zmq: bundled
 
           - os: macos-13
@@ -86,7 +86,11 @@ jobs:
             python: "3.12"
 
           - os: ubuntu-22.04
-            python: "3.13-dev"
+            python: "3.13"
+
+          - os: ubuntu-22.04
+            python: "3.13"
+            free_threading: free_threading
 
           - os: windows-2022
             python: "3.7"
@@ -97,7 +101,7 @@ jobs:
             arch: x64
 
           - os: windows-2022
-            python: "3.13-dev"
+            python: "3.13"
             arch: x64
 
     steps:
@@ -105,6 +109,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: setup python
         uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        if: ${{ !matrix.free_threading }}
         with:
           python-version: ${{ matrix.python }}
           architecture: ${{ matrix.arch || 'x64' }}
@@ -112,6 +117,32 @@ jobs:
           allow-prereleases: true
           cache: pip
 
+      - name: setup python (free threading)
+        if: ${{ matrix.free_threading }}
+        uses: mamba-org/setup-micromamba@v1
+        with:
+          environment-name: nogil
+          condarc: |
+            channels:
+              - ad-testing/label/py313_nogil
+              - defaults
+          create-args: >-
+            python=${{ matrix.python-version }}
+            pip
+
+      - name: activate python (free threading)
+        if: ${{ matrix.free_threading }}
+        # light activate, just add env to path
+        # run this in micromamba-shell
+        # so we don't have to for the rest
+        run: |
+          echo $PATH
+          echo "PATH=$PATH" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+          echo "PYTHON_GIL=0" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+        shell: micromamba-shell {0}
+
+
+
       - name: setup coverage
         if: startsWith(matrix.python, 'pypy') || startsWith(matrix.python, '3.12')
         run: |
@@ -127,6 +158,17 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           pip install --upgrade pip wheel
           pip install -r test-requirements.txt
+      
+      - name: install free-threading dependencies
+        if: ${{ matrix.free_threading }}
+        run: |
+          conda info
+          which -a python
+          which -a pip
+          # need build deps for no-build-isolation
+          # remove after Cython 3.1
+          pip install scikit-build-core ninja packaging
+          pip install --upgrade --pre -i https://pypi.anaconda.org/scientific-python-nightly-wheels/simple cython
 
       - name: remove tornado
         if: matrix.tornado == 'none'
@@ -180,12 +222,18 @@ jobs:
           echo ZMQ_DRAFT_API=1 >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
 
       - name: build pyzmq
+        if: ${{ !matrix.free_threading }}
         run: |
           pip install -v -e .
 
+      - name: build pyzmq (free threading)
+        if: ${{ matrix.free_threading }}
+        run: |
+          pip install -v --no-build-isolation .
+
       - name: import zmq
         run: |
-          python -c "import zmq"
+          python -I -c "import zmq"
 
       - name: run tests
         run: |
diff --git a/examples/cython/setup.py b/examples/cython/setup.py
index ef37fcbfd..b25d2d497 100644
--- a/examples/cython/setup.py
+++ b/examples/cython/setup.py
@@ -12,4 +12,4 @@
         include_dirs=zmq.get_includes() + [numpy.get_include()],
     )
 ]
-setup(name="cython-zmq-example", ext_modules=cythonize(extensions))
+setup(name="cython-zmq-example", ext_modules=cythonize(extensions))  # type: ignore
diff --git a/zmq/backend/cython/_zmq.py b/zmq/backend/cython/_zmq.py
index fc16087aa..5c7b8e453 100644
--- a/zmq/backend/cython/_zmq.py
+++ b/zmq/backend/cython/_zmq.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# cython: freethreading_compatible = True
 """Cython backend for pyzmq"""
 
 # Copyright (C) PyZMQ Developers