diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
index 0ac4aea78e..9b5e1bb512 100644
--- a/.github/pull_request_template.md
+++ b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -1,38 +1,29 @@
 <!--
-Please uncomment this block and fill in this checklist if your PR makes substantial changes to documentation in the `doc` directory.
-Not all boxes must be checked for every PR:
-check those that apply to your PR and leave the rest unchecked to discuss with your reviewer.
-
-If your PR modifies code of the `plotly` package, we have a different checklist below.
-
-## Documentation PR
-
-- [ ] I have seen the [`doc/README.md`](https://github.com/plotly/plotly.py/blob/main/doc/README.md) file.
-- [ ] This change runs in the current version of Plotly on PyPI and targets the `doc-prod` branch OR it targets the `main` branch.
-- [ ] If this PR modifies the first example in a page or adds a new one, it is a `px` example if at all possible.
-- [ ] Every new/modified example has a descriptive title and motivating sentence or paragraph.
-- [ ] Every new/modified example is independently runnable.
-- [ ] Every new/modified example is optimized for short line count and focuses on the Plotly/visualization-related aspects of the example rather than the computation required to produce the data being visualized.
-- [ ] Meaningful/relatable datasets are used for all new examples instead of randomly-generated data where possible.
-- [ ] The random seed is set if using randomly-generated data.
-- [ ] New/modified remote datasets are loaded from https://plotly.github.io/datasets and added to https://github.com/plotly/datasets.
-- [ ] Large computations are avoided in the new/modified examples in favour of loading remote datasets that represent the output of such computations.
-- [ ] Imports are `plotly.graph_objects as go`, `plotly.express as px`, and/or `plotly.io as pio`.
-- [ ] Data frames are always called `df`.
-- [ ] `fig = <something>` is called high up in each new/modified example (either `px.<something>` or `make_subplots` or `go.Figure`).
-- [ ] Liberal use is made of `fig.add_*` and `fig.update_*` rather than `go.Figure(data=..., layout=...)`.
-- [ ] Specific adders and updaters like `fig.add_shape` and `fig.update_xaxes` are used instead of big `fig.update_layout` calls.
-- [ ] `fig.show()` is at the end of each example.
-- [ ] `plotly.plot()` and `plotly.iplot()` are not used in any example.
-- [ ] Named colors are used instead of hex codes wherever possible.
-- [ ] Code blocks are marked with `&#96;&#96;&#96;python`.
-
-## Code PR
-
-- [ ] I have read through the [contributing notes](https://github.com/plotly/plotly.py/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md) and understand the structure of the package. In particular, if my PR modifies code of `plotly.graph_objects`, my modifications concern the code generator and *not* the generated files.
-- [ ] I have added tests or modified existing tests.
-- [ ] For a new feature, I have added documentation examples (please see the doc checklist as well).
-- [ ] I have added a CHANGELOG entry if changing anything substantial.
-- [ ] For a new feature or a change in behavior, I have updated the relevant docstrings in the code.
+Thank you for your contribution to plotly.py!
 
+Please complete each section below.
 -->
+
+## Link to issue
+<!-- Link to the issue closed by this PR. If the issue doesn't exist yet, create it. -->
+
+Closes #(issue number)
+
+## Description of change
+<!-- Provide a clear 1-2 sentence description of what this PR does. -->
+
+## Demo
+
+<!-- Include screenshots or screen recordings of this PR in action. -->
+
+## Testing strategy
+
+<!-- Provide 1-2 sentences explaining tests added or changed by this PR. If testing changes are not needed, explain why. -->
+
+## Additional information (optional)
+
+<!-- Include any additional context, background, or explanation which doesn't fit in the previous sections. -->
+
+## Guidelines
+
+- [ ] I have reviewed the [pull request guidelines](https://github.com/plotly/plotly.py/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#opening-a-pull-request) and confirmed that this PR follows them.
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 9f5f4d636a..b6d8fe7773 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -171,6 +171,42 @@ and create your pull request.
 > Please do _not_ commit changes to `uv.lock`
 > unless you have added, removed, or changed dependencies in `pyproject.toml`.
 
+## Opening a pull request
+
+When creating your pull request, please follow the guidelines below. 
+
+### Code pull request
+
+- *Make sure you have reviewed the full [contributing notes (this file)](https://github.com/plotly/plotly.py/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md) and understand the structure of the package.*
+- If your PR modifies code of `plotly.graph_objects`, the modifications should be made to the the code generator, *not* the generated files.
+- You have added tests or modified existing tests, as needed.
+- For a new feature, you have added documentation examples (please see the doc checklist as well).
+- You have added a CHANGELOG entry if changing anything substantial.
+- For a new feature or a change in behavior, you have updated the relevant docstrings in the code.
+
+### Documentation pull request
+
+- *Make sure you have reviewed the [`doc/README.md`](https://github.com/plotly/plotly.py/blob/main/doc/README.md) file.*
+- This change runs in the current version of Plotly on PyPI and targets the `doc-prod` branch OR it targets the `main` branch.
+- If this PR modifies the first example in a page or adds a new one, it is a `px` example if at all possible.
+- Every new/modified example has a descriptive title and motivating sentence or paragraph.
+- Every new/modified example is independently runnable.
+- Every new/modified example is optimized for short line count and focuses on the Plotly/visualization-related aspects of the example rather than the computation required to produce the data being visualized.
+- Meaningful/relatable datasets are used for all new examples instead of randomly-generated data where possible.
+- The random seed is set if using randomly-generated data.
+- New/modified remote datasets are loaded from https://plotly.github.io/datasets and added to https://github.com/plotly/datasets.
+- Large computations are avoided in the new/modified examples in favour of loading remote datasets that represent the output of such computations.
+- Imports are `plotly.graph_objects as go`, `plotly.express as px`, and/or `plotly.io as pio`.
+- Data frames are always called `df`.
+- `fig = <something>` is called high up in each new/modified example (either `px.<something>` or `make_subplots` or `go.Figure`).
+- Liberal use is made of `fig.add_*` and `fig.update_*` rather than `go.Figure(data=..., layout=...)`.
+- Specific adders and updaters like `fig.add_shape` and `fig.update_xaxes` are used instead of big `fig.update_layout` calls.
+- `fig.show()` is at the end of each example.
+- `plotly.plot()` and `plotly.iplot()` are not used in any example.
+- Named colors are used instead of hex codes wherever possible.
+- Code blocks are marked with `&#96;&#96;&#96;python`.
+
+
 ### Testing
 
 We use [pytest](https://docs.pytest.org/) for managing and running tests.