diff --git a/pkgs/desktops/pantheon/desktop/gala/default.nix b/pkgs/desktops/pantheon/desktop/gala/default.nix
index 6233e3f16790..12b8ca683b28 100644
--- a/pkgs/desktops/pantheon/desktop/gala/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/desktops/pantheon/desktop/gala/default.nix
@@ -1,60 +1,51 @@
-{ lib
-, stdenv
-, fetchFromGitHub
-, fetchpatch
-, nix-update-script
-, pkg-config
-, meson
-, python3
-, ninja
-, vala
-, desktop-file-utils
-, gettext
-, libxml2
-, gtk3
-, granite
-, libgee
-, bamf
-, libcanberra-gtk3
-, gnome-desktop
-, mutter
-, gnome-settings-daemon
-, wrapGAppsHook3
-, gexiv2
-, systemd
+{
+  stdenv,
+  lib,
+  fetchFromGitHub,
+  desktop-file-utils,
+  gettext,
+  libxml2,
+  meson,
+  ninja,
+  pkg-config,
+  vala,
+  wayland-scanner,
+  wrapGAppsHook3,
+  at-spi2-core,
+  gnome-settings-daemon,
+  gnome-desktop,
+  granite,
+  granite7,
+  gtk3,
+  gtk4,
+  libcanberra,
+  libgee,
+  libhandy,
+  mutter,
+  sqlite,
+  systemd,
+  nix-update-script,
 }:
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   pname = "gala";
-  version = "7.1.3";
+  version = "8.1.0";
 
   src = fetchFromGitHub {
     owner = "elementary";
     repo = pname;
     rev = version;
-    sha256 = "sha256-0fDbR28gh7F8Bcnofn48BBP1CTsYnfmY5kG72ookOXw=";
+    hash = "sha256-C0Vct2xuGHd/G5x0Faif0DfpyNyCLJDxki+O9697c2s=";
   };
 
   patches = [
     # We look for plugins in `/run/current-system/sw/lib/` because
     # there are multiple plugin providers (e.g. gala and wingpanel).
     ./plugins-dir.patch
-
-    # Start gala-daemon internally (needed for systemd managed gnome-session)
-    # https://github.com/elementary/gala/pull/1844
-    (fetchpatch {
-      url = "https://github.com/elementary/gala/commit/351722c5a4fded46992b725e03dc94971c5bd31f.patch";
-      hash = "sha256-RvdVHQjCUNmLrROBZTF+m1vE2XudtQZjk/YW28P/vKc=";
-    })
-
-    # InternalUtils: Fix window placement
-    # https://github.com/elementary/gala/pull/1913
-    (fetchpatch {
-      url = "https://github.com/elementary/gala/commit/2d30bee678788c5a853721d16b5b39c997b23c02.patch";
-      hash = "sha256-vhGFaLpJZFx1VTfjY1BahQiOUvBPi0dBSXLGhYc7r8A=";
-    })
   ];
 
+  depsBuildBuild = [ pkg-config ];
+
   nativeBuildInputs = [
     desktop-file-utils
     gettext
@@ -62,29 +53,27 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     meson
     ninja
     pkg-config
-    python3
     vala
+    wayland-scanner
     wrapGAppsHook3
   ];
 
   buildInputs = [
-    bamf
+    at-spi2-core
     gnome-settings-daemon
-    gexiv2
     gnome-desktop
     granite
+    granite7
     gtk3
-    libcanberra-gtk3
+    gtk4 # gala-daemon
+    libcanberra
     libgee
+    libhandy
     mutter
+    sqlite
     systemd
   ];
 
-  postPatch = ''
-    chmod +x build-aux/meson/post_install.py
-    patchShebangs build-aux/meson/post_install.py
-  '';
-
   passthru = {
     updateScript = nix-update-script { };
   };