diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 670a375d..55204c5d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ jobs:
             - name: Install pnpm
               uses: pnpm/action-setup@v6
               with:
-                  version: 10.33.0
+                  version: 11.21.0
 
             - name: Use Node.js
               uses: actions/setup-node@v6
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ jobs:
             - name: Install pnpm
               uses: pnpm/action-setup@v6
               with:
-                  version: 10.33.0
+                  version: 11.21.0
 
             - name: Use Node.js
               uses: actions/setup-node@v6
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ jobs:
             - name: Install pnpm
               uses: pnpm/action-setup@v6
               with:
-                  version: 10.33.0
+                  version: 11.21.0
 
             - name: Use Node.js
               uses: actions/setup-node@v6
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ jobs:
             - name: Install pnpm
               uses: pnpm/action-setup@v6
               with:
-                  version: 10.33.0
+                  version: 11.21.0
 
             - name: Use Node.js
               uses: actions/setup-node@v6
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ jobs:
             - name: Install pnpm
               uses: pnpm/action-setup@v6
               with:
-                  version: 10.33.0
+                  version: 11.21.0
 
             - name: Use Node.js
               uses: actions/setup-node@v6
diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy_examples.yml b/.github/workflows/deploy_examples.yml
index 44256bd7..92d8e2fd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy_examples.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy_examples.yml
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ jobs:
             - name: Install pnpm
               uses: pnpm/action-setup@v6
               with:
-                  version: 10.33.0
+                  version: 11.21.0
             - name: Set up Node
               uses: actions/setup-node@v6
               with:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish.yml b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
index 716aaa3b..18b4a45c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ jobs:
             - name: Install pnpm
               uses: pnpm/action-setup@v6
               with:
-                  version: 10.33.0
+                  version: 11.21.0
 
             - name: Use Node.js
               uses: actions/setup-node@v6
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 438a1b8f..c864c242 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ jobs:
 
             - uses: pnpm/action-setup@v6
               with:
-                  version: 10.33.0
+                  version: 11.21.0
 
             - uses: actions/setup-node@v6
               with:
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index b753bd56..12e0bbc5 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -32,6 +32,6 @@
     },
     "volta": {
         "node": "24.15.0",
-        "pnpm": "10.33.0"
+        "pnpm": "11.21.0"
     }
 }
diff --git a/pnpm-workspace.yaml b/pnpm-workspace.yaml
index ea87e48f..db3a0b79 100644
--- a/pnpm-workspace.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-workspace.yaml
@@ -3,6 +3,16 @@ packages:
     - 'site/**'
     - '!**test**'
 
+# These packages ship prebuilt binaries; their install scripts were already
+# skipped under pnpm 10, and pnpm 11 requires an explicit decision.
+allowBuilds:
+    '@parcel/watcher': false
+    '@swc/core': false
+    esbuild: false
+    lmdb: false
+    msgpackr-extract: false
+    sharp: false
+
 minimumReleaseAge: 10080
 minimumReleaseAgeExclude:
     - '@alleninstitute/*'