diff --git a/templates/tools/dockerfile/php7_deps.include b/templates/tools/dockerfile/php7_deps.include
index f75172c9c5d..c60730712e0 100644
--- a/templates/tools/dockerfile/php7_deps.include
+++ b/templates/tools/dockerfile/php7_deps.include
@@ -1,26 +1,4 @@
 #=================
 # PHP7 dependencies
 
-# PHP specific dependencies
-RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y ${'\\'}
-  libbison-dev ${'\\'}
-  libcurl4-openssl-dev ${'\\'}
-  libgmp-dev ${'\\'}
-  libgmp3-dev ${'\\'}
-  libssl-dev ${'\\'}
-  libxml2-dev ${'\\'}
-  re2c ${'\\'}
-  zlib1g-dev ${'\\'}
-  && apt-get clean
-
-# Compile PHP7 from source
-RUN git clone https://github.com/php/php-src /var/local/git/php-src
-RUN cd /var/local/git/php-src ${'\\'}
-  && git checkout PHP-7.2.34 ${'\\'}
-  && ./buildconf --force ${'\\'}
-  && ./configure ${'\\'}
-  --with-gmp ${'\\'}
-  --with-openssl ${'\\'}
-  --with-zlib ${'\\'}
-  && make -j$(nproc) ${'\\'}
-  && make install
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y php7.4 php-pear && apt-get clean
diff --git a/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_x64/Dockerfile.template b/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_arm64/Dockerfile.template
similarity index 78%
rename from templates/tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_x64/Dockerfile.template
rename to templates/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_arm64/Dockerfile.template
index 74e16519751..d341b3f36ce 100644
--- a/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_x64/Dockerfile.template
+++ b/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_arm64/Dockerfile.template
@@ -14,14 +14,14 @@
   # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
   # limitations under the License.
   
-  FROM debian:11
+  FROM arm64v8/debian:12
   
   <%include file="../../apt_get_basic.include"/>
-  <%include file="../../run_tests_python_deps.include"/>
-  <%include file="../../php7_deps.include"/>
+  <%include file="../../run_tests_python_deps_pep668.include"/>
+  RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y php8.2 php8.2-dev php-pear && apt-get clean
   <%include file="../../php_valgrind.include"/>
   <%include file="../../cmake.include"/>
-  <%include file="../../ccache.include"/>
+  RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y ccache && apt-get clean
   <%include file="../../run_tests_addons.include"/>
   # Define the default command.
   CMD ["bash"]
diff --git a/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_arm64/Dockerfile.template b/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_x64/Dockerfile.template
similarity index 78%
rename from templates/tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_arm64/Dockerfile.template
rename to templates/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_x64/Dockerfile.template
index 5c87f782db0..eed816a7eb9 100644
--- a/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_arm64/Dockerfile.template
+++ b/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_x64/Dockerfile.template
@@ -14,14 +14,14 @@
   # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
   # limitations under the License.
   
-  FROM arm64v8/debian:11
+  FROM debian:12
   
   <%include file="../../apt_get_basic.include"/>
-  <%include file="../../run_tests_python_deps.include"/>
-  <%include file="../../php7_deps.include"/>
+  <%include file="../../run_tests_python_deps_pep668.include"/>
+  RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y php8.2 php8.2-dev php-pear && apt-get clean
   <%include file="../../php_valgrind.include"/>
   <%include file="../../cmake.include"/>
-  <%include file="../../ccache.include"/>
+  RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y ccache && apt-get clean
   <%include file="../../run_tests_addons.include"/>
   # Define the default command.
   CMD ["bash"]
diff --git a/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/php73_zts_debian11_x64/Dockerfile.template b/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_zts_debian12_x64/Dockerfile.template
similarity index 70%
rename from templates/tools/dockerfile/test/php73_zts_debian11_x64/Dockerfile.template
rename to templates/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_zts_debian12_x64/Dockerfile.template
index 946e526820f..82f18af83d4 100644
--- a/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/php73_zts_debian11_x64/Dockerfile.template
+++ b/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_zts_debian12_x64/Dockerfile.template
@@ -14,8 +14,7 @@
   # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
   # limitations under the License.
   
-  # debian 11 = "bullseye"
-  FROM php:7.3-zts-bullseye
+  FROM php:8-zts-bookworm
   
   RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y ${'\\'}
     autoconf automake build-essential git libtool curl ${'\\'}
@@ -23,22 +22,10 @@
     && apt-get clean
   
   <%include file="../../git_avoid_dubious_ownership_error.include"/>
-
-  # install php pthreads from source
-  # TODO(jtattermusch): is this really needed?
-  # See https://github.com/grpc/grpc/pull/23056
-  WORKDIR /tmp
-  RUN git clone https://github.com/krakjoe/pthreads
-  RUN cd pthreads && ${'\\'}
-    phpize && ${'\\'}
-    ./configure && ${'\\'}
-    make && ${'\\'}
-    make install
-
-  <%include file="../../run_tests_python_deps.include"/>
+  <%include file="../../run_tests_python_deps_pep668.include"/>
   <%include file="../../php_common_deps.include"/>
   <%include file="../../cmake.include"/>
-  <%include file="../../ccache.include"/>
+  RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y ccache && apt-get clean
   <%include file="../../run_tests_addons.include"/>
   <%include file="../../xds_interop_deps.include"/>
 
diff --git a/tools/bazelify_tests/dockerimage_current_versions.bzl b/tools/bazelify_tests/dockerimage_current_versions.bzl
index f60d37e5d5b..65e34725123 100644
--- a/tools/bazelify_tests/dockerimage_current_versions.bzl
+++ b/tools/bazelify_tests/dockerimage_current_versions.bzl
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ DOCKERIMAGE_CURRENT_VERSIONS = {
     "tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_dotnet31_x64.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/csharp_dotnet31_x64@sha256:b7afb4aa2f4ac65df757eb42fa78ee105fdde856feda0a9deeb5afedf87a5410",
     "tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_dotnet5_x64.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/csharp_dotnet5_x64@sha256:004e02902825b54c7f0d60eaed0819acf6f10c24853bf8f793001114e9969abd",
     "tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_ubuntu2204_x64.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/csharp_ubuntu2204_x64@sha256:a439f2ccbc666f231e511a8e58eb7f66a3de4820a4d5aded1e62275cf8ac49f0",
-    "tools/dockerfile/distribtest/php7_debian11_x64.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/php7_debian11_x64@sha256:e74902d75c5d0afdfb29f2f6200ef3e1b406cf4975c6a3a9a058ab101b004c7e",
+    "tools/dockerfile/distribtest/php8_debian12_x64.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/php8_debian12_x64@sha256:42399d061f234ee0ef79b333555db0e11ca4f106bb1d49276abf99c459c104f0",
     "tools/dockerfile/distribtest/python_alpine_x64.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/python_alpine_x64@sha256:d7232ef55c81d125b66899b908668156638cd2cfc5b119083eceacb6018da7e4",
     "tools/dockerfile/distribtest/python_arch_x64.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/python_arch_x64@sha256:2c1adadeb010e107132cf5137f32a2d18727796631245b110cc74f69c07502e1",
     "tools/dockerfile/distribtest/python_bullseye_x64.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/python_bullseye_x64@sha256:80553398f0c59c1dc186052f4f2deaf18fea582f6d1d166eec6ea298639031fb",
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ DOCKERIMAGE_CURRENT_VERSIONS = {
     "tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_java.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/grpc_interop_java@sha256:6c0319bbbf77d6c198f61adf92d205efd33cbd2cccaf914a1af8f2dcb61b16a1",
     "tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_node.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/grpc_interop_node@sha256:549a7683cc024fb7ffee807eaa8acb6c2d5a5dd0184a2590f91852804eea39a4",
     "tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_nodepurejs.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/grpc_interop_nodepurejs@sha256:62f148c4e8b031d02d445e993a840c53eb61566ad0bc007f1d89a3387d1f73a7",
-    "tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_php7.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/grpc_interop_php7@sha256:f1d2075309ae93c1da7ed3230899ac934ce8f0cdb0bc3694c6b1a9cf8a314ef3",
+    "tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_php7.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/grpc_interop_php7@sha256:eea8738f0aa1b6bbd56b847cbdfd0e0b98a46306d86db2494557f25c334abe4d",
     "tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_python.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/grpc_interop_python@sha256:b3e62554f360f18672711affb79c509a80083a1ddb8e5221bd3b9823a596d0fb",
     "tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_pythonasyncio.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/grpc_interop_pythonasyncio@sha256:c349c6e92d32f42e619134ef34d6d33e33e0aa106ea66388b2c22e4231a7baa6",
     "tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_ruby.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/grpc_interop_ruby@sha256:ce9539e9068b2597d5d43dc2bb7df17b84fd8192759cf7a02132b676ca6fa4ed",
@@ -103,9 +103,9 @@ DOCKERIMAGE_CURRENT_VERSIONS = {
     "tools/dockerfile/test/cxx_gcc_12_x64.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/cxx_gcc_12_x64@sha256:bbdfe66f27b964f9bfd526646b94a19d904fea52bdb244f32fd4355cc8c4551f",
     "tools/dockerfile/test/cxx_gcc_7_x64.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/cxx_gcc_7_x64@sha256:e1925d7f08a7f167c6aab2f8284a3f13b7f3830ba38876e6de1dee2ffd3c7d2f",
     "tools/dockerfile/test/cxx_gcc_8_x64.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/cxx_gcc_8_x64@sha256:19511527fc3da78344a7ece5f1cf8ba06d928202ba5b3ca039dccb86d1a417fc",
-    "tools/dockerfile/test/php73_zts_debian11_x64.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/php73_zts_debian11_x64@sha256:186a96566a9c11adfb198309431086bdb02421121c262a2bf0166e3e9b21fb37",
-    "tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_arm64.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/php7_debian11_arm64@sha256:7ee21f253a2ddd255f4f6779cd19818eec6524e78b0bf0a7765339e4aa7347c3",
-    "tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_x64.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/php7_debian11_x64@sha256:34b02fd66832ebf49601bef95632753e6710a75755401c21332d50056ccd52d2",
+    "tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_arm64.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/php8_debian12_arm64@sha256:c220e72b415ad194a41cf5640fe360b9358df1dd34553c8d8e6bfd4a82e032b3",
+    "tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_x64.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/php8_debian12_x64@sha256:18bf37f80415ce3ddd48261b0ef97b421a85646cc15bd21348e19b5fd7b191d6",
+    "tools/dockerfile/test/php8_zts_debian12_x64.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/php8_zts_debian12_x64@sha256:911241a4e38046b603245d56a1ca9491e81990ca9dedb0671e41b15387e3d2ee",
     "tools/dockerfile/test/python_alpine_x64.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/python_alpine_x64@sha256:0a4e3c166fb676d85ea26d9fffec3858d59a2f243a3acc1c2f9bd293a590a98c",
     "tools/dockerfile/test/python_debian11_default_arm64.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/python_debian11_default_arm64@sha256:fccca33a655c7aa89dd7ebd9492cbcc1f636bd2a004cd939d1982cfce3d68326",
     "tools/dockerfile/test/python_debian11_default_x64.current_version": "docker://us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/python_debian11_default_x64@sha256:8beca964d6bbb80a8cb4c4628c25e9702b007c97113e74e589fa50c15000738d",
diff --git a/tools/bazelify_tests/test/BUILD b/tools/bazelify_tests/test/BUILD
index dee1d5172aa..9918e881804 100644
--- a/tools/bazelify_tests/test/BUILD
+++ b/tools/bazelify_tests/test/BUILD
@@ -91,18 +91,18 @@ grpc_run_tests_harness_test(
     name = "runtests_php_linux_dbg",
     size = "enormous",
     args = [
-        "-l php7 -c dbg",
+        "-l php8 -c dbg",
     ],
-    docker_image_version = "tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_x64.current_version",
+    docker_image_version = "tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_x64.current_version",
 )
 
 grpc_run_tests_harness_test(
     name = "runtests_php_linux_opt",
     size = "enormous",
     args = [
-        "-l php7 -c opt",
+        "-l php8 -c opt",
     ],
-    docker_image_version = "tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_x64.current_version",
+    docker_image_version = "tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_x64.current_version",
 )
 
 # Python
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ grpc_build_artifact_task(
 grpc_build_artifact_task(
     name = "artifact_php_linux_x64",
     build_script = "build_artifact_php_linux.sh",
-    docker_image_version = "tools/dockerfile/test/php73_zts_debian11_x64.current_version",
+    docker_image_version = "tools/dockerfile/test/php8_zts_debian12_x64.current_version",
 )
 
 # Python artifact build tasks
@@ -374,20 +374,20 @@ test_suite(
 # PHP distribtests
 
 grpc_run_distribtest_test(
-    name = "distribtest_php_linux_x64_debian11",
+    name = "distribtest_php_linux_x64_debian12",
     size = "enormous",
     artifact_deps = [
         "artifact_php_linux_x64",
     ],
     build_script = "run_distribtest_php_linux.sh",
-    docker_image_version = "tools/dockerfile/distribtest/php7_debian11_x64.current_version",
+    docker_image_version = "tools/dockerfile/distribtest/php8_debian12_x64.current_version",
     docker_run_as_root = True,
 )
 
 test_suite(
     name = "php_distribtests_linux",
     tests = [
-        ":distribtest_php_linux_x64_debian11",
+        ":distribtest_php_linux_x64_debian12",
     ],
 )
 
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/php7_debian11_x64.current_version b/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/php7_debian11_x64.current_version
deleted file mode 100644
index 23c999b4425..00000000000
--- a/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/php7_debian11_x64.current_version
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/php7_debian11_x64:0892cfafba20a8acae4db3272c4497c41cd627d2@sha256:e74902d75c5d0afdfb29f2f6200ef3e1b406cf4975c6a3a9a058ab101b004c7e
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/php8_debian12_x64.current_version b/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/php8_debian12_x64.current_version
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..641d3a0d814
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/php8_debian12_x64.current_version
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/php8_debian12_x64:ad7c918a103618ebc381e741e3c2e527cc22ba85@sha256:42399d061f234ee0ef79b333555db0e11ca4f106bb1d49276abf99c459c104f0
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/php7_debian11_x64/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/php8_debian12_x64/Dockerfile
similarity index 83%
rename from tools/dockerfile/distribtest/php7_debian11_x64/Dockerfile
rename to tools/dockerfile/distribtest/php8_debian12_x64/Dockerfile
index 8ca8be05257..a189e297e5e 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/php7_debian11_x64/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/php8_debian12_x64/Dockerfile
@@ -12,10 +12,10 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-FROM debian:11
+FROM debian:12
 
-RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y php php-dev php-pear wget zlib1g-dev
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y php8.2 php8.2-dev php-pear wget zlib1g-dev
 
 RUN wget https://phar.phpunit.de/phpunit-8.5.8.phar && \
   mv phpunit-8.5.8.phar /usr/local/bin/phpunit && \
-  chmod +x /usr/local/bin/phpunit
+  chmod +x /usr/local/bin/phpunit
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_php7.current_version b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_php7.current_version
index dea17b85e2e..b5cb70fe54d 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_php7.current_version
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_php7.current_version
@@ -1 +1 @@
-us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/grpc_interop_php7:89c31e58498f75173cfe6252758fb2dd1747bb16@sha256:f1d2075309ae93c1da7ed3230899ac934ce8f0cdb0bc3694c6b1a9cf8a314ef3
\ No newline at end of file
+us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/grpc_interop_php7:014312df740258cb5c282375a550a7d075192c7e@sha256:eea8738f0aa1b6bbd56b847cbdfd0e0b98a46306d86db2494557f25c334abe4d
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_php7/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_php7/Dockerfile
index cf9bbfc3d5c..505a859ad77 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_php7/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_php7/Dockerfile
@@ -90,29 +90,7 @@ RUN python3 -m pip install --upgrade google-auth==1.23.0 google-api-python-clien
 #=================
 # PHP7 dependencies
 
-# PHP specific dependencies
-RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
-  libbison-dev \
-  libcurl4-openssl-dev \
-  libgmp-dev \
-  libgmp3-dev \
-  libssl-dev \
-  libxml2-dev \
-  re2c \
-  zlib1g-dev \
-  && apt-get clean
-
-# Compile PHP7 from source
-RUN git clone https://github.com/php/php-src /var/local/git/php-src
-RUN cd /var/local/git/php-src \
-  && git checkout PHP-7.2.34 \
-  && ./buildconf --force \
-  && ./configure \
-  --with-gmp \
-  --with-openssl \
-  --with-zlib \
-  && make -j$(nproc) \
-  && make install
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y php7.4 php-pear && apt-get clean
 
 # Install composer
 RUN curl -sS https://getcomposer.org/installer | php
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/test/php73_zts_debian11_x64.current_version b/tools/dockerfile/test/php73_zts_debian11_x64.current_version
deleted file mode 100644
index d665fca0c21..00000000000
--- a/tools/dockerfile/test/php73_zts_debian11_x64.current_version
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/php73_zts_debian11_x64:77e07cf8904ccf92e13aa688cef73e5c93bb6879@sha256:186a96566a9c11adfb198309431086bdb02421121c262a2bf0166e3e9b21fb37
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_arm64.current_version b/tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_arm64.current_version
deleted file mode 100644
index 5e7b664c6c6..00000000000
--- a/tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_arm64.current_version
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/php7_debian11_arm64:ce0c5318a40ebe3dd48d15ef85ce745747b8d327@sha256:7ee21f253a2ddd255f4f6779cd19818eec6524e78b0bf0a7765339e4aa7347c3
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_x64.current_version b/tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_x64.current_version
deleted file mode 100644
index 9f21f62af95..00000000000
--- a/tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_x64.current_version
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/php7_debian11_x64:5f152d5c34650064da2f21b10f5d63b8774753e0@sha256:34b02fd66832ebf49601bef95632753e6710a75755401c21332d50056ccd52d2
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_arm64.current_version b/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_arm64.current_version
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0fc85575051
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_arm64.current_version
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/php8_debian12_arm64:9675eaaef7dd455bce74b806d7f86d341e0ae024@sha256:c220e72b415ad194a41cf5640fe360b9358df1dd34553c8d8e6bfd4a82e032b3
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_x64/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_arm64/Dockerfile
similarity index 70%
rename from tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_x64/Dockerfile
rename to tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_arm64/Dockerfile
index 198f1a90256..e350e894e35 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_x64/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_arm64/Dockerfile
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-FROM debian:11
+FROM arm64v8/debian:12
 
 #=================
 # Basic C core dependencies
@@ -76,7 +76,10 @@ RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
   && apt-get clean
 
 # use pinned version of pip to avoid sudden breakages
-RUN python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip==19.3.1
+# Some newer distros that have already implemented PEP 668. Use of
+# --break-system-packages is to workaround that. We should look into using
+# virtualenv in Dockerfile though.
+RUN python3 -m pip install --break-system-packages --upgrade pip==19.3.1
 
 # TODO(jtattermusch): currently six is needed for tools/run_tests scripts
 # but since our python2 usage is deprecated, we should get rid of it.
@@ -87,33 +90,7 @@ RUN python3 -m pip install six==1.16.0
 RUN python3 -m pip install --upgrade google-auth==1.23.0 google-api-python-client==1.12.8 oauth2client==4.1.0
 
 
-#=================
-# PHP7 dependencies
-
-# PHP specific dependencies
-RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
-  libbison-dev \
-  libcurl4-openssl-dev \
-  libgmp-dev \
-  libgmp3-dev \
-  libssl-dev \
-  libxml2-dev \
-  re2c \
-  zlib1g-dev \
-  && apt-get clean
-
-# Compile PHP7 from source
-RUN git clone https://github.com/php/php-src /var/local/git/php-src
-RUN cd /var/local/git/php-src \
-  && git checkout PHP-7.2.34 \
-  && ./buildconf --force \
-  && ./configure \
-  --with-gmp \
-  --with-openssl \
-  --with-zlib \
-  && make -j$(nproc) \
-  && make install
-
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y php8.2 php8.2-dev php-pear && apt-get clean
 #=================
 # PHP Test dependencies
 
@@ -125,20 +102,7 @@ RUN cd /var/local/git/php-src \
 
 RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y cmake && apt-get clean
 
-#=================
-# Install ccache
-
-# Install ccache from source since ccache 3.x packaged with most linux distributions
-# does not support Redis backend for caching.
-RUN curl -sSL -o ccache.tar.gz https://github.com/ccache/ccache/releases/download/v4.7.5/ccache-4.7.5.tar.gz \
-    && tar -zxf ccache.tar.gz \
-    && cd ccache-4.7.5 \
-    && mkdir build && cd build \
-    && cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DZSTD_FROM_INTERNET=ON -DHIREDIS_FROM_INTERNET=ON .. \
-    && make -j4 && make install \
-    && cd ../.. \
-    && rm -rf ccache-4.7.5 ccache.tar.gz
-
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y ccache && apt-get clean
 
 RUN mkdir /var/local/jenkins
 
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_x64.current_version b/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_x64.current_version
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3ae1f135b64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_x64.current_version
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/php8_debian12_x64:8e63aea32d0c1d3b6fcf5354d43e2a81dd29b1c1@sha256:18bf37f80415ce3ddd48261b0ef97b421a85646cc15bd21348e19b5fd7b191d6
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_arm64/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_x64/Dockerfile
similarity index 69%
rename from tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_arm64/Dockerfile
rename to tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_x64/Dockerfile
index 5bf23c779c5..bdf70b5ce87 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_arm64/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_x64/Dockerfile
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-FROM arm64v8/debian:11
+FROM debian:12
 
 #=================
 # Basic C core dependencies
@@ -76,7 +76,10 @@ RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
   && apt-get clean
 
 # use pinned version of pip to avoid sudden breakages
-RUN python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip==19.3.1
+# Some newer distros that have already implemented PEP 668. Use of
+# --break-system-packages is to workaround that. We should look into using
+# virtualenv in Dockerfile though.
+RUN python3 -m pip install --break-system-packages --upgrade pip==19.3.1
 
 # TODO(jtattermusch): currently six is needed for tools/run_tests scripts
 # but since our python2 usage is deprecated, we should get rid of it.
@@ -87,33 +90,7 @@ RUN python3 -m pip install six==1.16.0
 RUN python3 -m pip install --upgrade google-auth==1.23.0 google-api-python-client==1.12.8 oauth2client==4.1.0
 
 
-#=================
-# PHP7 dependencies
-
-# PHP specific dependencies
-RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
-  libbison-dev \
-  libcurl4-openssl-dev \
-  libgmp-dev \
-  libgmp3-dev \
-  libssl-dev \
-  libxml2-dev \
-  re2c \
-  zlib1g-dev \
-  && apt-get clean
-
-# Compile PHP7 from source
-RUN git clone https://github.com/php/php-src /var/local/git/php-src
-RUN cd /var/local/git/php-src \
-  && git checkout PHP-7.2.34 \
-  && ./buildconf --force \
-  && ./configure \
-  --with-gmp \
-  --with-openssl \
-  --with-zlib \
-  && make -j$(nproc) \
-  && make install
-
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y php8.2 php8.2-dev php-pear && apt-get clean
 #=================
 # PHP Test dependencies
 
@@ -125,20 +102,7 @@ RUN cd /var/local/git/php-src \
 
 RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y cmake && apt-get clean
 
-#=================
-# Install ccache
-
-# Install ccache from source since ccache 3.x packaged with most linux distributions
-# does not support Redis backend for caching.
-RUN curl -sSL -o ccache.tar.gz https://github.com/ccache/ccache/releases/download/v4.7.5/ccache-4.7.5.tar.gz \
-    && tar -zxf ccache.tar.gz \
-    && cd ccache-4.7.5 \
-    && mkdir build && cd build \
-    && cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DZSTD_FROM_INTERNET=ON -DHIREDIS_FROM_INTERNET=ON .. \
-    && make -j4 && make install \
-    && cd ../.. \
-    && rm -rf ccache-4.7.5 ccache.tar.gz
-
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y ccache && apt-get clean
 
 RUN mkdir /var/local/jenkins
 
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_zts_debian12_x64.current_version b/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_zts_debian12_x64.current_version
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f5ffd11950b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_zts_debian12_x64.current_version
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+us-docker.pkg.dev/grpc-testing/testing-images-public/php8_zts_debian12_x64:d6118fb448aa9a3766abca01aa5ec538ce5186ca@sha256:911241a4e38046b603245d56a1ca9491e81990ca9dedb0671e41b15387e3d2ee
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/test/php73_zts_debian11_x64/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_zts_debian12_x64/Dockerfile
similarity index 71%
rename from tools/dockerfile/test/php73_zts_debian11_x64/Dockerfile
rename to tools/dockerfile/test/php8_zts_debian12_x64/Dockerfile
index b0e2fa56496..5043704f96b 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/test/php73_zts_debian11_x64/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/test/php8_zts_debian12_x64/Dockerfile
@@ -12,8 +12,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-# debian 11 = "bullseye"
-FROM php:7.3-zts-bullseye
+FROM php:8-zts-bookworm
 
 RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
   autoconf automake build-essential git libtool curl \
@@ -28,18 +27,6 @@ RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
 RUN git config --global --add safe.directory '*'
 RUN git config --global protocol.file.allow always
 
-
-# install php pthreads from source
-# TODO(jtattermusch): is this really needed?
-# See https://github.com/grpc/grpc/pull/23056
-WORKDIR /tmp
-RUN git clone https://github.com/krakjoe/pthreads
-RUN cd pthreads && \
-  phpize && \
-  ./configure && \
-  make && \
-  make install
-
 #====================
 # run_tests.py python dependencies
 
@@ -54,7 +41,10 @@ RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
   && apt-get clean
 
 # use pinned version of pip to avoid sudden breakages
-RUN python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip==19.3.1
+# Some newer distros that have already implemented PEP 668. Use of
+# --break-system-packages is to workaround that. We should look into using
+# virtualenv in Dockerfile though.
+RUN python3 -m pip install --break-system-packages --upgrade pip==19.3.1
 
 # TODO(jtattermusch): currently six is needed for tools/run_tests scripts
 # but since our python2 usage is deprecated, we should get rid of it.
@@ -75,20 +65,7 @@ RUN mv composer.phar /usr/local/bin/composer
 
 RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y cmake && apt-get clean
 
-#=================
-# Install ccache
-
-# Install ccache from source since ccache 3.x packaged with most linux distributions
-# does not support Redis backend for caching.
-RUN curl -sSL -o ccache.tar.gz https://github.com/ccache/ccache/releases/download/v4.7.5/ccache-4.7.5.tar.gz \
-    && tar -zxf ccache.tar.gz \
-    && cd ccache-4.7.5 \
-    && mkdir build && cd build \
-    && cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DZSTD_FROM_INTERNET=ON -DHIREDIS_FROM_INTERNET=ON .. \
-    && make -j4 && make install \
-    && cd ../.. \
-    && rm -rf ccache-4.7.5 ccache.tar.gz
-
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y ccache && apt-get clean
 
 RUN mkdir /var/local/jenkins
 
diff --git a/tools/internal_ci/linux/arm64/grpc_basictests_php.cfg b/tools/internal_ci/linux/arm64/grpc_basictests_php.cfg
index d3183434a99..17ecfbaca76 100644
--- a/tools/internal_ci/linux/arm64/grpc_basictests_php.cfg
+++ b/tools/internal_ci/linux/arm64/grpc_basictests_php.cfg
@@ -26,5 +26,5 @@ action {
 
 env_vars {
   key: "RUN_TESTS_FLAGS"
-  value: "-f basictests_arm64 linux php7 --inner_jobs 16 -j 2 --bq_result_table aggregate_results"
+  value: "-f basictests_arm64 linux php8 --inner_jobs 16 -j 2 --bq_result_table aggregate_results"
 }
diff --git a/tools/internal_ci/linux/grpc_basictests_php.cfg b/tools/internal_ci/linux/grpc_basictests_php.cfg
index 998d90ee4b0..1158471d1e9 100644
--- a/tools/internal_ci/linux/grpc_basictests_php.cfg
+++ b/tools/internal_ci/linux/grpc_basictests_php.cfg
@@ -26,5 +26,5 @@ action {
 
 env_vars {
   key: "RUN_TESTS_FLAGS"
-  value: "-f basictests linux php7 --inner_jobs 16 -j 2 --bq_result_table aggregate_results"
+  value: "-f basictests linux php8 --inner_jobs 16 -j 2 --bq_result_table aggregate_results"
 }
diff --git a/tools/internal_ci/linux/pull_request/grpc_basictests_php.cfg b/tools/internal_ci/linux/pull_request/grpc_basictests_php.cfg
index e735b6f4ce6..7451dd87857 100644
--- a/tools/internal_ci/linux/pull_request/grpc_basictests_php.cfg
+++ b/tools/internal_ci/linux/pull_request/grpc_basictests_php.cfg
@@ -26,5 +26,5 @@ action {
 
 env_vars {
   key: "RUN_TESTS_FLAGS"
-  value: "-f basictests linux php7 --inner_jobs 16 -j 2 --max_time=3600"
+  value: "-f basictests linux php8 --inner_jobs 16 -j 2 --max_time=3600"
 }
diff --git a/tools/internal_ci/macos/grpc_basictests_php.cfg b/tools/internal_ci/macos/grpc_basictests_php.cfg
index f54293cba8b..b0f63b7d25a 100644
--- a/tools/internal_ci/macos/grpc_basictests_php.cfg
+++ b/tools/internal_ci/macos/grpc_basictests_php.cfg
@@ -27,5 +27,5 @@ action {
 
 env_vars {
   key: "RUN_TESTS_FLAGS"
-  value: "-f basictests macos php7 -j 1 --inner_jobs 4 --bq_result_table aggregate_results"
+  value: "-f basictests macos php8 -j 1 --inner_jobs 4 --bq_result_table aggregate_results"
 }
diff --git a/tools/internal_ci/macos/pull_request/grpc_basictests_php.cfg b/tools/internal_ci/macos/pull_request/grpc_basictests_php.cfg
index b8ee5a6579b..a7346c9ead1 100644
--- a/tools/internal_ci/macos/pull_request/grpc_basictests_php.cfg
+++ b/tools/internal_ci/macos/pull_request/grpc_basictests_php.cfg
@@ -27,5 +27,5 @@ action {
 
 env_vars {
   key: "RUN_TESTS_FLAGS"
-  value: "-f basictests macos php7 -j 1 --inner_jobs 4 --max_time=3600"
+  value: "-f basictests macos php8 -j 1 --inner_jobs 4 --max_time=3600"
 }
diff --git a/tools/run_tests/artifacts/artifact_targets.py b/tools/run_tests/artifacts/artifact_targets.py
index 2695500eae8..50b22256a95 100644
--- a/tools/run_tests/artifacts/artifact_targets.py
+++ b/tools/run_tests/artifacts/artifact_targets.py
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ class PHPArtifact:
         if self.platform == "linux":
             return create_docker_jobspec(
                 self.name,
-                "tools/dockerfile/test/php73_zts_debian11_{}".format(self.arch),
+                "tools/dockerfile/test/php8_zts_debian12_{}".format(self.arch),
                 "tools/run_tests/artifacts/build_artifact_php.sh",
             )
         else:
diff --git a/tools/run_tests/artifacts/distribtest_targets.py b/tools/run_tests/artifacts/distribtest_targets.py
index 9599661bad8..2750bf42786 100644
--- a/tools/run_tests/artifacts/distribtest_targets.py
+++ b/tools/run_tests/artifacts/distribtest_targets.py
@@ -279,15 +279,15 @@ class RubyDistribTest(object):
         return self.name
 
 
-class PHP7DistribTest(object):
-    """Tests PHP7 package"""
+class PHP8DistribTest(object):
+    """Tests PHP8 package"""
 
     def __init__(self, platform, arch, docker_suffix=None, presubmit=False):
-        self.name = "php7_%s_%s_%s" % (platform, arch, docker_suffix)
+        self.name = "php8_%s_%s_%s" % (platform, arch, docker_suffix)
         self.platform = platform
         self.arch = arch
         self.docker_suffix = docker_suffix
-        self.labels = ["distribtest", "php", "php7", platform, arch]
+        self.labels = ["distribtest", "php", "php8", platform, arch]
         if presubmit:
             self.labels.append("presubmit")
         if docker_suffix:
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ class PHP7DistribTest(object):
         if self.platform == "linux":
             return create_docker_jobspec(
                 self.name,
-                "tools/dockerfile/distribtest/php7_%s_%s"
+                "tools/dockerfile/distribtest/php8_%s_%s"
                 % (self.docker_suffix, self.arch),
                 "test/distrib/php/run_distrib_test.sh",
                 copy_rel_path="test/distrib",
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ def targets():
         ),
         RubyDistribTest("linux", "x64", "ubuntu2004"),
         RubyDistribTest("linux", "x64", "ubuntu2204", presubmit=True),
-        # PHP7
-        PHP7DistribTest("linux", "x64", "debian11", presubmit=True),
-        PHP7DistribTest("macos", "x64", presubmit=True),
+        # PHP8
+        PHP8DistribTest("linux", "x64", "debian12", presubmit=True),
+        PHP8DistribTest("macos", "x64", presubmit=True),
     ]
diff --git a/tools/run_tests/run_tests.py b/tools/run_tests/run_tests.py
index c4d7ddcb892..4df7c9689b5 100755
--- a/tools/run_tests/run_tests.py
+++ b/tools/run_tests/run_tests.py
@@ -613,7 +613,7 @@ class CLanguage(object):
         return self.lang_suffix
 
 
-class Php7Language(object):
+class Php8Language(object):
     def configure(self, config, args):
         self.config = config
         self.args = args
@@ -641,12 +641,12 @@ class Php7Language(object):
         return [["tools/run_tests/helper_scripts/post_tests_php.sh"]]
 
     def dockerfile_dir(self):
-        return "tools/dockerfile/test/php7_debian11_%s" % _docker_arch_suffix(
+        return "tools/dockerfile/test/php8_debian12_%s" % _docker_arch_suffix(
             self.args.arch
         )
 
     def __str__(self):
-        return "php7"
+        return "php8"
 
 
 class PythonConfig(
@@ -1260,7 +1260,7 @@ with open("tools/run_tests/generated/configs.json") as f:
 _LANGUAGES = {
     "c++": CLanguage("cxx", "c++"),
     "c": CLanguage("c", "c"),
-    "php7": Php7Language(),
+    "php8": Php8Language(),
     "python": PythonLanguage(),
     "ruby": RubyLanguage(),
     "csharp": CSharpLanguage(),
diff --git a/tools/run_tests/run_tests_matrix.py b/tools/run_tests/run_tests_matrix.py
index 3b9f2238248..873b1356e4c 100755
--- a/tools/run_tests/run_tests_matrix.py
+++ b/tools/run_tests/run_tests_matrix.py
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ def _create_test_jobs(extra_args=[], inner_jobs=_DEFAULT_INNER_JOBS):
     )
 
     test_jobs += _generate_jobs(
-        languages=["ruby", "php7"],
+        languages=["ruby", "php8"],
         configs=["dbg", "opt"],
         platforms=["linux", "macos"],
         labels=["basictests", "multilang"],
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ def _create_test_jobs(extra_args=[], inner_jobs=_DEFAULT_INNER_JOBS):
 
     # ARM64 Linux Ruby and PHP tests
     test_jobs += _generate_jobs(
-        languages=["ruby", "php7"],
+        languages=["ruby", "php8"],
         configs=["dbg", "opt"],
         platforms=["linux"],
         arch="arm64",