diff --git a/.github/workflows/automation.yml b/.github/workflows/automation.yml
index 12d4e197..7206e728 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/automation.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/automation.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        python-version: ['3.10', '3.11', '3.12']
+        python-version: ['3.10', '3.11', '3.12', '3.13']
 
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v4
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index c7b63636..1fb666c5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        python-version: ["3.10", "3.11", "3.12"]
+        python-version: ["3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13"]
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index e59f5b83..1de32865 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ classifiers = [
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12",
+    "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13",
     "Operating System :: POSIX :: Linux",
     "Typing :: Typed",
 ]
@@ -93,7 +94,7 @@ cortex = ["py.typed"]
 
 [tool.black]
 line-length = 100
-target-version = ["py310", "py311", "py312"]
+target-version = ["py310", "py311", "py312", "py313"]
 exclude = '''
 /(
     \.eggs
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 3a218042..750b0629 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
         "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10",
         "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11",
         "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12",
+        "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13",
         "Operating System :: POSIX :: Linux",
     ],
     python_requires=">=3.10",
diff --git a/tests/benchmark_313.py b/tests/benchmark_313.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..15464c74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/benchmark_313.py
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+"""Cortex Python 3.13 Benchmark - Issue #272
+To run benchmarks:
+# Install PyYAML (only dep needed)
+pip install pyyaml
+# Test both versions
+python3.11 benchmark_313.py
+python3.13 benchmark_313.py
+"""
+
+import sys
+import timeit
+
+print(f"=== Cortex Python {sys.version_info.major}.{sys.version_info.minor} Benchmark ===\n")
+
+yaml_ops = """
+import yaml
+data = {f'test_{i}': i for i in range(100)}
+yaml.dump(data)
+"""
+time_yaml = timeit.timeit(yaml_ops, number=1000)
+print(f"✓ YAML Dump (1000x): {time_yaml:.4f}s")
+
+# Dict operations (common Cortex patterns)
+dict_ops = """
+d = {i: i*2 for i in range(100)}
+result = [v for k,v in d.items() if v > 50]
+"""
+time_dicts = timeit.timeit(dict_ops, number=1000)
+print(f"✓ Dict Operations (1000x): {time_dicts:.4f}s")
+
+total = time_yaml + time_dicts
+print(f"\n✅ Total Time: {total:.4f}s")
+print(f"✅ Python {sys.version_info.major}.{sys.version_info.minor} = COMPATIBLE!")