diff --git a/.github/workflows/integration-agentics.yml b/.github/workflows/integration-agentics.yml
index 1ce87199d8..0092ba915e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/integration-agentics.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/integration-agentics.yml
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Install development dependencies
         run: make deps-dev
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
 
       - name: Build gh-aw binary
         run: make build
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index cb1b307b4f..521cfefc9e 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -68,9 +68,14 @@ deps:
 	go install golang.org/x/tools/gopls@latest
 	go install github.com/rhysd/actionlint/cmd/actionlint@latest
 
+# Install act tool for local workflow testing
+.PHONY: install-act
+install-act:
+	gh extension install https://github.com/nektos/gh-act
+
 # Install development tools (including linter)
 .PHONY: deps-dev
-deps-dev: deps copy-copilot-to-claude download-github-actions-schema
+deps-dev: deps copy-copilot-to-claude download-github-actions-schema install-act
 	go install github.com/golangci/golangci-lint/cmd/golangci-lint@latest
 	npm ci
 
@@ -245,6 +250,8 @@ help:
 	@echo "  test-coverage    - Run tests with coverage report"
 	@echo "  clean            - Clean build artifacts"
 	@echo "  deps             - Install dependencies"
+	@echo "  deps-dev         - Install development dependencies (includes act)"
+	@echo "  install-act      - Install act tool for local workflow testing"
 	@echo "  lint             - Run linter"
 	@echo "  fmt              - Format code"
 	@echo "  fmt-cjs          - Format JavaScript (.cjs) files"
diff --git a/cmd/gh-aw/main.go b/cmd/gh-aw/main.go
index 9f9f6e5710..8165646d1b 100644
--- a/cmd/gh-aw/main.go
+++ b/cmd/gh-aw/main.go
@@ -368,6 +368,7 @@ func init() {
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(uninstallCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(compileCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(runCmd)
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(cli.NewTestCommand())
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(removeCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(statusCmd)
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(enableCmd)
diff --git a/pkg/cli/commands_test_local_test.go b/pkg/cli/commands_test_local_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4a81d117e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/cli/commands_test_local_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+package cli
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestCheckActInstalled(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		verbose bool
+		wantErr bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:    "verbose mode",
+			verbose: true,
+			wantErr: true, // Should error if act is not in PATH (as expected in test environment)
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "quiet mode",
+			verbose: false,
+			wantErr: true, // Should error if act is not in PATH (as expected in test environment)
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			err := checkActInstalled(tt.verbose)
+			if (err != nil) != tt.wantErr {
+				t.Errorf("checkActInstalled() error = %v, wantErr %v", err, tt.wantErr)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTestWorkflowLocallyValidation(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name         string
+		workflowName string
+		event        string
+		verbose      bool
+		wantErr      bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:         "empty workflow name",
+			workflowName: "",
+			event:        "workflow_dispatch",
+			verbose:      false,
+			wantErr:      true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:         "single workflow test",
+			workflowName: "test-workflow",
+			event:        "workflow_dispatch",
+			verbose:      false,
+			wantErr:      true, // Will error on missing workflow file
+		},
+		{
+			name:         "custom event type",
+			workflowName: "test-workflow",
+			event:        "push",
+			verbose:      true,
+			wantErr:      true, // Will error on missing workflow file
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			err := TestWorkflowLocally(tt.workflowName, tt.event, tt.verbose)
+			if (err != nil) != tt.wantErr {
+				t.Errorf("TestWorkflowLocally() error = %v, wantErr %v", err, tt.wantErr)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTestSingleWorkflowLocally(t *testing.T) {
+	// Create a temporary test environment
+	tempDir := t.TempDir()
+
+	// Create a mock .github/workflows directory
+	workflowsDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, ".github", "workflows")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(workflowsDir, 0755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create workflows directory: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Create a mock markdown file first
+	mdFile := filepath.Join(workflowsDir, "test-workflow.md")
+	mdContent := `---
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+---
+
+# Test Workflow
+
+This is a test workflow.
+`
+	if err := os.WriteFile(mdFile, []byte(mdContent), 0644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create mock markdown file: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Create a corresponding mock lock file
+	lockFile := filepath.Join(workflowsDir, "test-workflow.lock.yml")
+	lockContent := `name: Test Workflow
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+jobs:
+  test:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - run: echo "test"
+`
+	if err := os.WriteFile(lockFile, []byte(lockContent), 0644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create mock lock file: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Change to temp directory
+	oldDir, err := os.Getwd()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to get current directory: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		if err := os.Chdir(oldDir); err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Failed to restore directory: %v", err)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	if err := os.Chdir(tempDir); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to change to temp directory: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name         string
+		workflowName string
+		event        string
+		verbose      bool
+		wantErr      bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:         "valid workflow test",
+			workflowName: "test-workflow",
+			event:        "workflow_dispatch",
+			verbose:      false,
+			wantErr:      true, // Will still error due to missing act installation in test environment
+		},
+		{
+			name:         "valid workflow test verbose",
+			workflowName: "test-workflow",
+			event:        "push",
+			verbose:      true,
+			wantErr:      true, // Will still error due to missing act installation in test environment
+		},
+		{
+			name:         "non-existent workflow",
+			workflowName: "missing-workflow",
+			event:        "workflow_dispatch",
+			verbose:      false,
+			wantErr:      true,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			err := testSingleWorkflowLocally(tt.workflowName, tt.event, tt.verbose)
+			if (err != nil) != tt.wantErr {
+				t.Errorf("testSingleWorkflowLocally() error = %v, wantErr %v", err, tt.wantErr)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/cli/test.go b/pkg/cli/test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..06d08eda7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/cli/test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+package cli
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/githubnext/gh-aw/pkg/console"
+	"github.com/githubnext/gh-aw/pkg/workflow"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+)
+
+// NewTestCommand creates the test command for local workflow execution with act
+func NewTestCommand() *cobra.Command {
+	cmd := &cobra.Command{
+		Use:   "test <workflow-id-or-name>",
+		Short: "Test an agentic workflow locally using Docker and act",
+		Long: `Test an agentic workflow locally using Docker and the nektos/act tool.
+
+This command compiles the workflow and runs it locally in Docker containers instead of GitHub Actions.
+It automatically detects and installs the 'act' tool if not available.
+
+The workflow must have been added as an action and compiled.
+This command works with workflows that have workflow_dispatch, push, pull_request, or other triggers.
+
+Examples:
+  gh aw test weekly-research
+  gh aw test weekly-research --event workflow_dispatch`,
+		Args: cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+		Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+			event, _ := cmd.Flags().GetString("event")
+			verbose, _ := cmd.Flags().GetBool("verbose")
+
+			if err := TestWorkflowLocally(args[0], event, verbose); err != nil {
+				fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, console.FormatError(console.CompilerError{
+					Type:    "error",
+					Message: fmt.Sprintf("testing workflow locally: %v", err),
+				}))
+				os.Exit(1)
+			}
+		},
+	}
+
+	// Add flags to test command
+	cmd.Flags().StringP("event", "e", "workflow_dispatch", "Event type to simulate (workflow_dispatch, push, pull_request, etc.)")
+
+	return cmd
+}
+
+// TestWorkflowLocally runs a single agentic workflow locally using Docker and act
+func TestWorkflowLocally(workflowName, event string, verbose bool) error {
+	if workflowName == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("workflow name or ID is required")
+	}
+
+	// Compile workflow first to ensure it's up to date (with safe-outputs staged if any)
+	fmt.Println(console.FormatProgressMessage("Compiling workflow before local testing..."))
+	if err := CompileWorkflowForTesting(workflowName, verbose); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to compile workflow: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	fmt.Println(console.FormatSuccessMessage("Workflow compiled successfully"))
+
+	if err := testSingleWorkflowLocally(workflowName, event, verbose); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to test workflow '%s': %w", workflowName, err)
+	}
+
+	fmt.Println(console.FormatSuccessMessage(fmt.Sprintf("Successfully tested workflow: %s", workflowName)))
+	return nil
+}
+
+// testSingleWorkflowLocally tests a single workflow locally using act
+func testSingleWorkflowLocally(workflowName, event string, verbose bool) error {
+	// Resolve workflow file
+	workflowFile, err := resolveWorkflowFile(workflowName, verbose)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to resolve workflow file: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Check if it's a lock file or markdown file
+	lockFile := workflowFile
+	if !strings.HasSuffix(workflowFile, ".lock.yml") {
+		// Find corresponding lock file
+		baseName := strings.TrimSuffix(filepath.Base(workflowFile), ".md")
+		lockFile = filepath.Join(getWorkflowsDir(), baseName+".lock.yml")
+
+		// Check if lock file exists
+		if _, err := os.Stat(lockFile); os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			return fmt.Errorf("compiled workflow file not found: %s. Run 'gh aw compile %s' first", lockFile, workflowName)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if verbose {
+		fmt.Println(console.FormatInfoMessage(fmt.Sprintf("Testing workflow file: %s", lockFile)))
+	}
+
+	// Build act command
+	args := []string{"act"}
+
+	// Add event type
+	if event != "" {
+		args = append(args, event)
+	}
+
+	// Add workflow file
+	args = append(args, "--workflows", lockFile)
+
+	// Add verbose flag if requested
+	if verbose {
+		args = append(args, "--verbose")
+	}
+
+	if verbose {
+		fmt.Println(console.FormatCommandMessage(fmt.Sprintf("gh %s", strings.Join(args, " "))))
+	}
+
+	// Execute act command via GitHub CLI
+	cmd := exec.Command("gh", args...)
+	cmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
+	cmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
+	cmd.Stdin = os.Stdin
+
+	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("act execution failed: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// CompileWorkflowForTesting compiles a single workflow with safe-outputs forced to staged mode
+func CompileWorkflowForTesting(workflowName string, verbose bool) error {
+	// Create compiler with forced staged mode for testing
+	compiler := workflow.NewCompiler(verbose, "", GetVersion())
+	compiler.SetSkipValidation(false) // Enable validation for testing
+	compiler.SetForceStaged(true)     // Force safe-outputs to be staged for local testing
+
+	// Resolve workflow file
+	workflowFile, err := resolveWorkflowFile(workflowName, verbose)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to resolve workflow file: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if verbose {
+		fmt.Println(console.FormatInfoMessage(fmt.Sprintf("Compiling workflow: %s", workflowFile)))
+	}
+
+	// Compile the workflow
+	err = compiler.CompileWorkflow(workflowFile)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to compile workflow '%s': %w", workflowFile, err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/pkg/workflow/compiler.go b/pkg/workflow/compiler.go
index 5011a48f6a..69c7843daf 100644
--- a/pkg/workflow/compiler.go
+++ b/pkg/workflow/compiler.go
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ type Compiler struct {
 	version        string          // Version of the extension
 	skipValidation bool            // If true, skip schema validation
 	noEmit         bool            // If true, validate without generating lock files
+	forceStaged    bool            // If true, force safe-outputs to be staged for testing
 	jobManager     *JobManager     // Manages jobs and dependencies
 	engineRegistry *EngineRegistry // Registry of available agentic engines
 	fileTracker    FileTracker     // Optional file tracker for tracking created files
@@ -105,6 +106,11 @@ func (c *Compiler) SetFileTracker(tracker FileTracker) {
 	c.fileTracker = tracker
 }
 
+// SetForceStaged configures whether to force safe-outputs to be staged (for testing)
+func (c *Compiler) SetForceStaged(forceStaged bool) {
+	c.forceStaged = forceStaged
+}
+
 // NewCompilerWithCustomOutput creates a new workflow compiler with custom output path
 func NewCompilerWithCustomOutput(verbose bool, engineOverride string, customOutput string, version string) *Compiler {
 	c := &Compiler{
@@ -3734,6 +3740,12 @@ func (c *Compiler) extractSafeOutputsConfig(frontmatter map[string]any) *SafeOut
 				}
 			}
 
+			// Force staged to true if forceStaged is set and we have safe-outputs config
+			if c.forceStaged {
+				stageBool := true
+				config.Staged = &stageBool
+			}
+
 			// Handle env configuration
 			if env, exists := outputMap["env"]; exists {
 				if envMap, ok := env.(map[string]any); ok {