diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-docs.yml b/.github/workflows/test-docs.yml
index 2740a5847e..e8bf598c27 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-docs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-docs.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,23 @@ on:
   pull_request:
     types: [opened, reopened, synchronize]
   workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      redpanda_version:
+        description: 'Redpanda version to test, such as v26.2.1. Defaults to the latest stable GitHub release (stable vs beta channel decided by antora.yml).'
+        required: false
+        type: string
+      redpanda_docker_repo:
+        description: 'Redpanda Docker repo, such as redpanda or redpanda-unstable (for RCs). Defaults to redpanda (redpanda-unstable when antora.yml is in beta mode and an RC exists).'
+        required: false
+        type: string
+      console_version:
+        description: 'Redpanda Console version to test, such as v3.9.0. Defaults to the latest stable GitHub release (stable vs beta channel decided by antora.yml).'
+        required: false
+        type: string
+      console_docker_repo:
+        description: 'Console Docker repo, such as console. Defaults to console.'
+        required: false
+        type: string
   repository_dispatch:
     types: [trigger-tests]
 
@@ -15,6 +32,7 @@ jobs:
       console: ${{ steps.filter.outputs.console }}
       quickstart: ${{ steps.filter.outputs.quickstart }}
       kindguide: ${{ steps.filter.outputs.kindguide }}
+      versions: ${{ steps.filter.outputs.versions }}
     steps:
       - name: Checkout code
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -31,6 +49,14 @@ jobs:
               - 'modules/deploy/pages/redpanda/kubernetes/local-guide.adoc'
               - 'modules/deploy/partials/kubernetes/**'
               - 'antora.yml'
+            # A version-bump PR signals a new Redpanda or Console release. The
+            # quickstart test resolves the LATEST STABLE release at runtime
+            # (not the antora.yml pins), so running it on bump PRs catches
+            # breakage from that release before merge instead of in the
+            # nightly run. antora.yml deliberately appears here and under
+            # kindguide: dorny/paths-filter filters evaluate independently.
+            versions:
+              - 'antora.yml'
 
   run-tests:
     needs: setup
@@ -87,9 +113,30 @@ jobs:
           # body limit. The doc-detective-output artifact has the JSON.
           issue_body: "A Doc Detective run ($RUN_URL) failed. Download the doc-detective-output artifact on the run for full results."
           token: ${{ env.ACTIONS_BOT_TOKEN }}
+        # Optional version overrides. Manual runs set them through workflow
+        # inputs. Upstream repos (for example Console releases or Redpanda RC
+        # builds) set them through the trigger-tests dispatch payload. When
+        # unset, the test resolves the latest stable GitHub release for each
+        # product (doc-tools get-redpanda-version / get-console-version;
+        # antora.yml only decides stable vs beta), not the antora.yml pins.
+        #
+        # Cross-repo contract for senders: repository_dispatch event type
+        # `trigger-tests`, client_payload keys `redpanda_version`,
+        # `redpanda_docker_repo`, `console_version`, `console_docker_repo`.
+        #
+        # The env var names are consumed by
+        # tests/setup-tests/fetch-versions-and-rpk.json: renaming a variable
+        # there silently disables its override here. These overrides attach
+        # only to this all-tests step; a future dispatch that runs only the
+        # quickstart step would need the same env block there.
+        env:
+          REDPANDA_VERSION: ${{ github.event.inputs.redpanda_version || github.event.client_payload.redpanda_version }}
+          REDPANDA_DOCKER_REPO: ${{ github.event.inputs.redpanda_docker_repo || github.event.client_payload.redpanda_docker_repo }}
+          REDPANDA_CONSOLE_VERSION: ${{ github.event.inputs.console_version || github.event.client_payload.console_version }}
+          CONSOLE_DOCKER_REPO: ${{ github.event.inputs.console_docker_repo || github.event.client_payload.console_docker_repo }}
 
       - name: Test Redpanda Streaming quickstart
-        if: ${{ needs.setup.outputs.quickstart == 'true' || needs.setup.outputs.console == 'true' }}
+        if: ${{ needs.setup.outputs.quickstart == 'true' || needs.setup.outputs.console == 'true' || needs.setup.outputs.versions == 'true' }}
         uses: doc-detective/github-action@v1
         with:
           input: ../../modules/get-started/pages/quick-start.adoc