diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Build/2026-02-10-18-26-04.gh-issue-144679.FIH73W.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Build/2026-02-10-18-26-04.gh-issue-144679.FIH73W.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..ebcfda54da39a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Build/2026-02-10-18-26-04.gh-issue-144679.FIH73W.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+When building with Visual Studio 2026 (Version 18), use PlatformToolSet v145
+by default. Patch by Chris Eibl.
diff --git a/PCbuild/python.props b/PCbuild/python.props
index 7840e2a1cfc8e2..58240539ba5bac 100644
--- a/PCbuild/python.props
+++ b/PCbuild/python.props
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
     We set BasePlatformToolset for ICC's benefit, it's otherwise ignored.
     -->
-    <BasePlatformToolset Condition="'$(BasePlatformToolset)' == '' and '$(VisualStudioVersion)' == '18.0'">v143</BasePlatformToolset>
+    <BasePlatformToolset Condition="'$(BasePlatformToolset)' == '' and '$(VisualStudioVersion)' == '18.0'">v145</BasePlatformToolset>
     <BasePlatformToolset Condition="'$(BasePlatformToolset)' == '' and '$(VisualStudioVersion)' == '17.0'">v143</BasePlatformToolset>
     <BasePlatformToolset Condition="'$(BasePlatformToolset)' == '' and '$(VisualStudioVersion)' == '16.0'">v142</BasePlatformToolset>
     <BasePlatformToolset Condition="'$(BasePlatformToolset)' == '' and ('$(MSBuildToolsVersion)' == '15.0' or '$(VisualStudioVersion)' == '15.0')">v141</BasePlatformToolset>
diff --git a/PCbuild/pythoncore.vcxproj b/PCbuild/pythoncore.vcxproj
index 5e7e739dc5f787..d3bfbf8cf18b09 100644
--- a/PCbuild/pythoncore.vcxproj
+++ b/PCbuild/pythoncore.vcxproj
@@ -728,7 +728,7 @@
       </ClCompile>
     </ItemGroup>
   </Target>
-  <Target Name="_WarnAboutToolset" BeforeTargets="PrepareForBuild" Condition="$(PlatformToolset) != 'v141' and $(PlatformToolset) != 'v142' and $(PlatformToolset) != 'v143'">
+  <Target Name="_WarnAboutToolset" BeforeTargets="PrepareForBuild" Condition="$(PlatformToolset) != 'v141' and $(PlatformToolset) != 'v142' and $(PlatformToolset) != 'v143' and $(PlatformToolset) != 'v145'">
     <Warning Text="Toolset $(PlatformToolset) is not used for official builds. Your build may have errors or incompatibilities." />
   </Target>
   <Target Name="_WarnAboutZlib" BeforeTargets="PrepareForBuild" Condition="!$(IncludeExternals)">