diff --git a/.github/workflows/pygosqlx-release.yml b/.github/workflows/pygosqlx-release.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..de93e3d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/pygosqlx-release.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,306 @@
+# Build, test and publish pygosqlx (python/) wheels to PyPI.
+#
+# What runs when:
+#   pull_request (python/**, pkg/**, go.mod, go.sum, this file)
+#       -> build + test wheels and sdist only. Nothing is published.
+#          pkg/** because pkg/cbinding links the whole parser via pkg/gosqlx.
+#   push of a tag matching 'pygosqlx-v*' (e.g. pygosqlx-v0.3.0)
+#       -> build + test, then publish to PyPI. The tag must match the version
+#          in python/pyproject.toml and must point at a commit on main.
+#          This is the ONLY path to PyPI, so every published version has a tag.
+#   workflow_dispatch
+#       -> build + test, then publish to the index chosen by the 'target'
+#          input: 'testpypi' (default) or 'none' (build only). Publishing
+#          from a dispatch is only allowed on main. TestPyPI skips files that
+#          already exist, so repeated dry runs of one version do not fail.
+#
+# Tag isolation: the main GoSQLX 'v*' release tags never trigger this
+# workflow, and pygosqlx-v* tags must not disturb the Go release:
+# release.yml pins GoReleaser's current/previous tag to the 'v*' series, and
+# release.yml, vscode-publish.yml and bench-compare.yml filter on 'v*'.
+#
+# Wheels: one py3-none-<platform> wheel per OS/arch (the bundled libgosqlx is
+# loaded through ctypes and does not depend on the CPython ABI), each tested
+# on CPython 3.10-3.14 against the installed wheel:
+#   linux   x86_64, aarch64   (built in manylinux_2_28, native runners;
+#                              auditwheel repair pins manylinux_2_17)
+#   macOS   x86_64, arm64     (macOS 13+)
+#   windows AMD64
+#
+# Publishing uses PyPI Trusted Publishing (OIDC); there is no API token.
+# ONE-TIME MAINTAINER SETUP (not automated, do this before the first tag):
+#   1. On https://pypi.org/manage/account/publishing/ add a *pending* trusted
+#      publisher: PyPI project name 'pygosqlx', owner 'ajitpratap0',
+#      repository 'GoSQLX', workflow 'pygosqlx-release.yml', environment
+#      'pypi'.
+#   2. In GitHub repo Settings -> Environments create an environment named
+#      'pypi' (recommended: deployment policy limited to tags 'pygosqlx-v*'
+#      and a required reviewer). Also recommended: a tag ruleset restricting
+#      who may create 'pygosqlx-v*' tags.
+#   3. Optional, for dry runs: repeat 1 on https://test.pypi.org with
+#      environment 'testpypi', and create a 'testpypi' GitHub environment.
+#   Then release with: git tag -a pygosqlx-vX.Y.Z && git push origin pygosqlx-vX.Y.Z
+
+name: pygosqlx Release
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    branches: [ main ]
+    paths:
+      - 'python/**'
+      - 'pkg/**'
+      - 'go.mod'
+      - 'go.sum'
+      - '.github/workflows/pygosqlx-release.yml'
+  push:
+    tags:
+      - 'pygosqlx-v*'
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      target:
+        description: 'Where to publish the built distributions'
+        type: choice
+        options:
+          - testpypi
+          - none
+        default: testpypi
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+concurrency:
+  group: pygosqlx-release-${{ github.ref }}
+  cancel-in-progress: ${{ github.event_name == 'pull_request' }}
+
+env:
+  # Go toolchain for the macOS and Windows runners. Must equal GO_VERSION in
+  # python/scripts/install-go-linux.sh (used in manylinux); the sdist job
+  # fails if they differ.
+  GO_VERSION: '1.26.10'
+
+jobs:
+  wheels:
+    name: wheels (${{ matrix.name }})
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
+    timeout-minutes: 45
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        include:
+          - name: linux-x86_64
+            os: ubuntu-24.04
+            arch: x86_64
+          - name: linux-aarch64
+            os: ubuntu-24.04-arm
+            arch: aarch64
+          - name: macos-x86_64
+            os: macos-15-intel
+          - name: macos-arm64
+            os: macos-15
+          - name: windows-amd64
+            os: windows-2025
+
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@11d5960a326750d5838078e36cf38b85af677262 # v4.4.0
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
+
+      # Linux builds run inside the manylinux container and install Go there
+      # (CIBW_BEFORE_ALL_LINUX); macOS and Windows build on the runner.
+      - name: Set up Go
+        if: runner.os != 'Linux'
+        uses: actions/setup-go@40f1582b2485089dde7abd97c1529aa768e1baff # v5.6.0
+        with:
+          go-version: ${{ env.GO_VERSION }}
+          cache: false
+
+      - name: Build and test wheels
+        uses: pypa/cibuildwheel@adba99c781d3746d38b3a09b1cf797965bcb7fe6 # v4.3.0
+        with:
+          package-dir: python
+          output-dir: wheelhouse
+        env:
+          # The wheel is py3-none-<platform>: cibuildwheel builds it once with
+          # the first Python and reuses it (test only) for the others.
+          CIBW_BUILD: 'cp310-* cp311-* cp312-* cp313-* cp314-*'
+          CIBW_SKIP: '*-musllinux_*'
+          CIBW_ARCHS: native
+          CIBW_BUILD_VERBOSITY: 1
+
+          # auditwheel would tag x86_64 as old as manylinux_2_5 (the Go
+          # library uses only ancient glibc symbols), claiming distros that
+          # were never tested and that Go 1.26 (kernel 3.2+) may not run on.
+          # Pin the floor to manylinux_2_17 (manylinux2014) on both arches.
+          # cibuildwheel does not expand an {arch} placeholder here, so the
+          # architecture comes from the matrix (empty on macOS/Windows, where
+          # this Linux-only command is unused).
+          CIBW_REPAIR_WHEEL_COMMAND_LINUX: auditwheel repair --plat manylinux_2_17_${{ matrix.arch }} -w {dest_dir} {wheel}
+          CIBW_BEFORE_ALL_LINUX: bash {project}/python/scripts/install-go-linux.sh
+          CIBW_BEFORE_BUILD_LINUX: cd {project}/pkg/cbinding && bash build.sh
+          CIBW_BEFORE_BUILD_MACOS: cd {project}/pkg/cbinding && bash build.sh
+          CIBW_BEFORE_BUILD_WINDOWS: >-
+            cd /d "{project}\pkg\cbinding" &&
+            go build -buildmode=c-shared -o ..\..\python\pygosqlx\lib\libgosqlx.dll .
+
+          # GOFLAGS -trimpath (all platforms): keep absolute build and module
+          # cache paths out of the published binaries.
+          # -buildvcs=false: the container's copy of the checkout is owned by a
+          # different user, which makes Go's VCS stamping fail.
+          CIBW_ENVIRONMENT_LINUX: >-
+            PATH="/usr/local/go/bin:$PATH"
+            GOTOOLCHAIN=local
+            GOFLAGS="-buildvcs=false -trimpath"
+            CGO_ENABLED=1
+            PYGOSQLX_TEST_INSTALLED=1
+          # Go 1.26 targets macOS 12+, and cgo objects must not be built for a
+          # newer macOS than the wheel tag claims.
+          CIBW_ENVIRONMENT_MACOS: >-
+            MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET=13.0
+            CGO_CFLAGS="-O2 -g -mmacosx-version-min=13.0"
+            CGO_LDFLAGS="-O2 -g -mmacosx-version-min=13.0"
+            GOTOOLCHAIN=local
+            GOFLAGS=-trimpath
+            CGO_ENABLED=1
+            PYGOSQLX_TEST_INSTALLED=1
+          CIBW_ENVIRONMENT_WINDOWS: >-
+            GOTOOLCHAIN=local
+            GOFLAGS=-trimpath
+            CGO_ENABLED=1
+            PYGOSQLX_TEST_INSTALLED=1
+
+          # Run the suite against the installed wheel, not the checkout:
+          # PYGOSQLX_TEST_INSTALLED=1 keeps python/ off sys.path and enables
+          # tests/test_installed_wheel.py, which fails if the bundled library
+          # is missing or the checkout was imported.
+          CIBW_TEST_REQUIRES: pytest
+          CIBW_TEST_COMMAND: >-
+            python -m pytest --import-mode=importlib -p no:cacheprovider
+            {project}/python/tests -v -rs
+
+      - name: Upload wheels
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@ea165f8d65b6e75b540449e92b4886f43607fa02 # v4.6.2
+        with:
+          name: pygosqlx-wheels-${{ matrix.name }}
+          path: wheelhouse/*.whl
+          if-no-files-found: error
+
+  sdist:
+    name: sdist
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    timeout-minutes: 15
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@11d5960a326750d5838078e36cf38b85af677262 # v4.4.0
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
+          # Full history so a release tag can be checked against main.
+          fetch-depth: 0
+
+      - name: Check Go version pins agree
+        run: |
+          script_go="$(sed -n 's/^GO_VERSION="\(.*\)"$/\1/p' python/scripts/install-go-linux.sh)"
+          if [ -z "$script_go" ] || [ "$script_go" != "$GO_VERSION" ]; then
+            echo "::error::GO_VERSION mismatch: workflow '$GO_VERSION' vs install-go-linux.sh '$script_go'"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+      # Defense in depth: never publish a tag whose commit is not on main.
+      - name: Check tagged commit is on main
+        if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/pygosqlx-v')
+        run: |
+          if ! git merge-base --is-ancestor "$GITHUB_SHA" origin/main; then
+            echo "::error::$GITHUB_SHA ($GITHUB_REF_NAME) is not an ancestor of origin/main"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+      - name: Set up Python
+        uses: actions/setup-python@a26af69be951a213d495a4c3e4e4022e16d87065 # v5.6.0
+        with:
+          python-version: '3.13'
+
+      - name: Check tag matches package version
+        if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/pygosqlx-v')
+        env:
+          TAG: ${{ github.ref_name }}
+        run: |
+          pkg_version="$(python -c 'import tomllib; print(tomllib.load(open("python/pyproject.toml", "rb"))["project"]["version"])')"
+          if [ "${TAG#pygosqlx-v}" != "$pkg_version" ]; then
+            echo "::error::tag $TAG does not match python/pyproject.toml version $pkg_version"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+      - name: Build sdist
+        run: |
+          python -m pip install --upgrade build twine
+          python -m build --sdist --outdir dist python
+          python -m twine check --strict dist/*
+
+      # The sdist carries only the Python sources. It must never ship a
+      # prebuilt library for some other platform.
+      - name: Check sdist has no native binaries
+        run: |
+          if tar tzf dist/*.tar.gz | grep -E '\.(so|dylib|dll)$'; then
+            echo "::error::sdist contains a native library"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+      - name: Upload sdist
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@ea165f8d65b6e75b540449e92b4886f43607fa02 # v4.6.2
+        with:
+          name: pygosqlx-sdist
+          path: dist/*.tar.gz
+          if-no-files-found: error
+
+  publish-pypi:
+    name: publish to PyPI
+    needs: [ wheels, sdist ]
+    # Only a tag *push* publishes to PyPI. A workflow_dispatch run on a tag
+    # ref also has github.ref == refs/tags/pygosqlx-v*, so the event check is
+    # what keeps 'target: none' / 'testpypi' dispatches off real PyPI.
+    if: github.event_name == 'push' && startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/pygosqlx-v')
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    timeout-minutes: 15
+    environment:
+      name: pypi
+      url: https://pypi.org/p/pygosqlx
+    permissions:
+      id-token: write  # PyPI Trusted Publishing (OIDC)
+    steps:
+      - name: Download distributions
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@d3f86a106a0bac45b974a628896c90dbdf5c8093 # v4.3.0
+        with:
+          pattern: pygosqlx-*
+          path: dist
+          merge-multiple: true
+
+      - name: Publish to PyPI
+        uses: pypa/gh-action-pypi-publish@dc37677b2e1c63e2034f94d8a5b11f265b73ba33 # v1.14.2
+
+  publish-testpypi:
+    name: publish to TestPyPI
+    needs: [ wheels, sdist ]
+    if: >-
+      github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' &&
+      inputs.target == 'testpypi' &&
+      github.ref == 'refs/heads/main'
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    timeout-minutes: 15
+    environment:
+      name: testpypi
+      url: https://test.pypi.org/p/pygosqlx
+    permissions:
+      id-token: write  # TestPyPI Trusted Publishing (OIDC)
+    steps:
+      - name: Download distributions
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@d3f86a106a0bac45b974a628896c90dbdf5c8093 # v4.3.0
+        with:
+          pattern: pygosqlx-*
+          path: dist
+          merge-multiple: true
+
+      - name: Publish to TestPyPI
+        uses: pypa/gh-action-pypi-publish@dc37677b2e1c63e2034f94d8a5b11f265b73ba33 # v1.14.2
+        with:
+          repository-url: https://test.pypi.org/legacy/
+          # The version only changes per release, so repeated dry runs would
+          # otherwise fail on files already uploaded. TestPyPI only.
+          skip-existing: true
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index b1cac69e..31f4564f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -40,6 +40,22 @@ jobs:
         CGO_ENABLED: '1'
       run: task test:cbinding
 
+    # pygosqlx-v* tags (Python package releases, see pygosqlx-release.yml)
+    # live on main too. GoReleaser OSS derives the previous tag with
+    # `git describe --tags`, which would pick a pygosqlx tag and produce a
+    # truncated changelog and a wrong compare link. Pin both tags to the
+    # 'v*' series explicitly (git.ignore_tags in .goreleaser.yml is Pro-only).
+    - name: Resolve release tags
+      env:
+        TAG: ${{ github.ref_name }}
+      run: |
+        prev="$(git describe --tags --abbrev=0 --match 'v[0-9]*' "${TAG}^" 2>/dev/null || true)"
+        echo "GORELEASER_CURRENT_TAG=${TAG}" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+        if [ -n "$prev" ]; then
+          echo "GORELEASER_PREVIOUS_TAG=${prev}" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+        fi
+        echo "current=${TAG} previous=${prev:-<none>}"
+
     - name: Run GoReleaser
       uses: goreleaser/goreleaser-action@e435ccd777264be153ace6237001ef4d979d3a7a # v6.4.0
       with:
diff --git a/python/LICENSE b/python/LICENSE
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d6456956
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/LICENSE
@@ -0,0 +1,202 @@
+
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+                        http://www.apache.org/licenses/
+
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+      whether in tort (including negligence), contract, or otherwise,
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diff --git a/python/MANIFEST.in b/python/MANIFEST.in
index 3c5022cf..67216b63 100644
--- a/python/MANIFEST.in
+++ b/python/MANIFEST.in
@@ -3,3 +3,4 @@ include README.md
 include pyproject.toml
 recursive-include pygosqlx *.py *.pyi py.typed
 recursive-include pygosqlx/lib *.so *.dylib *.dll *.h
+recursive-include tests *.py
diff --git a/python/README.md b/python/README.md
index 5347de6f..a2b39777 100644
--- a/python/README.md
+++ b/python/README.md
@@ -6,37 +6,47 @@ Powered by Go's compiled performance, PyGoSQLX is 100x+ faster than pure Python
 
 ## Installation
 
-### Step 1: Build the shared library
-
-Requires a Go toolchain matching the repository's `go.mod` (Go 1.26+) with cgo enabled.
-
 ```bash
-cd pkg/cbinding
-./build.sh
+pip install pygosqlx
 ```
 
-This compiles the Go code into a shared library (`libgosqlx.so` on Linux, `libgosqlx.dylib` on macOS, `libgosqlx.dll` on Windows) and places it in `python/pygosqlx/lib/`.
+Prebuilt wheels bundle the native `libgosqlx` library, so no Go toolchain is
+needed. They are published to PyPI from the `pygosqlx-v*` release tags; the
+command above works once the first such tag (`pygosqlx-v0.3.0`) has been
+published. Until then, build from source as shown below.
 
-You can customize the output directory:
+Wheels are available for Python 3.10-3.14 on:
 
-```bash
-OUTPUT_DIR=/path/to/output ./build.sh
-```
+| Platform | Architectures | Wheel tag |
+|---|---|---|
+| Linux (glibc) | x86_64, aarch64 | `manylinux_2_17` (manylinux2014; glibc 2.17+, built on manylinux_2_28) |
+| macOS 13+ | x86_64, arm64 | `macosx_13_0` |
+| Windows | AMD64 | `win_amd64` |
 
-### Step 2: Install the Python package
+There are no wheels for musl-based Linux (Alpine) or 32-bit platforms. On
+those, pip falls back to the source distribution, which installs the Python
+package without the native library; build it as described below and point
+`GOSQLX_LIB_PATH` at it.
 
-```bash
-cd python
-pip install .
-```
+### Building from source
 
-For development:
+Requires a Go toolchain matching the repository's `go.mod` (Go 1.26+) with cgo
+enabled (a C compiler on `PATH`).
 
 ```bash
-pip install -e ".[dev]"
+git clone https://github.com/ajitpratap0/GoSQLX.git
+cd GoSQLX/pkg/cbinding
+./build.sh          # writes python/pygosqlx/lib/libgosqlx.{so,dylib}
+cd ../../python
+pip install .       # or: pip install -e ".[dev]" for development
 ```
 
-If the library is not bundled in the package, set the environment variable:
+`build.sh` compiles the Go code into a shared library (`libgosqlx.so` on
+Linux, `libgosqlx.dylib` on macOS, `libgosqlx.dll` on Windows via MSYS2/MinGW)
+and places it in `python/pygosqlx/lib/`, where `pip install .` bundles it. Use
+`OUTPUT_DIR=/path/to/output ./build.sh` to write it elsewhere.
+
+To use a library that is not bundled in the package, set:
 
 ```bash
 export GOSQLX_LIB_PATH=/path/to/libgosqlx.so
@@ -250,11 +260,12 @@ All exceptions have `message`, `code`, `line`, and `column` attributes.
 
 ## Platform Support
 
-| Platform | Library Extension | Status |
-|---|---|---|
-| Linux (x86_64, arm64) | `.so` | Supported |
-| macOS (x86_64, arm64) | `.dylib` | Supported |
-| Windows (via MSYS2/MinGW) | `.dll` | Supported |
+| Platform | Library | Prebuilt wheel | From source |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| Linux x86_64, aarch64 (glibc) | `.so` | Yes (glibc 2.17+) | Yes |
+| macOS x86_64, arm64 | `.dylib` | Yes (macOS 13+) | Yes |
+| Windows AMD64 | `.dll` | Yes | Yes (MSYS2/MinGW) |
+| Other (musl, 32-bit, ...) | - | No | Where Go supports `-buildmode=c-shared` |
 
 ## Performance
 
@@ -269,25 +280,6 @@ This makes PyGoSQLX suitable for high-throughput use cases such as SQL proxies,
 
 ## Development
 
-### Building from source
-
-```bash
-# Clone the repository
-git clone https://github.com/ajitpratap0/GoSQLX.git
-cd GoSQLX
-
-# Build the shared library
-cd pkg/cbinding
-./build.sh
-cd ../../python
-
-# Install in development mode
-pip install -e ".[dev]"
-
-# Run tests
-pytest
-```
-
 ### Running tests
 
 ```bash
@@ -298,6 +290,23 @@ pytest tests/test_integration.py  # Integration tests (requires shared library)
 pytest --cov=pygosqlx        # With coverage
 ```
 
+To run the suite against an installed wheel instead of the checkout (as the
+release CI does):
+
+```bash
+pip install pygosqlx pytest   # or a locally built wheel
+cd /tmp && PYGOSQLX_TEST_INSTALLED=1 python -m pytest --import-mode=importlib /path/to/GoSQLX/python/tests
+```
+
+### Releasing
+
+Wheels for every supported platform and an sdist are built and tested by
+`.github/workflows/pygosqlx-release.yml` on each pull request that touches
+`python/` or `pkg/`. Pushing a tag `pygosqlx-vX.Y.Z` (matching the version in
+`pyproject.toml`, on a commit already on `main`) publishes them to PyPI
+through Trusted Publishing; this is the only path to PyPI. A manual dispatch
+can publish a dry run to TestPyPI. See the workflow header for the one-time PyPI setup.
+
 ### Project structure
 
 ```
@@ -313,10 +322,13 @@ python/
     test_package_version.py        # Version metadata consistency
     test_integration.py            # Integration tests with shared library
     test_dialect_and_analysis.py   # dialect=, lint, security_scan, transpile, dialects
+    test_installed_wheel.py        # Installed-wheel checks (PYGOSQLX_TEST_INSTALLED=1)
+  scripts/
+    install-go-linux.sh  # Pinned, checksum-verified Go install for manylinux CI
   pyproject.toml      # Package metadata and build config
-  setup.py            # Legacy build support
+  setup.py            # Shim that tags wheels per platform (no metadata)
 ```
 
 ## License
 
-Apache-2.0. See the [LICENSE](../LICENSE) file in the repository root.
+Apache-2.0. See the [LICENSE](https://github.com/ajitpratap0/GoSQLX/blob/main/LICENSE) file.
diff --git a/python/pygosqlx/core.py b/python/pygosqlx/core.py
index b37b8e1f..05eeeba1 100644
--- a/python/pygosqlx/core.py
+++ b/python/pygosqlx/core.py
@@ -209,7 +209,10 @@ def _get_lib_path() -> str:
     raise FileNotFoundError(
         f"GoSQLX shared library not found. "
         f"Searched: GOSQLX_LIB_PATH env var, {lib_path}. "
-        f"Build it with: cd pkg/cbinding && ./build.sh"
+        f"No prebuilt wheel bundles it for this platform; build it from "
+        f"source (cd pkg/cbinding && ./build.sh) and reinstall, or set "
+        f"GOSQLX_LIB_PATH. See 'Building from source' in "
+        f"https://github.com/ajitpratap0/GoSQLX/blob/main/python/README.md"
     )
 
 
diff --git a/python/pyproject.toml b/python/pyproject.toml
index 6457a5a4..d6f83d83 100644
--- a/python/pyproject.toml
+++ b/python/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 [build-system]
-requires = ["setuptools>=64", "wheel"]
+# setuptools>=77: PEP 639 SPDX license metadata; setup.py only customizes
+# bdist_wheel so the wheel carries a platform tag (see setup.py).
+requires = ["setuptools>=77"]
 build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
@@ -7,28 +9,31 @@ name = "pygosqlx"
 version = "0.3.0"
 description = "Python bindings for GoSQLX - High-performance SQL parser"
 readme = "README.md"
-requires-python = ">=3.8"
-license = {text = "Apache-2.0"}
+requires-python = ">=3.10"
+license = "Apache-2.0"
+license-files = ["LICENSE"]
 authors = [
     {name = "GoSQLX Contributors"}
 ]
 classifiers = [
     "Development Status :: 3 - Alpha",
     "Intended Audience :: Developers",
-    "License :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software License",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3",
-    "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8",
-    "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13",
+    "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14",
+    "Operating System :: MacOS",
+    "Operating System :: Microsoft :: Windows",
+    "Operating System :: POSIX :: Linux",
     "Topic :: Database",
     "Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries",
     "Typing :: Typed",
 ]
 
 [project.urls]
+Documentation = "https://github.com/ajitpratap0/GoSQLX/tree/main/python#readme"
 Homepage = "https://github.com/ajitpratap0/GoSQLX"
 Repository = "https://github.com/ajitpratap0/GoSQLX"
 Issues = "https://github.com/ajitpratap0/GoSQLX/issues"
@@ -40,4 +45,4 @@ dev = ["pytest>=7.0", "pytest-cov"]
 include = ["pygosqlx*"]
 
 [tool.setuptools.package-data]
-pygosqlx = ["lib/*", "py.typed"]
+pygosqlx = ["lib/libgosqlx.*", "py.typed"]
diff --git a/python/scripts/install-go-linux.sh b/python/scripts/install-go-linux.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..0ce34489
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/scripts/install-go-linux.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Install a pinned Go toolchain inside a cibuildwheel manylinux container.
+#
+# Used as CIBW_BEFORE_ALL_LINUX by .github/workflows/pygosqlx-release.yml.
+# The tarball is downloaded from go.dev and verified against the SHA-256
+# pinned below before it is extracted. To bump Go, update GO_VERSION and both
+# checksums from https://go.dev/dl/?mode=json (the "sha256" of the
+# linux-amd64 and linux-arm64 "archive" files).
+set -euo pipefail
+
+GO_VERSION="1.26.10"
+GO_SHA256_AMD64="ccfe7ae822d2c2f41f4fe7c956199967a4dac22d0ee0d2b2bfdb440aab3b20c5"
+GO_SHA256_ARM64="3f4227ce7b206a513e794f1393adb473a07b46e94d18bd15d1c684bbb7319797"
+
+case "$(uname -m)" in
+  x86_64) arch=amd64; sha="$GO_SHA256_AMD64" ;;
+  aarch64 | arm64) arch=arm64; sha="$GO_SHA256_ARM64" ;;
+  *) echo "install-go-linux.sh: unsupported architecture $(uname -m)" >&2; exit 1 ;;
+esac
+
+tarball="go${GO_VERSION}.linux-${arch}.tar.gz"
+workdir="$(mktemp -d)"
+trap 'rm -rf "$workdir"' EXIT
+
+curl -fsSL --retry 3 --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 \
+  -o "$workdir/$tarball" "https://go.dev/dl/$tarball"
+echo "$sha  $workdir/$tarball" | sha256sum -c -
+
+rm -rf /usr/local/go
+tar -C /usr/local -xzf "$workdir/$tarball"
+/usr/local/go/bin/go version
diff --git a/python/setup.py b/python/setup.py
index b4dfb07d..0883513b 100644
--- a/python/setup.py
+++ b/python/setup.py
@@ -1,37 +1,57 @@
-"""Setup script for pygosqlx - Python bindings for GoSQLX SQL parser."""
-
-import os
-from setuptools import setup, find_packages
-
-long_description = ""
-readme_path = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "README.md")
-if os.path.exists(readme_path):
-    with open(readme_path, encoding="utf-8") as f:
-        long_description = f.read()
-
-setup(
-    name="pygosqlx",
-    version="0.3.0",
-    description="Python bindings for GoSQLX - High-performance SQL parser",
-    long_description=long_description,
-    long_description_content_type="text/markdown",
-    author="GoSQLX Contributors",
-    url="https://github.com/ajitpratap0/GoSQLX",
-    packages=find_packages(),
-    package_data={"pygosqlx": ["lib/*", "py.typed"]},
-    python_requires=">=3.8",
-    classifiers=[
-        "Development Status :: 3 - Alpha",
-        "Intended Audience :: Developers",
-        "License :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software License",
-        "Programming Language :: Python :: 3",
-        "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8",
-        "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9",
-        "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10",
-        "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11",
-        "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12",
-        "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13",
-        "Topic :: Database",
-        "Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries",
-    ],
-)
+"""Wheel-tagging shim for pygosqlx.
+
+All package metadata lives in pyproject.toml. This file exists only because
+pyproject.toml cannot express one thing: pygosqlx bundles a native shared
+library (pygosqlx/lib/libgosqlx.{so,dylib,dll}) that it loads through ctypes,
+so its wheels must be platform-specific. Without this shim setuptools would
+see no extension modules and tag the wheel ``py3-none-any``, which pip would
+then install on platforms the bundled library cannot run on.
+
+The library is not a CPython extension module, so it does not depend on the
+Python version or ABI. The wheel is therefore tagged ``py3-none-<platform>``:
+one wheel per OS/architecture serves every supported Python version.
+"""
+
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from setuptools import Distribution, setup
+from setuptools.command.bdist_wheel import bdist_wheel
+
+_LIB_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parent / "pygosqlx" / "lib"
+
+
+class BinaryDistribution(Distribution):
+    """Distribution that ships a native library, so it is never pure."""
+
+    def has_ext_modules(self) -> bool:
+        return True
+
+
+class PlatformWheel(bdist_wheel):
+    """bdist_wheel that produces a ``py3-none-<platform>`` wheel."""
+
+    def get_tag(self) -> tuple:
+        _, _, platform_tag = super().get_tag()
+        return "py3", "none", platform_tag
+
+    def run(self) -> None:
+        # Building from the sdist on a platform with no prebuilt wheel yields
+        # a wheel without the native library; it installs fine and only fails
+        # at first use. Say so loudly at build time.
+        if not any(
+            (_LIB_DIR / f"libgosqlx.{ext}").is_file() for ext in ("so", "dylib", "dll")
+        ):
+            print(
+                "WARNING: pygosqlx/lib/libgosqlx.{so,dylib,dll} is missing; "
+                "this wheel will not include the native library and pygosqlx "
+                "will raise FileNotFoundError at first use. Build it with "
+                "pkg/cbinding/build.sh before installing, or set "
+                "GOSQLX_LIB_PATH at runtime. See 'Building from source' in "
+                "python/README.md.",
+                file=sys.stderr,
+            )
+        super().run()
+
+
+setup(distclass=BinaryDistribution, cmdclass={"bdist_wheel": PlatformWheel})
diff --git a/python/tests/conftest.py b/python/tests/conftest.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9137f24e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/tests/conftest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+"""Shared pytest configuration for the pygosqlx test suite.
+
+By default the tests import ``pygosqlx`` from this source checkout, so they
+run without installing the package (the shared library is then looked up in
+``pygosqlx/lib/`` or via ``GOSQLX_LIB_PATH``).
+
+Set ``PYGOSQLX_TEST_INSTALLED=1`` to test an installed distribution instead,
+for example a wheel built by cibuildwheel. The source checkout is then kept
+off ``sys.path`` and ``test_installed_wheel.py`` checks that the installed
+package, not the checkout, was imported and that it bundles a loadable
+library. Run pytest with ``--import-mode=importlib`` in that mode so pytest
+does not put the checkout on ``sys.path`` itself.
+"""
+
+import os
+import sys
+
+SOURCE_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
+TEST_INSTALLED = os.environ.get("PYGOSQLX_TEST_INSTALLED") == "1"
+
+if not TEST_INSTALLED and SOURCE_DIR not in sys.path:
+    sys.path.insert(0, SOURCE_DIR)
diff --git a/python/tests/test_dialect_and_analysis.py b/python/tests/test_dialect_and_analysis.py
index fc208a30..0c8a1b1f 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_dialect_and_analysis.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_dialect_and_analysis.py
@@ -6,15 +6,10 @@
 when it is not built (run: cd pkg/cbinding && ./build.sh).
 """
 
-import os
-import platform
-import sys
 import threading
 
 import pytest
 
-sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), ".."))
-
 import pygosqlx
 from pygosqlx import core
 from pygosqlx import (
@@ -34,18 +29,16 @@
 
 
 def _lib_available() -> bool:
-    env_path = os.environ.get("GOSQLX_LIB_PATH")
-    if env_path and os.path.exists(env_path):
-        return True
-    ext = {"linux": "so", "darwin": "dylib", "windows": "dll"}.get(
-        platform.system().lower()
-    )
-    if ext is None:
+    """Check if pygosqlx can locate the GoSQLX shared library.
+
+    Uses the package's own lookup (GOSQLX_LIB_PATH, then the bundled
+    pygosqlx/lib/), so it also works against an installed wheel.
+    """
+    try:
+        core._get_lib_path()
+    except OSError:  # FileNotFoundError or unsupported platform
         return False
-    lib_path = os.path.join(
-        os.path.dirname(__file__), "..", "pygosqlx", "lib", f"libgosqlx.{ext}"
-    )
-    return os.path.exists(lib_path)
+    return True
 
 
 requires_lib = pytest.mark.skipif(
diff --git a/python/tests/test_installed_wheel.py b/python/tests/test_installed_wheel.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..02f36f74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/tests/test_installed_wheel.py
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+"""Checks that only run against an installed pygosqlx distribution.
+
+Enabled with ``PYGOSQLX_TEST_INSTALLED=1`` (the wheel CI sets it, see
+.github/workflows/pygosqlx-release.yml). They fail, rather than skip, if the
+wheel does not bundle a loadable shared library, so a broken wheel cannot
+pass CI by having every library-dependent test skipped.
+"""
+
+import os
+import platform
+
+import pytest
+
+import pygosqlx
+from pygosqlx import core
+
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
+    os.environ.get("PYGOSQLX_TEST_INSTALLED") != "1",
+    reason="set PYGOSQLX_TEST_INSTALLED=1 to test an installed wheel",
+)
+
+_SOURCE_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
+_LIB_NAME = {
+    "linux": "libgosqlx.so",
+    "darwin": "libgosqlx.dylib",
+    "windows": "libgosqlx.dll",
+}.get(platform.system().lower())
+
+
+def test_imported_from_installed_package_not_checkout():
+    pkg_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(pygosqlx.__file__))
+    try:
+        inside_checkout = os.path.commonpath([pkg_dir, _SOURCE_DIR]) == _SOURCE_DIR
+    except ValueError:  # different drives on Windows: cannot be nested
+        inside_checkout = False
+    assert not inside_checkout, (
+        f"pygosqlx was imported from the source checkout ({pkg_dir}), "
+        "not from the installed wheel"
+    )
+
+
+def test_wheel_bundles_shared_library():
+    assert "GOSQLX_LIB_PATH" not in os.environ, (
+        "GOSQLX_LIB_PATH must be unset so the bundled library is used"
+    )
+    assert _LIB_NAME is not None, f"unsupported platform {platform.system()}"
+    bundled = os.path.join(
+        os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(core.__file__)), "lib", _LIB_NAME
+    )
+    assert os.path.isfile(bundled), f"wheel does not bundle {bundled}"
+    assert os.path.samefile(core._get_lib_path(), bundled)
+
+
+def test_bundled_library_loads_and_works():
+    assert pygosqlx.version()
+    assert pygosqlx.validate("SELECT 1")
+    assert pygosqlx.extract_tables("SELECT * FROM users") == ["users"]
+    assert "postgresql" in pygosqlx.dialects()
diff --git a/python/tests/test_integration.py b/python/tests/test_integration.py
index 521f69d7..9041214d 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_integration.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_integration.py
@@ -11,33 +11,24 @@
     GOSQLX_LIB_PATH=/path/to/libgosqlx.dylib python -m pytest tests/test_integration.py -v
 """
 
-import os
-import platform
-import sys
 import threading
 
 import pytest
 
-sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), ".."))
-
 
 def _lib_available() -> bool:
-    """Check if the GoSQLX shared library can be found."""
-    # Check environment variable
-    env_path = os.environ.get("GOSQLX_LIB_PATH")
-    if env_path and os.path.exists(env_path):
-        return True
-
-    # Check bundled location
-    system = platform.system().lower()
-    ext_map = {"linux": "so", "darwin": "dylib", "windows": "dll"}
-    ext = ext_map.get(system)
-    if ext is None:
-        return False
+    """Check if pygosqlx can locate the GoSQLX shared library.
 
-    pkg_dir = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "..", "pygosqlx", "lib")
-    lib_path = os.path.join(pkg_dir, f"libgosqlx.{ext}")
-    return os.path.exists(lib_path)
+    Uses the package's own lookup (GOSQLX_LIB_PATH, then the bundled
+    pygosqlx/lib/), so it also works against an installed wheel.
+    """
+    from pygosqlx import core
+
+    try:
+        core._get_lib_path()
+    except OSError:  # FileNotFoundError or unsupported platform
+        return False
+    return True
 
 
 # Skip all tests in this module if the library is not built
@@ -54,7 +45,6 @@ def _lib_available() -> bool:
 from pygosqlx.core import (
     Metadata,
     ParseResult,
-    QualifiedName,
     ValidationResult,
     extract_columns,
     extract_functions,
diff --git a/python/tests/test_package_version.py b/python/tests/test_package_version.py
index 8f75364c..0034bda9 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_package_version.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_package_version.py
@@ -1,15 +1,13 @@
 """Package metadata consistency tests (no shared library required).
 
-pygosqlx declares its version in three places: pyproject.toml (the source of
-truth used by pip/PyPI), setup.py, and ``pygosqlx.__version__``. These tests
-keep them from drifting apart.
+pygosqlx declares its version in two places: pyproject.toml (the source of
+truth used by pip/PyPI) and ``pygosqlx.__version__``. These tests keep them
+from drifting apart. (setup.py is only a wheel-tagging shim and carries no
+metadata.)
 """
 
 import os
 import re
-import sys
-
-sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), ".."))
 
 import pygosqlx
 
@@ -41,7 +39,8 @@ def test_dunder_version_matches_pyproject():
     assert pygosqlx.__version__ == _pyproject_version()
 
 
-def test_setup_py_version_matches_pyproject():
-    match = re.search(r'version\s*=\s*"([^"]+)"', _read("setup.py"))
-    assert match, "setup.py has no version= argument"
-    assert match.group(1) == _pyproject_version()
+def test_setup_py_carries_no_metadata():
+    """setup.py must not reintroduce a second, drifting copy of the metadata."""
+    text = _read("setup.py")
+    for field in ("version=", "name=", "python_requires=", "classifiers="):
+        assert field not in text, f"setup.py should not set {field!r}"
diff --git a/python/tests/test_types.py b/python/tests/test_types.py
index 460a9c00..190dd5e3 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_types.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_types.py
@@ -5,11 +5,6 @@
 Python with no shared library dependency.
 """
 
-import sys
-import os
-
-sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), ".."))
-
 from pygosqlx.core import (
     Metadata,
     ParseResult,