diff --git a/.github/workflows/packages.yml b/.github/workflows/packages.yml
index ebb380ca..1375a4b6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/packages.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/packages.yml
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ jobs:
       matrix:
         platform: [manylinux, musllinux]
         arch: [x86_64, aarch64, ppc64le]
-        pyver: [cp38, cp39, cp310, cp311, cp312, cp313]
+        pyver: [cp39, cp310, cp311, cp312, cp313]
 
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         arch: [win_amd64]
-        pyver: [cp38, cp39, cp310, cp311, cp312, cp313]
+        pyver: [cp39, cp310, cp311, cp312, cp313]
         package_name: [psycopg2, psycopg2-binary]
 
     defaults:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index ca6a4419..27a2c89a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         include:
-          - {python: "3.8", postgres: "12"}
           - {python: "3.9", postgres: "13"}
           - {python: "3.10", postgres: "14"}
           - {python: "3.11", postgres: "15"}
@@ -24,12 +23,11 @@ jobs:
           - {python: "3.13", postgres: "17"}
 
           # Opposite extremes of the supported Py/PG range, other architecture
-          - {python: "3.8", postgres: "17", architecture: "x86"}
-          - {python: "3.9", postgres: "16", architecture: "x86"}
-          - {python: "3.10", postgres: "15", architecture: "x86"}
-          - {python: "3.11", postgres: "14", architecture: "x86"}
-          - {python: "3.12", postgres: "13", architecture: "x86"}
-          - {python: "3.13", postgres: "12", architecture: "x86"}
+          - {python: "3.9", postgres: "17", architecture: "x86"}
+          - {python: "3.10", postgres: "16", architecture: "x86"}
+          - {python: "3.11", postgres: "15", architecture: "x86"}
+          - {python: "3.12", postgres: "14", architecture: "x86"}
+          - {python: "3.13", postgres: "13", architecture: "x86"}
 
     env:
       PSYCOPG2_TESTDB: postgres
diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 31bb23fd..7120b838 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 Current release
 ---------------
 
+What's new in psycopg 2.9.11
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+- Drop support for Python 3.8.
+
+
 What's new in psycopg 2.9.10
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
diff --git a/doc/src/install.rst b/doc/src/install.rst
index 0ff3f5d5..90174520 100644
--- a/doc/src/install.rst
+++ b/doc/src/install.rst
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ The current `!psycopg2` implementation supports:
 ..
     NOTE: keep consistent with setup.py and the /features/ page.
 
-- Python versions from 3.8 to 3.13
+- Python versions from 3.9 to 3.13
 - PostgreSQL server versions from 7.4 to 17
 - PostgreSQL client library version from 9.1
 
diff --git a/psycopg/python.h b/psycopg/python.h
index f8c2c0aa..5f3ba2c1 100644
--- a/psycopg/python.h
+++ b/psycopg/python.h
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@
 #ifndef PSYCOPG_PYTHON_H
 #define PSYCOPG_PYTHON_H 1
 
-#if PY_VERSION_HEX < 0x03080000
-#error "psycopg requires Python 3.8"
+#if PY_VERSION_HEX < 0x03090000
+#error "psycopg requires Python 3.9"
 #endif
 
 #include <structmember.h>
diff --git a/psycopg/utils.c b/psycopg/utils.c
index 1dfb87d0..93f0636c 100644
--- a/psycopg/utils.c
+++ b/psycopg/utils.c
@@ -395,25 +395,9 @@ psyco_is_main_interp(void)
 #if PY_VERSION_HEX >= 0x030d0000
     /* tested with Python 3.13.0a6 */
     return PyInterpreterState_Get() == PyInterpreterState_Main();
-#elif PY_VERSION_HEX >= 0x03080000
+#else
     /* tested with Python 3.8.0a2 */
     return _PyInterpreterState_Get() == PyInterpreterState_Main();
-#else
-    static PyInterpreterState *main_interp = NULL;  /* Cached reference */
-    PyInterpreterState *interp;
-
-    if (main_interp) {
-        return (main_interp == PyThreadState_Get()->interp);
-    }
-
-    /* No cached value: cache the proper value and try again. */
-    interp = PyInterpreterState_Head();
-    while (interp->next)
-        interp = interp->next;
-
-    main_interp = interp;
-    assert (main_interp);
-    return psyco_is_main_interp();
 #endif
 }
 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index b4cc7c62..0ed11d76 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@ Intended Audience :: Developers
 License :: OSI Approved :: GNU Library or Lesser General Public License (LGPL)
 Programming Language :: Python
 Programming Language :: Python :: 3
-Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8
 Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9
 Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10
 Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11
@@ -524,7 +523,7 @@ setup(name="psycopg2",
       url="https://psycopg.org/",
       license="LGPL with exceptions",
       platforms=["any"],
-      python_requires='>=3.8',
+      python_requires='>=3.9',
       description=readme.split("\n")[0],
       long_description="\n".join(readme.split("\n")[2:]).lstrip(),
       classifiers=[x for x in classifiers.split("\n") if x],
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index c46872dd..5b5905e6 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [tox]
-envlist = {3.8,3.9,3.10,3.11,3.12,3.13}
+envlist = {3.9,3.10,3.11,3.12,3.13}
 
 [testenv]
 commands = make check