diff --git a/gnu/packages/astronomy.scm b/gnu/packages/astronomy.scm
index 0087934c023..747c0ec1990 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/astronomy.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/astronomy.scm
@@ -2273,7 +2273,7 @@ support for reading and writing various compression algorithms including:
      (native-inputs
       (list python-pytest
             python-pytest-xdist
-            python-setuptools-next
+            python-setuptools
             python-setuptools-scm
             python-wheel))
      (propagated-inputs
@@ -2304,7 +2304,7 @@ implementation package such as asdf-astropy.")
            python-pytest
            python-pytest-asdf-plugin
            python-pyyaml
-           python-setuptools-next
+           python-setuptools
            python-setuptools-scm))
     (home-page "https://asdf-standard.readthedocs.io/")
     (synopsis "ASDF standard schemas")
@@ -5093,7 +5093,7 @@ satellite.")
                 (with-directory-excursion "ci"
                   (invoke "python" "-m" "unittest" "test"))))))))
     (native-inputs
-     (list python-setuptools-next))
+     (list python-setuptools))
     (propagated-inputs
      (list python-numpy))
     (home-page "https://github.com/brandon-rhodes/python-jplephem")
@@ -7054,7 +7054,7 @@ wiggles are caused by resampling noise or aliasing artifacts.")
            python-pytest-asdf-plugin
            python-pytest-doctestplus
            python-semantic-version
-           python-setuptools-next
+           python-setuptools
            python-setuptools-scm))
     (propagated-inputs
      (list python-asdf
diff --git a/gnu/packages/python-build.scm b/gnu/packages/python-build.scm
index ed903209f93..4f0302d1746 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/python-build.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/python-build.scm
@@ -350,7 +350,8 @@ facilitate packaging Python projects, where packaging includes:
     (native-inputs
      (list python-wheel-0.40))))
 
-(define-public python-setuptools-next python-setuptools)
+(define-deprecated/public-alias python-setuptools-next
+  python-setuptools)                   ;may be removed after 2025-12-01
 
 (define-public python-wheel
   (package
diff --git a/gnu/packages/python-crypto.scm b/gnu/packages/python-crypto.scm
index b20bec061fd..938fe82480f 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/python-crypto.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/python-crypto.scm
@@ -627,7 +627,7 @@ OpenSSL library.")
           (replace 'check
             (lambda* (#:key tests? #:allow-other-keys)
               (when tests? (invoke "python" "test_ed25519_kat.py")))))))
-    (native-inputs (list python-setuptools-next))
+    (native-inputs (list python-setuptools))
     (home-page "https://github.com/warner/python-ed25519")
     (synopsis "Ed25519 public-key signatures")
     (description
diff --git a/gnu/packages/qt.scm b/gnu/packages/qt.scm
index e13c73e3cb3..57c9308c128 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/qt.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/qt.scm
@@ -4372,9 +4372,9 @@ Python.")
     (arguments
      (list #:tests? #f))        ; No test system found.
     (native-inputs
-     (list python-setuptools-next python-setuptools-scm-next python-wheel))
+     (list python-setuptools python-setuptools-scm-next python-wheel))
     (propagated-inputs
-     (list python-packaging python-setuptools-next python-tomli))
+     (list python-packaging python-setuptools python-tomli))
     (home-page "https://www.riverbankcomputing.com/software/sip/intro")
     (synopsis "Python binding creator for C and C++ libraries")
     (description
@@ -4724,7 +4724,7 @@ set of three modules.")))
         (base32
          "1g40j5iyad8bw8113rsxxkbkdi7g1lcjj0lb1j7pma442i3fmpsn"))))
     (build-system pyproject-build-system)
-    (native-inputs (list python-setuptools-next
+    (native-inputs (list python-setuptools
                          python-setuptools-scm-next
                          python-wheel))
     (inputs
diff --git a/gnu/packages/textutils.scm b/gnu/packages/textutils.scm
index fdfd8ea6050..0caad56e8a3 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/textutils.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/textutils.scm
@@ -1317,7 +1317,7 @@ OpenDocument presentations (*.odp).")
            python-pytest
            python-pytest-asyncio
            python-pytest-textual-snapshot
-           python-setuptools-next))
+           python-setuptools))
     (propagated-inputs
      (list python-beautifulsoup4
            python-bibtexparser