diff --git a/.github/workflows/windows-build.yml b/.github/workflows/windows-build.yml
index 04c71754..63970658 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/windows-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/windows-build.yml
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - uses: actions/setup-python@v5
         with:
-          python-version: '3.8'
+          python-version: '3.14.2'
           architecture: ${{ matrix.arch }}
 
       - name: Install Dependencies
@@ -52,29 +52,28 @@ jobs:
           Invoke-WebRequest https://github.com/zoitechat/gvsbuild/releases/download/zoitechat-2.17.0/perl-5.20.0-${{ matrix.arch }}.7z -OutFile deps\perl-${{ matrix.arch }}.7z
           & 7z.exe x deps\perl-${{ matrix.arch }}.7z -oC:\gtk-build\perl-5.20\${{ matrix.platform }}
 
-          New-Item -Path "C:\gtk-build\python-3.8" -ItemType Directory -Force | Out-Null
-
+          # Resolve python root from setup-python
           $pyRoot = $env:pythonLocation
-          if (-not $pyRoot) {
-            $pyRoot = & python -c "import sys; print(sys.prefix)"
+          if (-not $pyRoot) { $pyRoot = & python -c "import sys; print(sys.prefix)" }
+
+          # Create BOTH paths because the .vcxproj hard-codes python-3.14\...
+          foreach ($pyDir in @("C:\gtk-build\python-3.14.2", "C:\gtk-build\python-3.14")) {
+            New-Item -Path $pyDir -ItemType Directory -Force | Out-Null
+            $target = Join-Path $pyDir "${{ matrix.platform }}"
+            if (Test-Path $target) { Remove-Item $target -Recurse -Force }
+            New-Item -Path $pyDir -Name "${{ matrix.platform }}" -ItemType Junction -Value $pyRoot | Out-Null
           }
 
-          $target = "C:\gtk-build\python-3.8\${{ matrix.platform }}"
-          if (Test-Path $target) { Remove-Item $target -Recurse -Force }
-
-          New-Item -Path "C:\gtk-build\python-3.8" -Name "${{ matrix.platform }}" -ItemType Junction -Value $pyRoot | Out-Null
-
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
           python -m pip install cffi
 
-
       - name: Build
         run: |
           call "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\Enterprise\Common7\Tools\VsDevCmd.bat"
 
-          set "PYTHON_DIR=C:\gtk-build\python-3.8\${{ matrix.platform }}"
-          if not exist "%PYTHON_DIR%\libs\python38.lib" (
-            echo Missing %PYTHON_DIR%\libs\python38.lib
+          set "PYTHON_DIR=C:\gtk-build\python-3.14.2\${{ matrix.platform }}"
+          if not exist "%PYTHON_DIR%\libs\python314.lib" (
+            echo Missing %PYTHON_DIR%\libs\python314.lib
             dir "%PYTHON_DIR%\libs"
             exit /b 1
           )
diff --git a/win32/installer/zoitechat-arm64.iss b/win32/installer/zoitechat-arm64.iss
index a2c96bfd..3edfe978 100644
--- a/win32/installer/zoitechat-arm64.iss
+++ b/win32/installer/zoitechat-arm64.iss
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ Name: "langs\lua"; Description: "Lua"; Types: normal custom; Flags: disablenouni
 
 ; These are kept for consistency, but hidden on ARM64 unless you later ship ARM64 installers for them.
 Name: "langs\perl"; Description: "Perl (requires Perl 5.20)"; Types: custom; Flags: disablenouninstallwarning; Check: not IsArm64
-Name: "langs\python"; Description: "Python (requires Python 3.8)"; Types: custom; Flags: disablenouninstallwarning; Check: not IsArm64
+Name: "langs\python"; Description: "Python (requires Python 3.14.2)"; Types: custom; Flags: disablenouninstallwarning; Check: not IsArm64
 
 [Tasks]
 Name: portable; Description: "Yes"; GroupDescription: "Portable Mode: Stores configuration files within install directory for portable drives."; Flags: unchecked
diff --git a/win32/installer/zoitechat.iss.tt b/win32/installer/zoitechat.iss.tt
index 39621428..03521b7e 100644
--- a/win32/installer/zoitechat.iss.tt
+++ b/win32/installer/zoitechat.iss.tt
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ Name: "plugins\winamp"; Description: "Winamp"; Types: custom; Flags: disablenoun
 Name: "langs"; Description: "Language Interfaces"; Types: custom; Flags: disablenouninstallwarning
 Name: "langs\lua"; Description: "Lua"; Types: normal custom; Flags: disablenouninstallwarning
 Name: "langs\perl"; Description: "Perl (requires Perl 5.20)"; Types: custom; Flags: disablenouninstallwarning
-Name: "langs\python"; Description: "Python (requires Python 3.8)"; Types: custom; Flags: disablenouninstallwarning
+Name: "langs\python"; Description: "Python (requires Python 3.14.2)"; Types: custom; Flags: disablenouninstallwarning
 
 [Tasks]
 Name: portable; Description: "Yes"; GroupDescription: "Portable Mode: Stores configuration files within install directory for portable drives."; Flags: unchecked
@@ -298,12 +298,12 @@ begin
 		REDIST := 'https://github.com/zoitechat/gvsbuild/releases/download/zoitechat-2.16.2/vcredist_2015_x64.exe';
 		REDIST_2013 := 'https://github.com/zoitechat/gvsbuild/releases/download/zoitechat-2.16.2/vcredist_2013_x64.exe';
 		PERL := 'https://github.com/zoitechat/gvsbuild/releases/download/zoitechat-2.16.2/Perl.5.20.0.x64.msi';
-		PY3 := 'https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.8.10/python-3.8.10-amd64.exe';
+		PY3 := 'https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.14.2/python-3.14.2-amd64.exe';
 #else
 		REDIST := 'https://github.com/zoitechat/gvsbuild/releases/download/zoitechat-2.16.2/vcredist_2015_x86.exe';
 		REDIST_2013 := 'https://github.com/zoitechat/gvsbuild/releases/download/zoitechat-2.16.2/vcredist_2013_x86.exe';
 		PERL := 'https://github.com/zoitechat/gvsbuild/releases/download/zoitechat-2.16.2/Perl.5.20.0.x86.msi';
-		PY3 := 'https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.8.10/python-3.8.10.exe';
+		PY3 := 'https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.14.2/python-3.14.2.exe';
 #endif
 		DOTNET := 'https://github.com/zoitechat/gvsbuild/releases/download/zoitechat-2.16.2/dotnet_40.exe';
 		SPELL := 'https://github.com/zoitechat/gvsbuild/releases/download/zoitechat-2.16.2/ZoiteChat.Spelling.Dictionaries.r2.exe';
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ begin
 				idpAddFile(PERL, ExpandConstant('{tmp}\perl.msi'))
 			end;
 
-			if IsComponentSelected('langs\python\python3') and not CheckDLL('python38.dll') then
+			if IsComponentSelected('langs\python\python3') and not CheckDLL('python314.dll') then
 				idpAddFile(PY3, ExpandConstant('{tmp}\python.exe'));
 		end;
 	end;
diff --git a/win32/zoitechat.props b/win32/zoitechat.props
index efa4cf10..3ae6f0b0 100644
--- a/win32/zoitechat.props
+++ b/win32/zoitechat.props
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 		<YourDepsPath>c:\gtk-build\gtk</YourDepsPath>
 		<YourGendefPath>c:\gtk-build\gendef</YourGendefPath>
 		<YourPerlPath>c:\gtk-build\perl-5.20</YourPerlPath>
-		<YourPython3Path>c:\gtk-build\python-3.8</YourPython3Path>
+		<YourPython3Path>c:\gtk-build\python-3.14</YourPython3Path>
 		<YourWinSparklePath>c:\gtk-build\WinSparkle</YourWinSparklePath>
 
 		<!-- YOU SHOULDN'T TOUCH ANYTHING BELOW -->
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 		<PerlPath>$(YourPerlPath)\$(PlatformName)</PerlPath>
 		<PerlLib>perl520</PerlLib>
 		<Python3Path>$(YourPython3Path)\$(PlatformName)</Python3Path>
-		<Python3Lib>python38</Python3Lib>
+		<Python3Lib>python314</Python3Lib>
 		<Python3Output>hcpython3</Python3Output>
 		<LuaInclude>$(DepsRoot)\include\luajit-2.1</LuaInclude>
 		<LuaOutput>hclua</LuaOutput>