diff --git a/.github/workflows/dotnet-build-and-test.yml b/.github/workflows/dotnet-build-and-test.yml
index 2d079f488e..95842e703a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dotnet-build-and-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dotnet-build-and-test.yml
@@ -7,13 +7,6 @@ name: dotnet-build-and-test
 
 on:
   workflow_dispatch:
-  workflow_call:
-    inputs:
-      checkout-ref:
-        description: "Git ref to checkout (e.g., a commit SHA from a PR)"
-        required: false
-        type: string
-        default: ""
   pull_request:
     branches: ["main", "feature*"]
   merge_group:
@@ -46,8 +39,6 @@ jobs:
       cosmosDbChanges: ${{ steps.filter.outputs.cosmosdb }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v6
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ inputs.checkout-ref }}
       - uses: dorny/paths-filter@v3
         id: filter
         with:
@@ -85,7 +76,6 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v6
         with:
-            ref: ${{ inputs.checkout-ref }}
             persist-credentials: false
             sparse-checkout: |
               .
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dotnet-integration-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/dotnet-integration-tests.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..029ec5151d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/dotnet-integration-tests.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+#
+# Dedicated .NET integration tests workflow, called from the manual integration test orchestrator.
+# Only runs integration test matrix entries (net10.0 and net472).
+#
+
+name: dotnet-integration-tests
+
+on:
+  workflow_call:
+    inputs:
+      checkout-ref:
+        description: "Git ref to checkout (e.g., refs/pull/123/head)"
+        required: true
+        type: string
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+  id-token: write
+
+jobs:
+  dotnet-integration-tests:
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        include:
+          - { targetFramework: "net10.0", os: "ubuntu-latest", configuration: Release }
+          - { targetFramework: "net472", os: "windows-latest", configuration: Release }
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
+    environment: integration
+    timeout-minutes: 60
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ inputs.checkout-ref }}
+          persist-credentials: false
+          sparse-checkout: |
+            .
+            .github
+            dotnet
+            python
+            workflow-samples
+
+      - name: Start Azure Cosmos DB Emulator
+        if: runner.os == 'Windows'
+        shell: pwsh
+        run: |
+          Write-Host "Launching Azure Cosmos DB Emulator"
+          Import-Module "$env:ProgramFiles\Azure Cosmos DB Emulator\PSModules\Microsoft.Azure.CosmosDB.Emulator"
+          Start-CosmosDbEmulator -NoUI -Key "C2y6yDjf5/R+ob0N8A7Cgv30VRDJIWEHLM+4QDU5DE2nQ9nDuVTqobD4b8mGGyPMbIZnqyMsEcaGQy67XIw/Jw=="
+          echo "COSMOS_EMULATOR_AVAILABLE=true" >> $env:GITHUB_ENV
+
+      - name: Setup dotnet
+        uses: actions/setup-dotnet@v5.1.0
+        with:
+          global-json-file: ${{ github.workspace }}/dotnet/global.json
+
+      - name: Build dotnet solutions
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          export SOLUTIONS=$(find ./dotnet/ -type f -name "*.slnx" | tr '\n' ' ')
+          for solution in $SOLUTIONS; do
+            dotnet build $solution -c ${{ matrix.configuration }} --warnaserror
+          done
+
+      - name: Azure CLI Login
+        uses: azure/login@v2
+        with:
+          client-id: ${{ secrets.AZURE_CLIENT_ID }}
+          tenant-id: ${{ secrets.AZURE_TENANT_ID }}
+          subscription-id: ${{ secrets.AZURE_SUBSCRIPTION_ID }}
+
+      - name: Set up Durable Task and Azure Functions Integration Test Emulators
+        if: matrix.os == 'ubuntu-latest'
+        uses: ./.github/actions/azure-functions-integration-setup
+
+      - name: Run Integration Tests
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          export INTEGRATION_TEST_PROJECTS=$(find ./dotnet -type f -name "*IntegrationTests.csproj" | tr '\n' ' ')
+          for project in $INTEGRATION_TEST_PROJECTS; do
+            target_frameworks=$(dotnet msbuild $project -getProperty:TargetFrameworks -p:Configuration=${{ matrix.configuration }} -nologo 2>/dev/null | tr -d '\r')
+            if [[ "$target_frameworks" == *"${{ matrix.targetFramework }}"* ]]; then
+              dotnet test -f ${{ matrix.targetFramework }} -c ${{ matrix.configuration }} $project --no-build -v Normal --logger trx --filter "Category!=IntegrationDisabled"
+            else
+              echo "Skipping $project - does not support target framework ${{ matrix.targetFramework }} (supports: $target_frameworks)"
+            fi
+          done
+        env:
+          COSMOSDB_ENDPOINT: https://localhost:8081
+          COSMOSDB_KEY: C2y6yDjf5/R+ob0N8A7Cgv30VRDJIWEHLM+4QDU5DE2nQ9nDuVTqobD4b8mGGyPMbIZnqyMsEcaGQy67XIw/Jw==
+          OpenAI__ApiKey: ${{ secrets.OPENAI__APIKEY }}
+          OpenAI__ChatModelId: ${{ vars.OPENAI__CHATMODELID }}
+          OpenAI__ChatReasoningModelId: ${{ vars.OPENAI__CHATREASONINGMODELID }}
+          AZURE_OPENAI_CHAT_DEPLOYMENT_NAME: ${{ vars.AZUREOPENAI__CHATDEPLOYMENTNAME }}
+          AZURE_OPENAI_ENDPOINT: ${{ vars.AZUREOPENAI__ENDPOINT }}
+          AzureAI__Endpoint: ${{ secrets.AZUREAI__ENDPOINT }}
+          AzureAI__DeploymentName: ${{ vars.AZUREAI__DEPLOYMENTNAME }}
+          AzureAI__BingConnectionId: ${{ vars.AZUREAI__BINGCONECTIONID }}
+          FOUNDRY_PROJECT_ENDPOINT: ${{ vars.FOUNDRY_PROJECT_ENDPOINT }}
+          FOUNDRY_MEDIA_DEPLOYMENT_NAME: ${{ vars.FOUNDRY_MEDIA_DEPLOYMENT_NAME }}
+          FOUNDRY_MODEL_DEPLOYMENT_NAME: ${{ vars.FOUNDRY_MODEL_DEPLOYMENT_NAME }}
+          FOUNDRY_CONNECTION_GROUNDING_TOOL: ${{ vars.FOUNDRY_CONNECTION_GROUNDING_TOOL }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/integration-tests-manual.yml b/.github/workflows/integration-tests-manual.yml
index eb7c9859b4..d3d617fa68 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/integration-tests-manual.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/integration-tests-manual.yml
@@ -2,8 +2,9 @@
 # This workflow allows manually running integration tests against an open PR or a branch.
 # Go to Actions → "Integration Tests (Manual)" → Run workflow → enter a PR number or branch name.
 #
-# It reuses the existing dotnet-build-and-test and python-merge-tests workflows,
+# It calls dedicated integration-only workflows (dotnet-integration-tests and python-integration-tests),
 # passing a ref so they check out and test the correct code.
+# Changed paths are detected here so only the relevant test suites run.
 #
 
 name: Integration Tests (Manual)
@@ -37,6 +38,8 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     outputs:
       checkout-ref: ${{ steps.resolve.outputs.checkout-ref }}
+      dotnet-changes: ${{ steps.detect-changes.outputs.dotnet }}
+      python-changes: ${{ steps.detect-changes.outputs.python }}
     steps:
       - name: Resolve checkout ref
         id: resolve
@@ -45,7 +48,6 @@ jobs:
           PR_NUMBER: ${{ github.event.inputs.pr-number }}
           BRANCH: ${{ github.event.inputs.branch }}
           REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
-          REPO_OWNER: ${{ github.repository_owner }}
         run: |
           if [ -n "$PR_NUMBER" ] && [ -n "$BRANCH" ]; then
             echo "::error::Please provide either a PR number or a branch name, not both."
@@ -63,20 +65,14 @@ jobs:
               exit 1
             fi
 
-            PR_DATA=$(gh pr view "$PR_NUMBER" --repo "$REPO" --json state,headRepository,headRepositoryOwner)
+            PR_DATA=$(gh pr view "$PR_NUMBER" --repo "$REPO" --json state)
             PR_STATE=$(echo "$PR_DATA" | jq -r '.state')
-            HEAD_OWNER=$(echo "$PR_DATA" | jq -r '.headRepositoryOwner.login')
 
             if [ "$PR_STATE" != "OPEN" ]; then
               echo "::error::PR #$PR_NUMBER is not open (state: $PR_STATE)"
               exit 1
             fi
 
-            if [ "$HEAD_OWNER" != "$REPO_OWNER" ]; then
-              echo "::error::PR #$PR_NUMBER is from a fork ($HEAD_OWNER). Running integration tests against fork PRs is not allowed for security reasons."
-              exit 1
-            fi
-
             echo "checkout-ref=refs/pull/$PR_NUMBER/head" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
             echo "Running integration tests for PR #$PR_NUMBER"
           else
@@ -89,10 +85,41 @@ jobs:
             echo "Running integration tests for branch $BRANCH"
           fi
 
+      - name: Detect changed paths
+        id: detect-changes
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          PR_NUMBER: ${{ github.event.inputs.pr-number }}
+          BRANCH: ${{ github.event.inputs.branch }}
+          REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
+        run: |
+          if [ -n "$PR_NUMBER" ]; then
+            CHANGED_FILES=$(gh pr diff "$PR_NUMBER" --repo "$REPO" --name-only)
+          else
+            # For branches, compare against main using the GitHub API
+            CHANGED_FILES=$(gh api "repos/$REPO/compare/main...$BRANCH" --jq '.files[].filename')
+          fi
+
+          DOTNET_CHANGES=false
+          PYTHON_CHANGES=false
+
+          if echo "$CHANGED_FILES" | grep -q '^dotnet/'; then
+            DOTNET_CHANGES=true
+          fi
+
+          if echo "$CHANGED_FILES" | grep -q '^python/'; then
+            PYTHON_CHANGES=true
+          fi
+
+          echo "dotnet=$DOTNET_CHANGES" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "python=$PYTHON_CHANGES" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "Detected changes — dotnet: $DOTNET_CHANGES, python: $PYTHON_CHANGES"
+
   dotnet-integration-tests:
     name: .NET Integration Tests
     needs: resolve-ref
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/dotnet-build-and-test.yml
+    if: needs.resolve-ref.outputs.dotnet-changes == 'true'
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/dotnet-integration-tests.yml
     with:
       checkout-ref: ${{ needs.resolve-ref.outputs.checkout-ref }}
     secrets: inherit
@@ -100,7 +127,8 @@ jobs:
   python-integration-tests:
     name: Python Integration Tests
     needs: resolve-ref
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/python-merge-tests.yml
+    if: needs.resolve-ref.outputs.python-changes == 'true'
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/python-integration-tests.yml
     with:
       checkout-ref: ${{ needs.resolve-ref.outputs.checkout-ref }}
     secrets: inherit
diff --git a/.github/workflows/python-integration-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/python-integration-tests.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..22af38d9c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/python-integration-tests.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+#
+# Dedicated Python integration tests workflow, called from the manual integration test orchestrator.
+# Runs all tests (unit + integration).
+#
+
+name: python-integration-tests
+
+on:
+  workflow_call:
+    inputs:
+      checkout-ref:
+        description: "Git ref to checkout (e.g., refs/pull/123/head)"
+        required: true
+        type: string
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+  id-token: write
+
+env:
+  UV_CACHE_DIR: /tmp/.uv-cache
+  RUN_INTEGRATION_TESTS: "true"
+
+jobs:
+  python-tests-core:
+    name: Python Integration Tests - Core
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    environment: integration
+    timeout-minutes: 60
+    env:
+      UV_PYTHON: "3.10"
+      OPENAI_CHAT_MODEL_ID: ${{ vars.OPENAI__CHATMODELID }}
+      OPENAI_RESPONSES_MODEL_ID: ${{ vars.OPENAI__RESPONSESMODELID }}
+      OPENAI_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.OPENAI__APIKEY }}
+      ANTHROPIC_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY }}
+      ANTHROPIC_CHAT_MODEL_ID: ${{ vars.ANTHROPIC_CHAT_MODEL_ID }}
+      AZURE_OPENAI_CHAT_DEPLOYMENT_NAME: ${{ vars.AZUREOPENAI__CHATDEPLOYMENTNAME }}
+      AZURE_OPENAI_RESPONSES_DEPLOYMENT_NAME: ${{ vars.AZUREOPENAI__RESPONSESDEPLOYMENTNAME }}
+      AZURE_OPENAI_ENDPOINT: ${{ vars.AZUREOPENAI__ENDPOINT }}
+      LOCAL_MCP_URL: ${{ vars.LOCAL_MCP__URL }}
+      FUNCTIONS_WORKER_RUNTIME: "python"
+      DURABLE_TASK_SCHEDULER_CONNECTION_STRING: "Endpoint=http://localhost:8080;TaskHub=default;Authentication=None"
+      AzureWebJobsStorage: "UseDevelopmentStorage=true"
+    defaults:
+      run:
+        working-directory: python
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ inputs.checkout-ref }}
+          persist-credentials: false
+
+      - name: Set up python and install the project
+        id: python-setup
+        uses: ./.github/actions/python-setup
+        with:
+          python-version: "3.10"
+          os: ${{ runner.os }}
+        env:
+          UV_CACHE_DIR: /tmp/.uv-cache
+
+      - name: Azure CLI Login
+        uses: azure/login@v2
+        with:
+          client-id: ${{ secrets.AZURE_CLIENT_ID }}
+          tenant-id: ${{ secrets.AZURE_TENANT_ID }}
+          subscription-id: ${{ secrets.AZURE_SUBSCRIPTION_ID }}
+
+      - name: Set up Azure Functions Integration Test Emulators
+        uses: ./.github/actions/azure-functions-integration-setup
+        id: azure-functions-setup
+
+      - name: Test with pytest
+        run: uv run poe all-tests -n logical --dist loadfile --dist worksteal --timeout=120 --session-timeout=900 --timeout_method thread --retries 2 --retry-delay 5
+
+  python-tests-azure-ai:
+    name: Python Integration Tests - Azure AI
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    environment: integration
+    timeout-minutes: 60
+    env:
+      UV_PYTHON: "3.10"
+      AZURE_AI_PROJECT_ENDPOINT: ${{ secrets.AZUREAI__ENDPOINT }}
+      AZURE_AI_MODEL_DEPLOYMENT_NAME: ${{ vars.AZUREAI__DEPLOYMENTNAME }}
+      LOCAL_MCP_URL: ${{ vars.LOCAL_MCP__URL }}
+    defaults:
+      run:
+        working-directory: python
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ inputs.checkout-ref }}
+          persist-credentials: false
+
+      - name: Set up python and install the project
+        id: python-setup
+        uses: ./.github/actions/python-setup
+        with:
+          python-version: "3.10"
+          os: ${{ runner.os }}
+        env:
+          UV_CACHE_DIR: /tmp/.uv-cache
+
+      - name: Azure CLI Login
+        uses: azure/login@v2
+        with:
+          client-id: ${{ secrets.AZURE_CLIENT_ID }}
+          tenant-id: ${{ secrets.AZURE_TENANT_ID }}
+          subscription-id: ${{ secrets.AZURE_SUBSCRIPTION_ID }}
+
+      - name: Test with pytest
+        timeout-minutes: 15
+        run: uv run --directory packages/azure-ai poe integration-tests -n logical --dist loadfile --dist worksteal --timeout=120 --session-timeout=900 --timeout_method thread --retries 2 --retry-delay 5
+
+  python-integration-tests-check:
+    if: always()
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs:
+      [
+        python-tests-core,
+        python-tests-azure-ai
+      ]
+    steps:
+      - name: Fail workflow if tests failed
+        if: contains(join(needs.*.result, ','), 'failure')
+        uses: actions/github-script@v8
+        with:
+          script: core.setFailed('Integration Tests Failed!')
+
+      - name: Fail workflow if tests cancelled
+        if: contains(join(needs.*.result, ','), 'cancelled')
+        uses: actions/github-script@v8
+        with:
+          script: core.setFailed('Integration Tests Cancelled!')
diff --git a/.github/workflows/python-merge-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/python-merge-tests.yml
index 8704ec56c1..8c0a0189c1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python-merge-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python-merge-tests.yml
@@ -2,13 +2,6 @@ name: Python - Merge - Tests
 
 on:
   workflow_dispatch:
-  workflow_call:
-    inputs:
-      checkout-ref:
-        description: "Git ref to checkout (e.g., a commit SHA from a PR)"
-        required: false
-        type: string
-        default: ""
   pull_request:
     branches: ["main"]
   merge_group:
@@ -17,7 +10,7 @@ on:
     - cron: "0 0 * * *" # Run at midnight UTC daily
 
 permissions:
-  contents: write
+  contents: read
   id-token: write
 
 env:
@@ -33,11 +26,9 @@ jobs:
       contents: read
       pull-requests: read
     outputs:
-      pythonChanges: ${{ steps.filter.outputs.python}}
+      pythonChanges: ${{ steps.filter.outputs.python }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v6
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ inputs.checkout-ref }}
       - uses: dorny/paths-filter@v3
         id: filter
         with:
@@ -85,8 +76,6 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: python
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v6
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ inputs.checkout-ref }}
       - name: Set up python and install the project
         id: python-setup
         uses: ./.github/actions/python-setup
@@ -146,8 +135,6 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: python
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v6
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ inputs.checkout-ref }}
       - name: Set up python and install the project
         id: python-setup
         uses: ./.github/actions/python-setup