diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index d3c1ee78..b2c112ff 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -23,13 +23,14 @@ jobs:
         run: pipx run check-manifest
 
   test:
-    name: ${{ matrix.platform }} (${{ matrix.python-version }})
+    name: ${{ matrix.platform }} (${{ matrix.python-version }}) ${{ matrix.pydantic }}
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.platform }}
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         python-version: [3.8, 3.9, "3.10", "3.11"]
         platform: [ubuntu-latest, macos-latest, windows-latest]
+        pydantic: ["pydantic<2", "pydantic>2"]
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+          pip install "${{ matrix.pydantic }}"
           pip install -e .[json,docs,testing]
 
       - name: Test Main docs build
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index faf99a7e..7b7f65e4 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ dependencies = [
     "appdirs",
     "build>=1",
     "psygnal>=0.3.0",
-    "pydantic<2",
+    "pydantic",
     "tomli-w",
     "tomli; python_version < '3.11'",
     "rich",
diff --git a/src/npe2/_dynamic_plugin.py b/src/npe2/_dynamic_plugin.py
index 6ff8910d..7b98f4fc 100644
--- a/src/npe2/_dynamic_plugin.py
+++ b/src/npe2/_dynamic_plugin.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
     overload,
 )
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel, ValidationError
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import BaseModel, ValidationError
 
 from ._plugin_manager import PluginManager
 from .manifest.contributions import (
diff --git a/src/npe2/_pydantic_compat.py b/src/npe2/_pydantic_compat.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1e093cf1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/npe2/_pydantic_compat.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+try:
+    # pydantic v2
+    from pydantic.v1 import (
+        BaseModel,
+        Extra,
+        Field,
+        PrivateAttr,
+        ValidationError,
+        color,
+        conlist,
+        constr,
+        root_validator,
+        validator,
+    )
+    from pydantic.v1.error_wrappers import ErrorWrapper
+    from pydantic.v1.fields import SHAPE_LIST
+    from pydantic.v1.generics import GenericModel
+    from pydantic.v1.main import ModelMetaclass
+except ImportError:
+    # pydantic v2
+    from pydantic import (
+        BaseModel,
+        Extra,
+        Field,
+        PrivateAttr,
+        ValidationError,
+        color,
+        conlist,
+        constr,
+        root_validator,
+        validator,
+    )
+    from pydantic.error_wrappers import ErrorWrapper
+    from pydantic.fields import SHAPE_LIST
+    from pydantic.generics import GenericModel
+    from pydantic.main import ModelMetaclass
+
+
+__all__ = (
+    "BaseModel",
+    "Extra",
+    "Field",
+    "ValidationError",
+    "root_validator",
+    "validator",
+    "PrivateAttr",
+    "color",
+    "conlist",
+    "constr",
+    "ModelMetaclass",
+    "ErrorWrapper",
+    "GenericModel",
+    "SHAPE_LIST",
+)
diff --git a/src/npe2/implements.py b/src/npe2/implements.py
index 6759e80c..c5260dac 100644
--- a/src/npe2/implements.py
+++ b/src/npe2/implements.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 from inspect import Parameter, Signature
 from typing import Any, Callable, List, Sequence, Type, TypeVar
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import BaseModel
 
 from .manifest import contributions
 
diff --git a/src/npe2/implements.pyi b/src/npe2/implements.pyi
index 61f83fde..54d04a3f 100644
--- a/src/npe2/implements.pyi
+++ b/src/npe2/implements.pyi
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from typing import Any, Callable, TypeVar
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel as BaseModel
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import BaseModel as BaseModel
 
 from .manifest import PluginManifest as PluginManifest
 from .manifest import contributions as contributions
diff --git a/src/npe2/manifest/_bases.py b/src/npe2/manifest/_bases.py
index 630b75bf..ec4d4368 100644
--- a/src/npe2/manifest/_bases.py
+++ b/src/npe2/manifest/_bases.py
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
 from typing import Callable, Dict, Optional, Union
 
 import yaml
-from pydantic import BaseModel, PrivateAttr
+
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import BaseModel, PrivateAttr
 
 
 class ImportExportModel(BaseModel):
diff --git a/src/npe2/manifest/_package_metadata.py b/src/npe2/manifest/_package_metadata.py
index d2af3c13..ffe24f8b 100644
--- a/src/npe2/manifest/_package_metadata.py
+++ b/src/npe2/manifest/_package_metadata.py
@@ -1,8 +1,14 @@
 from importlib import metadata
 from typing import Dict, List, Literal, Optional, Union
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel, Extra, Field, constr, root_validator
-from pydantic.fields import SHAPE_LIST
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import (
+    SHAPE_LIST,
+    BaseModel,
+    Extra,
+    Field,
+    constr,
+    root_validator,
+)
 
 # https://packaging.python.org/specifications/core-metadata/
 
diff --git a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_commands.py b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_commands.py
index 07a34fce..5bcc1d6c 100644
--- a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_commands.py
+++ b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_commands.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Optional, Union
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel, Extra, Field, validator
-
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import BaseModel, Extra, Field, validator
 from npe2.manifest import _validators
 from npe2.types import PythonName
 
diff --git a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_configuration.py b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_configuration.py
index d5ec93ea..0a9f03c3 100644
--- a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_configuration.py
+++ b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_configuration.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from typing import Any, Dict, List, Literal, Optional, Union
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, conlist, root_validator, validator
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import BaseModel, Field, conlist, root_validator, validator
 
 from ._json_schema import (
     Draft07JsonSchema,
diff --git a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_contributions.py b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_contributions.py
index 05f5a3c8..fc956925 100644
--- a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_contributions.py
+++ b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_contributions.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from typing import Dict, List, Optional
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, validator
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import BaseModel, Field, validator
 
 from ._commands import CommandContribution
 from ._configuration import ConfigurationContribution
diff --git a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_icon.py b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_icon.py
index 8043695c..ff13a32a 100644
--- a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_icon.py
+++ b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_icon.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from typing import Optional
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import BaseModel
 
 
 class Icon(BaseModel):
diff --git a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_json_schema.py b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_json_schema.py
index 47a9f0fd..0bb44831 100644
--- a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_json_schema.py
+++ b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_json_schema.py
@@ -2,7 +2,14 @@
 
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Dict, List, Literal, Optional, Type, Union
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, PrivateAttr, conlist, root_validator, validator
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import (
+    BaseModel,
+    Field,
+    PrivateAttr,
+    conlist,
+    root_validator,
+    validator,
+)
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from jsonschema.exceptions import ValidationError
diff --git a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_keybindings.py b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_keybindings.py
index b8d1986e..9d696c89 100644
--- a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_keybindings.py
+++ b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_keybindings.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 from typing import Optional
 
-from pydantic.fields import Field
-
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import Field
 from npe2.manifest.utils import Executable
 
 
diff --git a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_menus.py b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_menus.py
index 59d19a66..99f592b8 100644
--- a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_menus.py
+++ b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_menus.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 from typing import Optional, Union
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
-
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import BaseModel, Field
 from npe2.manifest.utils import Executable
 
 
diff --git a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_readers.py b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_readers.py
index 93c7bb2d..0135edd1 100644
--- a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_readers.py
+++ b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_readers.py
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 from functools import wraps
 from typing import List, Optional
 
-from pydantic import Extra, Field
-
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import Extra, Field
 from npe2.manifest.utils import Executable, v2_to_v1
 from npe2.types import ReaderFunction
 
diff --git a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_sample_data.py b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_sample_data.py
index af162a11..05917a24 100644
--- a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_sample_data.py
+++ b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_sample_data.py
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, List, Optional, Union
 
-from pydantic.fields import Field
-from pydantic.generics import GenericModel
-
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import Field, GenericModel
 from npe2.manifest.utils import Executable
 from npe2.types import LayerData
 
diff --git a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_submenu.py b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_submenu.py
index 2ba486f3..0eea3180 100644
--- a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_submenu.py
+++ b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_submenu.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 from typing import Optional, Union
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel
-from pydantic.fields import Field
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import BaseModel, Field
 
 from ._icon import Icon
 
diff --git a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_themes.py b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_themes.py
index 8085c2b3..2bf34241 100644
--- a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_themes.py
+++ b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_themes.py
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 import sys
 from typing import Literal, Optional, Union
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel, color
-from pydantic.fields import Field
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import BaseModel, Field, color
 
 
 # pydantic doesn't implement color equality?
diff --git a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_widgets.py b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_widgets.py
index 4929f6b4..cdd7edcf 100644
--- a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_widgets.py
+++ b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_widgets.py
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@
 
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Callable, Optional
 
-from pydantic import Extra, Field
-
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import Extra, Field
 from npe2.manifest.utils import Executable
 from npe2.types import Widget
 
diff --git a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_writers.py b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_writers.py
index 395e6fc7..00aea179 100644
--- a/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_writers.py
+++ b/src/npe2/manifest/contributions/_writers.py
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 from enum import Enum
 from typing import List, Tuple
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel, Extra, Field, validator
-
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import BaseModel, Extra, Field, validator
 from npe2.manifest.utils import Executable
 
 
diff --git a/src/npe2/manifest/schema.py b/src/npe2/manifest/schema.py
index b8f6115b..a4f9aede 100644
--- a/src/npe2/manifest/schema.py
+++ b/src/npe2/manifest/schema.py
@@ -8,10 +8,16 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Iterator, List, Literal, NamedTuple, Optional, Sequence, Union
 
-from pydantic import Extra, Field, ValidationError, root_validator, validator
-from pydantic.error_wrappers import ErrorWrapper
-from pydantic.main import BaseModel, ModelMetaclass
-
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import (
+    BaseModel,
+    ErrorWrapper,
+    Extra,
+    Field,
+    ModelMetaclass,
+    ValidationError,
+    root_validator,
+    validator,
+)
 from npe2.types import PythonName
 
 from . import _validators
@@ -438,9 +444,8 @@ def _from_package_or_name(
             If the name does not resolve to either a distribution name or a filename.
 
         """
-        from pydantic import ValidationError
-
         from npe2 import PluginManifest
+        from npe2._pydantic_compat import ValidationError
 
         try:
             return PluginManifest.from_file(package_or_filename)
diff --git a/src/npe2/manifest/utils.py b/src/npe2/manifest/utils.py
index bdbabf7b..b2c9830a 100644
--- a/src/npe2/manifest/utils.py
+++ b/src/npe2/manifest/utils.py
@@ -18,9 +18,7 @@
     Union,
 )
 
-from pydantic import PrivateAttr
-from pydantic.generics import GenericModel
-
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import GenericModel, PrivateAttr
 from npe2.types import PythonName
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
diff --git a/tests/test_manifest.py b/tests/test_manifest.py
index 70addc04..eb6576c6 100644
--- a/tests/test_manifest.py
+++ b/tests/test_manifest.py
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
 import pytest
-from pydantic import ValidationError
 
 from npe2 import PluginManifest
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import ValidationError
 from npe2.manifest import PackageMetadata
 from npe2.manifest.schema import ENTRY_POINT
 
diff --git a/tests/test_validations.py b/tests/test_validations.py
index d5a8e0a3..0fa2a23c 100644
--- a/tests/test_validations.py
+++ b/tests/test_validations.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import json
 
 import pytest
-from pydantic import ValidationError
 
 from npe2 import PluginManifest
+from npe2._pydantic_compat import ValidationError
 from npe2.manifest import _validators
 
 # the docstrings here are used to assert the validation error that is printed.