diff --git a/.github/workflows/preview-perf-ci.yml b/.github/workflows/preview-perf-ci.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 2cf21a4..0000000
--- a/.github/workflows/preview-perf-ci.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,49 +0,0 @@
-name: Preview Performance Regression Gate
-
-on:
-  push:
-    branches: [ main ]
-  pull_request:
-    branches: [ main ]
-    paths:
-      - 'code/**'
-      - 'csv_files/**'
-      - 'logs/perf/theme_preview_warm_baseline.json'
-      - '.github/workflows/preview-perf-ci.yml'
-
-jobs:
-  preview-perf:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    timeout-minutes: 20
-    env:
-      PYTHONUNBUFFERED: '1'
-    steps:
-      - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-      - name: Set up Python
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
-        with:
-          python-version: '3.11'
-      - name: Install dependencies
-        run: |
-          python -m pip install --upgrade pip
-          pip install -r requirements.txt
-      - name: Launch app (background)
-        run: |
-          python -m uvicorn code.web.app:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8080 &
-          echo $! > uvicorn.pid
-          # simple wait
-          sleep 5
-      - name: Run preview performance CI check
-        run: |
-          python -m code.scripts.preview_perf_ci_check --url http://localhost:8080 --baseline logs/perf/theme_preview_warm_baseline.json --p95-threshold 5
-      - name: Upload candidate artifact
-        if: always()
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
-        with:
-          name: preview-perf-candidate
-          path: logs/perf/theme_preview_ci_candidate.json
-      - name: Stop app
-        if: always()
-        run: |
-          if [ -f uvicorn.pid ]; then kill $(cat uvicorn.pid) || true; fi
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 9ce183f..aab4293 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ This format follows Keep a Changelog principles and aims for Semantic Versioning
 ### Fixed
 - _No changes yet._
 
+### Removed
+- Preview performance GitHub Actions workflow (`.github/workflows/preview-perf-ci.yml`) retired after persistent cold-start failures; run the regression helper script manually as needed.
+
 ## [2.3.2] - 2025-09-30
 ### Fixed
 - Theme catalog pagination reprocesses HTMX fragments after Ajax loads so the “Next” button behaves correctly in the picker and simple catalog views.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ace8ce1..6024b28 100644
Binary files a/README.md and b/README.md differ