diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 92fe57bd..40c43e50 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -105,11 +105,13 @@ jobs:
         with:
           python-version: ${{ matrix.pyversion }}
       
-      - name: Check Python OpenSSL version (see setup_julia)
-        shell: python
-        run: |
-          import ssl
-          assert ssl.OPENSSL_VERSION_INFO < (3, 5)
+      # We previously had to restrict to Julia 1.11 because Julia 1.12 requires OpenSSL
+      # 3.5 but the GitHub runners only ship Python with OpenSSL 3.0.
+      # - name: Check Python OpenSSL version (see setup_julia)
+      #   shell: python
+      #   run: |
+      #     import ssl
+      #     assert ssl.OPENSSL_VERSION_INFO < (3, 5)
 
       - name: Set up uv
         uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v7
@@ -120,9 +122,7 @@ jobs:
         id: setup_julia
         uses: julia-actions/setup-julia@v3
         with:
-          # Python in the GitHub runners ships with OpenSSL 3.0. Julia 1.12 requires
-          # OpenSSL 3.5. Therefore juliapkg requires Julia 1.11 or lower.
-          version: '1.11'
+          version: '1'
 
       - name: Set up test Julia project
         if: ${{ matrix.juliaexe == 'julia' }}
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index bb0aedc8..a043ab06 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## Unreleased
+* Add `pyrepl` and `@pyrepl` to launch a Python REPL.
+* Add `repl_style` preference.
+
 ## 0.9.35 (2026-06-08)
 * Add option `lib` to JuliaCall. Setting this will skip the discovery subprocess.
 * Add support for using a system image in `juliacall` that has `PythonCall` baked in.
diff --git a/docs/src/pythoncall-reference.md b/docs/src/pythoncall-reference.md
index f09d5f12..7ce61000 100644
--- a/docs/src/pythoncall-reference.md
+++ b/docs/src/pythoncall-reference.md
@@ -211,11 +211,13 @@ ispy(x::MyType) = true
 Py(x::MyType) = x.py
 ```
 
-## `@py` and `@pyconst`
+## `@py`, `@pyconst`, `pyrepl` and `@pyrepl`
 
 ```@docs
 @py
 @pyconst
+pyrepl
+@pyrepl
 ```
 
 ## Multi-threading
diff --git a/docs/src/pythoncall.md b/docs/src/pythoncall.md
index 7c604b9a..4b30bb47 100644
--- a/docs/src/pythoncall.md
+++ b/docs/src/pythoncall.md
@@ -289,6 +289,7 @@ variables.
 | `exe` | `JULIA_PYTHONCALL_EXE` | Path to the Python executable, or special values (see below). |
 | `lib` | `JULIA_PYTHONCALL_LIB` | Path to the Python library (usually inferred automatically). |
 | `pickle` | `JULIA_PYTHONCALL_PICKLE` | Pickle module to use for serialization (`pickle` or `dill`). |
+| `repl_style` | `JULIA_PYTHONCALL_REPL_STYLE` | Style of the Python REPL in [`pyrepl`](@ref). |
 
 The easiest way to set these preferences is with the
 [`PreferenceTools`](https://github.com/cjdoris/PreferenceTools.jl)
diff --git a/src/API/exports.jl b/src/API/exports.jl
index 3d476182..59c38d75 100644
--- a/src/API/exports.jl
+++ b/src/API/exports.jl
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # Core
 export @py
 export @pyconst
+export @pyrepl
 export @pyeval
 export @pyexec
 export ispy
@@ -82,6 +83,7 @@ export pypos
 export pypow
 export pyprint
 export pyrange
+export pyrepl
 export pyrepr
 export pyrowlist
 export pyrshift
diff --git a/src/API/functions.jl b/src/API/functions.jl
index ab1258c8..cc96a141 100644
--- a/src/API/functions.jl
+++ b/src/API/functions.jl
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ function pypos end
 function pypow end
 function pyprint end
 function pyrange end
+function pyrepl end
 function pyrepr end
 function pyrowlist end
 function pyrshift end
diff --git a/src/API/macros.jl b/src/API/macros.jl
index c74d191c..42f0f9bb 100644
--- a/src/API/macros.jl
+++ b/src/API/macros.jl
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Core
 macro pyconst end
+macro pyrepl end
 macro pyeval end
 macro pyexec end
 
diff --git a/src/Core/Core.jl b/src/Core/Core.jl
index 1d0773c0..454ca3d7 100644
--- a/src/Core/Core.jl
+++ b/src/Core/Core.jl
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ using Markdown: Markdown
 
 import ..PythonCall:
     @pyconst,
+    @pyrepl,
     @pyeval,
     @pyexec,
     getptr,
@@ -119,6 +120,7 @@ import ..PythonCall:
     pypow,
     pyprint,
     pyrange,
+    pyrepl,
     pyrepr,
     pyrowlist,
     pyrshift,
diff --git a/src/Core/builtins.jl b/src/Core/builtins.jl
index 10b05c8c..ee2156b7 100644
--- a/src/Core/builtins.jl
+++ b/src/Core/builtins.jl
@@ -1199,7 +1199,10 @@ _pyexec_ans(::Type{Nothing}, globals, locals) = nothing
             :(
                 $v = pyconvert(
                     $(types.parameters[i]),
-                    pygetitem(locals, $(string(names[i]))),
+                    @something(
+                        pygetitem(locals, $(string(names[i])), nothing),
+                        pygetitem(globals, $(string(names[i]))),
+                    ),
                 )
             ),
         )
@@ -1427,6 +1430,127 @@ macro pyexec(arg)
     end
 end
 
+"""
+    pyrepl(locals; [style=nothing])
+
+Run a Python REPL, for interacting directly with Python.
+
+Press Ctrl-D to terminate the REPL and return to Julia.
+
+Runs in a scope defined by `locals`. As with [`pyeval`](@ref), if you pass a module,
+then a persistent scope for that module is used. Otherwise you must pass a Python
+`dict`.
+
+The `style` keyword argument selects the REPL implementation:
+- `:code` (default): Standard library `code.interact()`.
+- `:ipython`: IPython REPL via `IPython.embed()` (requires `IPython` to be installed).
+- `:bpython`: bpython REPL via `bpython.embed()` (requires `bpython` to be installed).
+- `:ptpython`: ptpython REPL via `ptpython.embed()` (requires `ptpython` to be installed).
+
+The default style is `:code`, which is always available. You can set
+[the `repl_style` preference](@ref pythoncall-config) to override this default.
+
+For most uses, [`@pyrepl`](@ref) is preferred. It is equivalent to `pyrepl(@__MODULE__)`.
+
+You can use `pyeval("varname", locals)` to retrieve a variable computed during the REPL
+session.
+"""
+function pyrepl(locals; style=nothing)
+    if ispy(locals)
+        locals = Py(locals)
+    elseif locals isa Module
+        locals = get!(pydict, MODULE_GLOBALS, locals)
+    else
+        error("locals must be a Module or a Python dict")
+    end
+    if style === nothing
+        style = Utils.getpref_repl_style()
+    end
+    sys = pyimport("sys")
+    ps1 = pygetattr(sys, "ps1", nothing)
+    ps2 = pygetattr(sys, "ps2", nothing)
+    try
+        if style == :code
+            pyimport("code").interact(banner="", exitmsg="", var"local"=locals)
+        elseif style == :ipython
+            config = pyimport("traitlets.config").Config()
+            config.InteractiveShell.banner1 = ""
+            config.InteractiveShell.banner2 = ""
+            config.InteractiveShell.enable_tip = false
+            locid = "$(@__FILE__):$(@__LINE__)"
+            mod = pyimport("sys").__class__("temp")
+            pyimport("IPython.terminal.embed").InteractiveShellEmbed(
+                _init_location_id=locid,
+                config=config,
+            )(
+                user_ns=locals,
+                local_ns=locals,
+                var"module"=mod,
+                _call_location_id=locid,
+                compile_flags=0,
+            )
+        elseif style == :bpython
+            pyimport("bpython").embed(locals_=locals)
+        elseif style == :ptpython
+            pyimport("ptpython").embed(globals=locals)
+        else
+            error("Unknown REPL style: $style. Supported styles are :code, :ipython, :bpython, :ptpython")
+        end
+    finally
+        for (k, v) in (("ps1", ps1), ("ps2", ps2))
+            if v === nothing
+                if pyhasattr(sys, k)
+                    pydelattr(sys, k)
+                end
+            else
+                pysetattr(sys, k, v)
+            end
+        end
+    end
+    return
+end
+
+"""
+    @pyrepl ...
+
+Run a Python REPL, for interacting directly with Python.
+
+Press Ctrl-D to terminate the REPL and return to Julia.
+
+Runs in a persistent scope tied to the Julia module that this was called from, the same
+as for [`@pyeval`](@ref) and [`@pyexec`](@ref).
+
+Equivalent to `pyrepl(@__MODULE__; ...)`. Keyword arguments are as for [`pyrepl`](@ref).
+
+# Examples
+
+Launch a REPL and use `@pyeval` to retrieve a value.
+
+```julia-repl
+julia> @pyrepl
+>>> x = 12
+>>> # press Ctrl-D to quit
+
+julia> @pyeval "x"
+Python: 12
+```
+
+Launch a REPL and directly set a value in the Main module.
+
+```julia-repl
+julia> @pyrepl
+>>> from juliacall import Main as jl
+>>> jl.x = 123
+>>> # press Ctrl-D to quit
+
+julia> x
+123
+```
+"""
+macro pyrepl(args...)
+    esc(:($pyrepl($__module__; $(args...))))
+end
+
 ### with
 
 """
diff --git a/src/Utils/Utils.jl b/src/Utils/Utils.jl
index a26b3198..c9f67aa1 100644
--- a/src/Utils/Utils.jl
+++ b/src/Utils/Utils.jl
@@ -17,6 +17,20 @@ checkpref(::Type{String}, x::AbstractString) = convert(String, x)
 getpref_exe() = getpref(String, "exe", "JULIA_PYTHONCALL_EXE", "")
 getpref_lib() = getpref(String, "lib", "JULIA_PYTHONCALL_LIB", nothing)
 getpref_pickle() = getpref(String, "pickle", "JULIA_PYTHONCALL_PICKLE", "pickle")
+function getpref_repl_style()
+    pref = getpref(String, "repl_style", "JULIA_PYTHONCALL_REPL_STYLE", "code")
+    if pref == "code"
+        :code
+    elseif pref == "ipython"
+        :ipython
+    elseif pref == "bpython"
+        :bpython
+    elseif pref == "ptpython"
+        :ptpython
+    else
+        error("invalid repl_style preference, expecting `code`, `ipython`, `bpython` or `ptpython`")
+    end
+end
 
 function explode_union(T)
     @nospecialize T