diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index aa4fb122c8d..4b38cd0ecdf 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ workflow:
     - if: &is-merge-attempt $GITLAB_USER_LOGIN == "marge-bot" && $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event"
       variables:
         MESA_CI_PERFORMANCE_ENABLED: 1
+        FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64: priority:high
+        FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64_KVM: priority:high-kvm
+        FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_AARCH64: priority:high-aarch64
         VALVE_INFRA_VANGOGH_JOB_PRIORITY: ""  # Empty tags are ignored by gitlab
         JOB_PRIORITY: 75
         # fast-fail in merge pipelines: stop early if we get this many unexpected fails/crashes
@@ -51,6 +54,9 @@ workflow:
     # nightly pipeline
     - if: &is-scheduled-pipeline $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "schedule"
       variables:
+        FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64: priority:low
+        FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64_KVM: priority:low-kvm
+        FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_AARCH64: priority:low-aarch64
         JOB_PRIORITY: 45
         # (some) nightly builds perform LTO, so they take much longer than the
         # short timeout allowed in other pipelines.
@@ -110,6 +116,9 @@ variables:
   # Avoid the wall of "Unsupported SPIR-V capability" warnings in CI job log, hiding away useful output
   MESA_SPIRV_LOG_LEVEL: error
   # Default priority for non-merge pipelines
+  FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64: ""  # Empty tags are ignored by gitlab
+  FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64_KVM: kvm
+  FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_AARCH64: aarch64
   VALVE_INFRA_VANGOGH_JOB_PRIORITY: priority:low
   JOB_PRIORITY: 50
   DATA_STORAGE_PATH: data_storage
@@ -348,6 +357,8 @@ sanity:
   extends:
     - .fdo.ci-fairy
   stage: sanity
+  tags:
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64
   rules:
     - if: *is-pre-merge
       when: on_success
@@ -394,6 +405,8 @@ mr-label-maker-test:
   extends:
     - .fdo.ci-fairy
   stage: sanity
+  tags:
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64
   rules:
     - !reference [.mr-label-maker-rules, rules]
   variables:
diff --git a/.gitlab-ci/build/gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci/build/gitlab-ci.yml
index d953d0966f0..542034e4eb5 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci/build/gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci/build/gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -799,7 +799,7 @@ debian-s390x:
     - .use-debian/s390x_build
     - .meson-build-only
   tags:
-    - kvm
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64_KVM
   variables:
     BUILDTYPE: debug
     CROSS: s390x
diff --git a/.gitlab-ci/container/gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci/container/gitlab-ci.yml
index 6a629b9f8c4..2a5a0fa1cea 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci/container/gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci/container/gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@
   extends:
     - .container+build-rules
     - .incorporate-templates-commit
+  tags:
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64
   variables:
     FDO_REPO_SUFFIX: $CI_JOB_NAME
     FDO_DISTRIBUTION_EXEC: 'bash .gitlab-ci/container/container_job_trampoline.sh "${CI_JOB_NAME}"'
@@ -101,6 +103,8 @@ debian/x86_64_build-base:
     LLVM_VERSION: &debian-x86_64-llvm 19
 
 .use-debian/x86_64_build-base:
+  tags:
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64
   extends:
     - .fdo.container-build@debian
     - .debian-container-version
@@ -122,6 +126,8 @@ debian/x86_64_build:
     LLVM_VERSION: *debian-x86_64-llvm
 
 .use-debian/x86_64_build:
+  tags:
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64
   extends:
     - .set-image-base-tag
   variables:
@@ -140,6 +146,8 @@ debian/x86_32_build:
     MESA_IMAGE_TAG: &debian-x86_32_build ${DEBIAN_BUILD_TAG}
 
 .use-debian/x86_32_build:
+  tags:
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64
   extends:
     - .set-image-base-tag
   variables:
@@ -159,6 +167,8 @@ debian/ppc64el_build:
     LLVM_VERSION: &debian-ppc64el-llvm 15 # no LLVM packages for PPC
 
 .use-debian/ppc64el_build:
+  tags:
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64
   extends:
     - .set-image-base-tag
   variables:
@@ -178,6 +188,8 @@ debian/s390x_build:
     LLVM_VERSION: &debian-s390x-llvm 19
 
 .use-debian/s390x_build:
+  tags:
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64
   extends:
     - .set-image-base-tag
   variables:
@@ -217,6 +229,8 @@ debian/android_build:
   extends:
     - .android-variables
     - .set-image-base-tag
+  tags:
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64
   variables:
     MESA_BASE_TAG: *debian-x86_64_build-base
     MESA_IMAGE_PATH: "debian/android_build"
@@ -231,7 +245,7 @@ debian/arm64_build:
     - .container
     - .debian-container-version
   tags:
-    - aarch64
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_AARCH64
   variables:
     MESA_IMAGE_TAG: &debian-arm64_build "${DEBIAN_BASE_TAG}--${PKG_REPO_REV}"
     LLVM_VERSION: &debian-arm64-llvm 19
@@ -240,7 +254,7 @@ debian/arm64_build:
   extends:
     - .set-image
   tags:
-    - aarch64
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_AARCH64
   variables:
     MESA_IMAGE_PATH: "debian/arm64_build"
     MESA_IMAGE_TAG: *debian-arm64_build
@@ -275,6 +289,8 @@ alpine/x86_64_build:
     - !reference [.container, rules]
 
 .use-alpine/x86_64_build:
+  tags:
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64
   extends:
     - .set-image
   variables:
@@ -302,6 +318,8 @@ fedora/x86_64_build:
     LLVM_VERSION: &fedora-x86_64-llvm 19
 
 .use-fedora/x86_64_build:
+  tags:
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64
   extends:
     - .set-image
   variables:
@@ -320,6 +338,8 @@ debian/x86_64_test-base:
     LLVM_VERSION: *debian-x86_64-llvm
 
 .use-debian/x86_64_test-base:
+  tags:
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64
   extends:
     - .fdo.container-build@debian
     - .debian-container-version
@@ -334,7 +354,7 @@ debian/x86_64_test-base:
 # Debian based ARMv7/armhf test image base
 debian/arm32_test-base:
   tags:
-    - aarch64
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_AARCH64
   extends:
     - .debian-container
     - .firmware_arm32
@@ -345,7 +365,7 @@ debian/arm32_test-base:
 
 .use-debian/arm32_test-base:
   tags:
-    - aarch64
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_AARCH64
   extends:
     - .fdo.container-build@debian
     - .debian-container-version
@@ -361,7 +381,7 @@ debian/arm32_test-base:
 # Debian based aarch64 test image base
 debian/arm64_test-base:
   tags:
-    - aarch64
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_AARCH64
   extends:
     - .debian-container
   variables:
@@ -370,7 +390,7 @@ debian/arm64_test-base:
 
 .use-debian/arm64_test-base:
   tags:
-    - aarch64
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_AARCH64
   extends:
     - .fdo.container-build@debian
     - .debian-container-version
@@ -389,6 +409,8 @@ debian/x86_64_test-gl:
     MESA_IMAGE_TAG: &debian-x86_64_test-gl ${DEBIAN_TEST_GL_TAG}
 
 .use-debian/x86_64_test-gl:
+  tags:
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64
   extends:
     - .set-image-base-tag
   variables:
@@ -405,6 +427,8 @@ debian/x86_64_test-vk:
     MESA_IMAGE_TAG: &debian-x86_64_test-vk ${DEBIAN_TEST_VK_TAG}
 
 .use-debian/x86_64_test-vk:
+  tags:
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64
   extends:
     - .set-image-base-tag
   variables:
@@ -424,7 +448,7 @@ debian/x86_64_test-android:
 
 .use-debian/x86_64_test-android:
   tags:
-    - kvm
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64_KVM
   extends:
     - .android-variables
     - .set-image-base-tag
@@ -443,6 +467,8 @@ debian/x86_64_pyutils:
     MESA_IMAGE_TAG: &debian-x86_64_pyutils "${DEBIAN_PYUTILS_TAG}"
 
 .use-debian/x86_64_pyutils:
+  tags:
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64
   extends:
     - .fdo.container-build@debian
     - .debian-container-version
@@ -456,14 +482,14 @@ debian/x86_64_pyutils:
 # Debian based ARMv7/armhf test image for GL
 debian/arm32_test-gl:
   tags:
-    - aarch64
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_AARCH64
   extends: .use-debian/arm32_test-base
   variables:
     MESA_IMAGE_TAG: &debian-arm32_test-gl ${DEBIAN_TEST_GL_TAG}
 
 .use-debian/arm32_test-gl:
   tags:
-    - aarch64
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_AARCH64
   extends:
     - .set-image-base-tag
   variables:
@@ -476,14 +502,14 @@ debian/arm32_test-gl:
 # Debian based ARMv7/armhf test image for VK
 debian/arm32_test-vk:
   tags:
-    - aarch64
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_AARCH64
   extends: .use-debian/arm32_test-base
   variables:
     MESA_IMAGE_TAG: &debian-arm32_test-vk ${DEBIAN_TEST_VK_TAG}
 
 .use-debian/arm32_test-vk:
   tags:
-    - aarch64
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_AARCH64
   extends:
     - .set-image-base-tag
   variables:
@@ -496,7 +522,7 @@ debian/arm32_test-vk:
 # Debian based aarch64 test image for GL
 debian/arm64_test-gl:
   tags:
-    - aarch64
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_AARCH64
   extends:
     - .use-debian/arm64_test-base
     - .container-builds-arm64
@@ -505,7 +531,7 @@ debian/arm64_test-gl:
 
 .use-debian/arm64_test-gl:
   tags:
-    - aarch64
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_AARCH64
   extends:
     - .set-image-base-tag
   variables:
@@ -518,14 +544,14 @@ debian/arm64_test-gl:
 # Debian based aarch64 test image for VK
 debian/arm64_test-vk:
   tags:
-    - aarch64
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_AARCH64
   extends: .use-debian/arm64_test-base
   variables:
     MESA_IMAGE_TAG: &debian-arm64_test-vk ${DEBIAN_TEST_VK_TAG}
 
 .use-debian/arm64_test-vk:
   tags:
-    - aarch64
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_AARCH64
   extends:
     - .set-image-base-tag
   variables:
diff --git a/.gitlab-ci/test/gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci/test/gitlab-ci.yml
index 0eda37d34ea..1b2641188df 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci/test/gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci/test/gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -74,7 +74,8 @@ shader-db:
       - shader-db
   timeout: 15m
   tags:
-    - kvm  # FIXME: this is a hack, should not be needed
+    # FIXME: kvm is a hack, should not be needed
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64_KVM
 
 yaml-toml-shell-py-test:
   extends:
diff --git a/src/gallium/drivers/llvmpipe/ci/gitlab-ci-inc.yml b/src/gallium/drivers/llvmpipe/ci/gitlab-ci-inc.yml
index f8ca382258a..f84446f600b 100644
--- a/src/gallium/drivers/llvmpipe/ci/gitlab-ci-inc.yml
+++ b/src/gallium/drivers/llvmpipe/ci/gitlab-ci-inc.yml
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@
 .llvmpipe-test:
   extends:
     - .llvmpipe-rules
+  tags:
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64
   variables:
     LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE: "true"
     GALLIUM_DRIVER: "llvmpipe"
diff --git a/src/gallium/drivers/softpipe/ci/gitlab-ci-inc.yml b/src/gallium/drivers/softpipe/ci/gitlab-ci-inc.yml
index 46a10c596d7..8d397cd5301 100644
--- a/src/gallium/drivers/softpipe/ci/gitlab-ci-inc.yml
+++ b/src/gallium/drivers/softpipe/ci/gitlab-ci-inc.yml
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
       when: on_success
 
 .softpipe-test:
+  tags:
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64
   variables:
     GPU_VERSION: softpipe
     LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE: "true"
diff --git a/src/gallium/drivers/virgl/ci/gitlab-ci.yml b/src/gallium/drivers/virgl/ci/gitlab-ci.yml
index e9ad05abde4..f396c954644 100644
--- a/src/gallium/drivers/virgl/ci/gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/src/gallium/drivers/virgl/ci/gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ virgl-on-gl:
     LP_NUM_THREADS: 1 # There will be FDO_CI_CONCURRENT Crosvm processes, so each should use a single thread
   parallel: 3
   tags:
-    - kvm
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64_KVM
   extends:
     - .deqp-test
     - .virgl-test
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ virgl-traces:
     PIGLIT_RESULTS: "virgl-replay"
     LD_LIBRARY_PATH: "${CI_PROJECT_DIR}/install/lib/"     # For Crosvm
   tags:
-    - kvm
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64_KVM
   script:
     - . "$SCRIPTS_DIR"/setup-test-env.sh
     # Use all threads for rendering and only run one job at a time
diff --git a/src/gallium/drivers/zink/ci/gitlab-ci-inc.yml b/src/gallium/drivers/zink/ci/gitlab-ci-inc.yml
index 9361d0437e7..a2862b8a8a3 100644
--- a/src/gallium/drivers/zink/ci/gitlab-ci-inc.yml
+++ b/src/gallium/drivers/zink/ci/gitlab-ci-inc.yml
@@ -154,6 +154,8 @@
   extends:
     - .zink-lvp-rules
     - .zink-test
+  tags:
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64
   variables:
     LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE: "true"
     LVP_POISON_MEMORY: "1"
@@ -177,7 +179,7 @@
     CROSVM_VK_DRIVER: "lvp"
     CROSVM_GPU_ARGS: "vulkan=true,gles=false,backend=virglrenderer,egl=true,surfaceless=true,fixed-blob-mapping=false"
   tags:
-    - kvm
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64_KVM
 
 .zink-anv-adl-test:
   extends:
diff --git a/src/gallium/drivers/zink/ci/gitlab-ci.yml b/src/gallium/drivers/zink/ci/gitlab-ci.yml
index b33487a987b..aff94380502 100644
--- a/src/gallium/drivers/zink/ci/gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/src/gallium/drivers/zink/ci/gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@ zink-lvp:
     - .deqp-test
     - .zink-lvp-test
   tags:
-    - kvm  # FIXME: this is a hack, should not be needed
+    # FIXME: kvm is a hack, should not be needed
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64_KVM
   variables:
     DEQP_SUITE: zink-lvp
     DEQP_FRACTION: 8
diff --git a/src/gallium/frontends/lavapipe/ci/gitlab-ci-inc.yml b/src/gallium/frontends/lavapipe/ci/gitlab-ci-inc.yml
index 9f11c2e3dd8..9e9c8d6033f 100644
--- a/src/gallium/frontends/lavapipe/ci/gitlab-ci-inc.yml
+++ b/src/gallium/frontends/lavapipe/ci/gitlab-ci-inc.yml
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@
   extends:
     - .test-vk
     - .lavapipe-rules
+  tags:
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64
   variables:
     VK_DRIVER: lvp
     LVP_POISON_MEMORY: "1"
diff --git a/src/virtio/ci/gitlab-ci-inc.yml b/src/virtio/ci/gitlab-ci-inc.yml
index 447cb515d10..8422caf0ab3 100644
--- a/src/virtio/ci/gitlab-ci-inc.yml
+++ b/src/virtio/ci/gitlab-ci-inc.yml
@@ -27,4 +27,4 @@
     CROSVM_VK_DRIVER: "lvp"
     CROSVM_GPU_ARGS: "vulkan=true,gles=false,backend=virglrenderer,egl=true,surfaceless=true,fixed-blob-mapping=false"
   tags:
-    - kvm
+    - $FDO_RUNNER_JOB_PRIORITY_TAG_X86_64_KVM