diff --git a/airflow-core/src/airflow/api_fastapi/gunicorn_app.py b/airflow-core/src/airflow/api_fastapi/gunicorn_app.py
index 9915d0a435826..b4b68dbbec77f 100644
--- a/airflow-core/src/airflow/api_fastapi/gunicorn_app.py
+++ b/airflow-core/src/airflow/api_fastapi/gunicorn_app.py
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
 from gunicorn.glogging import Logger as GunicornLogger
 from uvicorn.workers import UvicornWorker
 
+from airflow.api_fastapi import gunicorn_config
 from airflow.configuration import conf
 from airflow.exceptions import RemovedInAirflow4Warning
 
@@ -277,8 +278,10 @@ def create_gunicorn_app(
         "loglevel": log_level,
         "logger_class": "airflow.api_fastapi.gunicorn_app.AirflowGunicornLogger",
         "preload_app": True,
-        # Use our gunicorn_config module for hooks (post_worker_init, worker_exit)
-        "config": "python:airflow.api_fastapi.gunicorn_config",
+        # ``cfg.config`` is only read by ``Application.load_config()``, which
+        # ``AirflowGunicornApp`` does not inherit, so the hooks have to be passed as callables.
+        "post_worker_init": gunicorn_config.post_worker_init,
+        "worker_exit": gunicorn_config.worker_exit,
     }
 
     if ssl_cert and ssl_key:
diff --git a/airflow-core/src/airflow/api_fastapi/gunicorn_config.py b/airflow-core/src/airflow/api_fastapi/gunicorn_config.py
index 4ba8e06d99961..08357060c633f 100644
--- a/airflow-core/src/airflow/api_fastapi/gunicorn_config.py
+++ b/airflow-core/src/airflow/api_fastapi/gunicorn_config.py
@@ -15,15 +15,13 @@
 # specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
 """
-Gunicorn configuration hooks for the Airflow API server.
+Gunicorn server hooks for the Airflow API server.
 
-This module provides Gunicorn server hooks that are loaded via the -c config option.
 These hooks handle:
 - Setting process titles to indicate worker readiness (useful for debugging)
 - Cleaning up ORM connections on worker exit
 
-Usage:
-    gunicorn -c python:airflow.api_fastapi.gunicorn_config airflow.api_fastapi.main:app
+``create_gunicorn_app()`` registers them as ``post_worker_init`` / ``worker_exit`` callables.
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations
diff --git a/airflow-core/tests/unit/cli/commands/test_gunicorn_monitor.py b/airflow-core/tests/unit/cli/commands/test_gunicorn_monitor.py
index 01374f4177e8f..699182b703ce8 100644
--- a/airflow-core/tests/unit/cli/commands/test_gunicorn_monitor.py
+++ b/airflow-core/tests/unit/cli/commands/test_gunicorn_monitor.py
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@
 import pytest
 from gunicorn.config import Config
 
+from airflow.api_fastapi import gunicorn_config
+from airflow.api_fastapi.gunicorn_app import create_gunicorn_app
+
 NOT_SET = object()
 
 
@@ -400,8 +403,6 @@ class TestCreateGunicornApp:
 
     def test_create_basic_app(self):
         """Test creating an app with basic settings."""
-        from airflow.api_fastapi.gunicorn_app import create_gunicorn_app
-
         with mock.patch("airflow.api_fastapi.gunicorn_app.AirflowGunicornApp") as mock_app_class:
             create_gunicorn_app(
                 host="0.0.0.0",
@@ -420,10 +421,17 @@ def test_create_basic_app(self):
             assert options["preload_app"] is True
             assert "accesslog" not in options
 
+    def test_create_app_registers_worker_hooks(self, monkeypatch):
+        """The hooks must land on the real gunicorn config, not just in the options dict."""
+        monkeypatch.delenv("GUNICORN_CMD_ARGS", raising=False)
+
+        app = create_gunicorn_app(host="0.0.0.0", port=8080, num_workers=4, worker_timeout=120)
+
+        assert app.cfg.post_worker_init is gunicorn_config.post_worker_init
+        assert app.cfg.worker_exit is gunicorn_config.worker_exit
+
     def test_create_app_with_ssl(self):
         """Test creating an app with SSL settings."""
-        from airflow.api_fastapi.gunicorn_app import create_gunicorn_app
-
         with mock.patch("airflow.api_fastapi.gunicorn_app.AirflowGunicornApp") as mock_app_class:
             create_gunicorn_app(
                 host="0.0.0.0",
@@ -454,8 +462,6 @@ def test_create_app_proxy_header_trust(
         self, monkeypatch, proxy_headers, forwarded_allow_ips, expected_trusted
     ):
         """An operator who set FORWARDED_ALLOW_IPS gets it honoured instead of overridden."""
-        from airflow.api_fastapi.gunicorn_app import create_gunicorn_app
-
         if forwarded_allow_ips is None:
             monkeypatch.delenv("FORWARDED_ALLOW_IPS", raising=False)
         else:
@@ -476,7 +482,6 @@ def test_create_app_proxy_header_trust(
 
     def test_create_app_proxy_headers_without_forwarded_allow_ips_is_deprecated(self, monkeypatch):
         """Trusting every client stays the default for now, but is on its way out."""
-        from airflow.api_fastapi.gunicorn_app import create_gunicorn_app
         from airflow.exceptions import RemovedInAirflow4Warning
 
         monkeypatch.delenv("FORWARDED_ALLOW_IPS", raising=False)
@@ -495,8 +500,6 @@ def test_create_app_proxy_headers_without_forwarded_allow_ips_is_deprecated(self
 
     def test_create_app_never_sets_accesslog(self):
         """accesslog is never set; HttpAccessLogMiddleware handles HTTP access logging."""
-        from airflow.api_fastapi.gunicorn_app import create_gunicorn_app
-
         with mock.patch("airflow.api_fastapi.gunicorn_app.AirflowGunicornApp") as mock_app_class:
             create_gunicorn_app(
                 host="0.0.0.0",