diff --git a/.github/workflows/python.yml b/.github/workflows/python.yml
index 3cb531daa..b4c0a8155 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ jobs:
     if: github.event_name != 'pull_request' || github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name != github.event.pull_request.base.repo.full_name
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        python-version: ['3.8', '3.12']
+        python-version: ['3.9', '3.12']
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 7d05f3f67..a9a72d845 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 
 ## [16.3.0] - unreleased
 
+### General
+- Dropped support for Python 3.8.
+
 ### Added
 - Implemented maximum-likelihood estimation for agent logit QRE, to parallel existing support
   for strategic logit QRE.  Strategic logit QRE function names have been modified to provide
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 3c3ff6424..b71562d38 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ requires = ["setuptools", "wheel", "Cython"]
 [tool.ruff]
 line-length = 99
 indent-width = 4
-target-version = "py38"
+target-version = "py39"
 include = ["setup.py", "src/pygambit/**/*.py", "tests/**/*.py"]
 exclude = ["contrib/**.py"]
 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index a3d66b661..94559c59d 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -111,14 +111,13 @@ def readme():
 
 setuptools.setup(
     name="pygambit",
-    version="16.2.0",
+    version="16.3.0",
     description="The package for computation in game theory",
     long_description=readme(),
     classifiers=[
         "Development Status :: 5 - Production/Stable",
         "Intended Audience :: Science/Research",
         "License :: OSI Approved :: GNU General Public License v2 or later (GPLv2+)",
-        "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8",
         "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9",
         "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10",
         "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11",
@@ -136,7 +135,7 @@ def readme():
         "Source": "https://github.com/gambitproject/gambit",
         "Tracker": "https://github.com/gambitproject/gambit/issues",
     },
-    python_requires=">=3.8",
+    python_requires=">=3.9",
     install_requires=[
         "lxml",  # used for reading/writing GTE files
         "numpy",