diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/cmake.py b/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/cmake.py
index 73f88d4e8e1..a92cb1b6b5b 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/cmake.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/cmake.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 import spack.build_environment
 import spack.builder
+import spack.deptypes as dt
 import spack.package_base
 from spack.directives import build_system, conflicts, depends_on, variant
 from spack.multimethod import when
@@ -31,8 +32,30 @@ def _extract_primary_generator(generator):
     primary generator from the generator string which may contain an
     optional secondary generator.
     """
-    primary_generator = _primary_generator_extractor.match(generator).group(1)
-    return primary_generator
+    return _primary_generator_extractor.match(generator).group(1)
+
+
+def _maybe_set_python_hints(pkg: spack.package_base.PackageBase, args: List[str]) -> None:
+    """Set the PYTHON_EXECUTABLE, Python_EXECUTABLE, and Python3_EXECUTABLE CMake variables
+    if the package has Python as build or link dep and ``find_python_hints`` is set to True. See
+    ``find_python_hints`` for context."""
+    if not getattr(pkg, "find_python_hints", False):
+        return
+    pythons = pkg.spec.dependencies("python", dt.BUILD | dt.LINK)
+    if len(pythons) != 1:
+        return
+    try:
+        python_executable = pythons[0].package.command.path
+    except RuntimeError:
+        return
+
+    args.extend(
+        [
+            CMakeBuilder.define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", python_executable),
+            CMakeBuilder.define("Python_EXECUTABLE", python_executable),
+            CMakeBuilder.define("Python3_EXECUTABLE", python_executable),
+        ]
+    )
 
 
 def generator(*names: str, default: Optional[str] = None):
@@ -86,6 +109,13 @@ class CMakePackage(spack.package_base.PackageBase):
     #: Legacy buildsystem attribute used to deserialize and install old specs
     legacy_buildsystem = "cmake"
 
+    #: When this package depends on Python and ``find_python_hints`` is set to True, pass the
+    #: defines {Python3,Python,PYTHON}_EXECUTABLE explicitly, so that CMake locates the right
+    #: Python in its builtin FindPython3, FindPython, and FindPythonInterp modules. Spack does
+    #: CMake's job because CMake's modules by default only search for Python versions known at the
+    #: time of release.
+    find_python_hints = True
+
     build_system("cmake")
 
     with when("build_system=cmake"):
@@ -241,9 +271,9 @@ def std_cmake_args(self):
         """Standard cmake arguments provided as a property for
         convenience of package writers
         """
-        std_cmake_args = CMakeBuilder.std_args(self.pkg, generator=self.generator)
-        std_cmake_args += getattr(self.pkg, "cmake_flag_args", [])
-        return std_cmake_args
+        args = CMakeBuilder.std_args(self.pkg, generator=self.generator)
+        args += getattr(self.pkg, "cmake_flag_args", [])
+        return args
 
     @staticmethod
     def std_args(pkg, generator=None):
@@ -288,6 +318,8 @@ def std_args(pkg, generator=None):
                 [define("CMAKE_FIND_FRAMEWORK", "LAST"), define("CMAKE_FIND_APPBUNDLE", "LAST")]
             )
 
+        _maybe_set_python_hints(pkg, args)
+
         # Set up CMake rpath
         args.extend(
             [
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/acts/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/acts/package.py
index b3eef6dfa6c..a6226090871 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/acts/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/acts/package.py
@@ -458,10 +458,6 @@ def plugin_cmake_variant(plugin_name, spack_variant):
             if cuda_arch != "none":
                 args.append(f"-DCUDA_FLAGS=-arch=sm_{cuda_arch[0]}")
 
-        if "+python" in spec:
-            python = spec["python"].command.path
-            args.append(f"-DPython_EXECUTABLE={python}")
-
         args.append(self.define_from_variant("CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD", "cxxstd"))
 
         return args
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/adios2/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/adios2/package.py
index b345f5e4c53..2f70cd0582c 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/adios2/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/adios2/package.py
@@ -292,10 +292,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         if "%fj" in spec:
             args.extend(["-DCMAKE_Fortran_SUBMODULE_EXT=.smod", "-DCMAKE_Fortran_SUBMODULE_SEP=."])
 
-        if "+python" in spec or self.run_tests:
-            args.append(f"-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE:FILEPATH={spec['python'].command.path}")
-            args.append(f"-DPython_EXECUTABLE:FILEPATH={spec['python'].command.path}")
-
         # hip support
         if "+cuda" in spec:
             args.append(self.builder.define_cuda_architectures(self))
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/bohrium/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/bohrium/package.py
index ec77b886339..64ad8c100e0 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/bohrium/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/bohrium/package.py
@@ -119,8 +119,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         # different hosts.
 
         args = [
-            # Choose a particular python version
-            "-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE:FILEPATH=" + spec["python"].command.path,
             #
             # Hard-disable Jupyter, since this would override a config
             # file in the user's home directory in some cases during
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/caliper/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/caliper/package.py
index e66fa571460..f1ae9a92ccb 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/caliper/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/caliper/package.py
@@ -129,7 +129,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         spec = self.spec
 
         args = [
-            ("-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE=%s" % spec["python"].command.path),
             "-DBUILD_TESTING=Off",
             "-DBUILD_DOCS=Off",
             self.define_from_variant("BUILD_SHARED_LIBS", "shared"),
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/clingo/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/clingo/package.py
index 46b3f5278b0..ac242c57cd3 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/clingo/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/clingo/package.py
@@ -91,22 +91,6 @@ def patch(self):
                 "clasp/libpotassco/CMakeLists.txt",
             )
 
-    @property
-    def cmake_python_hints(self):
-        """Return standard CMake defines to ensure that the
-        current spec is the one found by CMake find_package(Python, ...)
-        """
-        python = self.spec["python"]
-        return [
-            self.define("Python_EXECUTABLE", python.command.path),
-            self.define("Python_INCLUDE_DIR", python.headers.directories[0]),
-            self.define("Python_LIBRARIES", python.libs[0]),
-            # XCode command line tools on macOS has no python-config executable, and
-            # CMake assumes you have python 2 if it does not find a python-config,
-            # so we set the version explicitly so that it's passed to FindPython.
-            self.define("CLINGO_PYTHON_VERSION", python.version.up_to(2)),
-        ]
-
     @property
     def cmake_py_shared(self):
         return self.define("CLINGO_BUILD_PY_SHARED", "ON")
@@ -127,8 +111,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
                 "-DPYCLINGO_USE_INSTALL_PREFIX=ON",
                 self.cmake_py_shared,
             ]
-            if self.spec["cmake"].satisfies("@3.16.0:"):
-                args += self.cmake_python_hints
         else:
             args += ["-DCLINGO_BUILD_WITH_PYTHON=OFF"]
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/cvise/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/cvise/package.py
index 5a4e2f7b7e2..48def2cf00a 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/cvise/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/cvise/package.py
@@ -33,6 +33,3 @@ class Cvise(CMakePackage):
 
     depends_on("py-pytest", when="+pytest", type=("build", "run"))
     depends_on("colordiff", when="+colordiff", type=("build", "run"))
-
-    def cmake_args(self):
-        return ["-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE=" + self.spec["python"].command.path]
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dd4hep/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dd4hep/package.py
index 0f6965fdb9c..d8b7d3549c8 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dd4hep/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dd4hep/package.py
@@ -232,7 +232,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             "-DBUILD_TESTING={0}".format(self.run_tests),
             "-DBOOST_ROOT={0}".format(spec["boost"].prefix),
             "-DBoost_NO_BOOST_CMAKE=ON",
-            "-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE={0}".format(spec["python"].command.path),
         ]
         subpackages = []
         if spec.satisfies("+ddg4"):
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dealii/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dealii/package.py
index ee181553a37..f9ec14adf3a 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dealii/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dealii/package.py
@@ -539,17 +539,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         # Python bindings
         if spec.satisfies("@8.5.0:"):
             options.append(self.define_from_variant("DEAL_II_COMPONENT_PYTHON_BINDINGS", "python"))
-            if "+python" in spec:
-                python_exe = spec["python"].command.path
-                python_library = spec["python"].libs[0]
-                python_include = spec["python"].headers.directories[0]
-                options.extend(
-                    [
-                        self.define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", python_exe),
-                        self.define("PYTHON_INCLUDE_DIR", python_include),
-                        self.define("PYTHON_LIBRARY", python_library),
-                    ]
-                )
 
         # Simplex support (no longer experimental)
         if spec.satisfies("@9.3.0:9.4.0"):
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/doxygen/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/doxygen/package.py
index b47a6f7aea1..e6c099cb57f 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/doxygen/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/doxygen/package.py
@@ -124,12 +124,3 @@ def patch(self):
             join_path("cmake", "FindIconv.cmake"),
             string=True,
         )
-
-    def cmake_args(self):
-        args = [
-            # Doxygen's build system uses CMake's deprecated `FindPythonInterp`,
-            # which can get confused by other `python` executables in the PATH.
-            # See issue: https://github.com/spack/spack/issues/28215
-            self.define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", self.spec["python"].command.path)
-        ]
-        return args
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/eccodes/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/eccodes/package.py
index 362d0de274e..66967690dbe 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/eccodes/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/eccodes/package.py
@@ -351,9 +351,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             # Prevent overriding by environment variables AEC_DIR and AEC_PATH:
             args.append(self.define("AEC_DIR", self.spec["libaec"].prefix))
 
-        if "+memfs" in self.spec:
-            args.append(self.define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", python.path))
-
         return args
 
     @run_after("install")
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ecflow/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ecflow/package.py
index 4ee103b983d..ea447d5f482 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ecflow/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ecflow/package.py
@@ -91,7 +91,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             self.define_from_variant("ENABLE_SSL", "ssl"),
             # https://jira.ecmwf.int/browse/SUP-2641#comment-208943
             self.define_from_variant("ENABLE_STATIC_BOOST_LIBS", "static_boost"),
-            self.define("Python3_EXECUTABLE", spec["python"].package.command),
             self.define("BOOST_ROOT", spec["boost"].prefix),
             self.define_from_variant("CMAKE_POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE", "pic"),
         ]
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ecmwf-atlas/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ecmwf-atlas/package.py
index 25fe5e78f90..f1320c92660 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ecmwf-atlas/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ecmwf-atlas/package.py
@@ -73,7 +73,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             self.define_from_variant("ENABLE_TRANS", "trans"),
             self.define_from_variant("ENABLE_EIGEN", "eigen"),
             self.define_from_variant("ENABLE_FFTW", "fftw"),
-            "-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE:FILEPATH=" + self.spec["python"].command.path,
         ]
         if "~shared" in self.spec:
             args.append("-DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=OFF")
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/faiss/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/faiss/package.py
index d67bc55544f..8f4b6acb69a 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/faiss/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/faiss/package.py
@@ -96,9 +96,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             self.define_from_variant("BUILD_TESTING", "tests"),
             self.define("FAISS_OPT_LEVEL", "generic"),
         ]
-        if "+python" in spec:
-            pyexe = spec["python"].command.path
-            args.append(self.define("Python_EXECUTABLE", pyexe))
 
         if "+cuda" in spec:
             key = "CMAKE_CUDA_ARCHITECTURES"
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/fckit/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/fckit/package.py
index 517fd302bde..5822e13344f 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/fckit/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/fckit/package.py
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         args = [
             self.define_from_variant("ENABLE_ECKIT", "eckit"),
             self.define_from_variant("ENABLE_OMP", "openmp"),
-            "-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE:FILEPATH=" + self.spec["python"].command.path,
             "-DFYPP_NO_LINE_NUMBERING=ON",
         ]
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/flann/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/flann/package.py
index e915599a39d..301d1d88f5d 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/flann/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/flann/package.py
@@ -123,8 +123,4 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         use_mpi = "ON" if "+mpi" in spec else "OFF"
         args.append("-DUSE_MPI:BOOL={0}".format(use_mpi))
 
-        # Configure the proper python executable
-        if "+python" in spec:
-            args.append("-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE={0}".format(spec["python"].command.path))
-
         return args
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gnina/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gnina/package.py
index 5b9ae74c3e2..dcfa07c259e 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gnina/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gnina/package.py
@@ -70,10 +70,7 @@ class Gnina(CMakePackage, CudaPackage):
     depends_on("cudnn", when="+cudnn")
 
     def cmake_args(self):
-        args = [
-            "-DBLAS=Open",  # Use OpenBLAS instead of Atlas' BLAS
-            f"-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE={self.spec['python'].command.path}",
-        ]
+        args = ["-DBLAS=Open"]  # Use OpenBLAS instead of Atlas' BLAS
 
         if "+gninavis" in self.spec:
             args.append(f"-DRDKIT_INCLUDE_DIR={self.spec['rdkit'].prefix.include.rdkit}")
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gnuradio/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gnuradio/package.py
index ddc2db56040..cb4f86c7a8e 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gnuradio/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gnuradio/package.py
@@ -61,10 +61,7 @@ class Gnuradio(CMakePackage):
     extends("python")
 
     def cmake_args(self):
-        args = []
-        args.append("-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE={0}".format(self.spec["python"].command.path))
-        args.append("-DENABLE_INTERNAL_VOLK=OFF")
-        return args
+        return ["-DENABLE_INTERNAL_VOLK=OFF"]
 
     def setup_dependent_build_environment(self, env, dependent_spec):
         env.prepend_path("XDG_DATA_DIRS", self.prefix.share)
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/halide/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/halide/package.py
index f9e95e67567..282fda87331 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/halide/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/halide/package.py
@@ -108,7 +108,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
 
         if "+python" in spec:
             args += [
-                self.define("Python3_EXECUTABLE", spec["python"].command.path),
                 self.define("PYBIND11_USE_FETCHCONTENT", False),
                 self.define("Halide_INSTALL_PYTHONDIR", python_platlib),
             ]
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/henson/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/henson/package.py
index b347adc1208..d1be8ba2cd2 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/henson/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/henson/package.py
@@ -32,13 +32,8 @@ class Henson(CMakePackage):
     conflicts("^openmpi", when="+mpi-wrappers")
 
     def cmake_args(self):
-        args = [
+        return [
             self.define_from_variant("python", "python"),
             self.define_from_variant("mpi-wrappers", "mpi-wrappers"),
             self.define_from_variant("use_boost", "boost"),
         ]
-
-        if self.spec.satisfies("+python"):
-            args += [self.define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", self.spec["python"].command.path)]
-
-        return args
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/hoomd-blue/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/hoomd-blue/package.py
index a69a8015262..54afb419c15 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/hoomd-blue/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/hoomd-blue/package.py
@@ -65,10 +65,7 @@ class HoomdBlue(CMakePackage):
     def cmake_args(self):
         spec = self.spec
 
-        cmake_args = [
-            "-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE={0}".format(spec["python"].command.path),
-            "-DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX={0}".format(python_platlib),
-        ]
+        cmake_args = ["-DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX={0}".format(python_platlib)]
 
         # MPI support
         if "+mpi" in spec:
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/lammps/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/lammps/package.py
index ca0df298e10..8588f5fdf60 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/lammps/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/lammps/package.py
@@ -860,9 +860,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         if "+rocm" in spec:
             args.append(self.define("CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER", spec["hip"].hipcc))
 
-        if "+python" in spec:
-            args.append(self.define("Python_EXECUTABLE", spec["python"].command.path))
-
         return args
 
     def setup_build_environment(self, env):
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libmolgrid/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libmolgrid/package.py
index 883231ec335..86bb4e7e0db 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libmolgrid/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libmolgrid/package.py
@@ -35,9 +35,4 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         ob_incl = os.path.join(self.spec["openbabel"].prefix.include, "openbabel3")
         ob_libs = self.spec["openbabel"].libs.joined(";")
 
-        args = [
-            "-DOPENBABEL3_INCLUDE_DIR=" + ob_incl,
-            "-DOPENBABEL3_LIBRARIES=" + ob_libs,
-            f"-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE={self.spec['python'].command.path}",
-        ]
-        return args
+        return ["-DOPENBABEL3_INCLUDE_DIR=" + ob_incl, "-DOPENBABEL3_LIBRARIES=" + ob_libs]
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libpressio/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libpressio/package.py
index f020cb3800b..f1828bcf51c 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libpressio/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libpressio/package.py
@@ -278,7 +278,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         if "+python" in self.spec:
             args.append("-DLIBPRESSIO_PYTHON_SITELIB={0}".format(python_platlib))
             args.append("-DBUILD_PYTHON_WRAPPER=ON")
-            args.append("-DPython3_EXECUTABLE={0}".format(self.spec["python"].command))
             if "+mpi" in self.spec:
                 args.append("-DLIBPRESSIO_HAS_MPI4PY=ON")
         if "+hdf5" in self.spec:
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm-doe/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm-doe/package.py
index 90faf6e135a..8402e0c7434 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm-doe/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm-doe/package.py
@@ -405,13 +405,11 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         define = self.define
         from_variant = self.define_from_variant
 
-        python = spec["python"]
         cmake_args = [
             define("LLVM_REQUIRES_RTTI", True),
             define("LLVM_ENABLE_RTTI", True),
             define("LLVM_ENABLE_EH", True),
             define("CLANG_DEFAULT_OPENMP_RUNTIME", "libomp"),
-            define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", python.command.path),
             define("LIBOMP_USE_HWLOC", True),
             define("LIBOMP_HWLOC_INSTALL_DIR", spec["hwloc"].prefix),
         ]
@@ -420,11 +418,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         if version_suffix != "none":
             cmake_args.append(define("LLVM_VERSION_SUFFIX", version_suffix))
 
-        if python.version >= Version("3"):
-            cmake_args.append(define("Python3_EXECUTABLE", python.command.path))
-        else:
-            cmake_args.append(define("Python2_EXECUTABLE", python.command.path))
-
         projects = []
         runtimes = []
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm/package.py
index f32e3494e43..c19792be4ca 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/llvm/package.py
@@ -781,13 +781,11 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         define = self.define
         from_variant = self.define_from_variant
 
-        python = spec["python"]
         cmake_args = [
             define("LLVM_REQUIRES_RTTI", True),
             define("LLVM_ENABLE_RTTI", True),
             define("LLVM_ENABLE_LIBXML2", False),
             define("CLANG_DEFAULT_OPENMP_RUNTIME", "libomp"),
-            define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", python.command.path),
             define("LIBOMP_USE_HWLOC", True),
             define("LIBOMP_HWLOC_INSTALL_DIR", spec["hwloc"].prefix),
             from_variant("LLVM_ENABLE_ZSTD", "zstd"),
@@ -811,11 +809,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         if shlib_symbol_version is not None and shlib_symbol_version.value != "none":
             cmake_args.append(define("LLVM_SHLIB_SYMBOL_VERSION", shlib_symbol_version.value))
 
-        if python.version >= Version("3"):
-            cmake_args.append(define("Python3_EXECUTABLE", python.command.path))
-        else:
-            cmake_args.append(define("Python2_EXECUTABLE", python.command.path))
-
         projects = []
         runtimes = []
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/neuron/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/neuron/package.py
index aa3b0c76d53..edad5ec9943 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/neuron/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/neuron/package.py
@@ -86,9 +86,6 @@ def cmake_options(spec_options):
         if "~mpi" in spec and "+coreneuron" in spec:
             args.append("-DCORENRN_ENABLE_MPI=OFF")
 
-        if "+python" in spec:
-            args.append("-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE:FILEPATH=" + spec["python"].command.path)
-
         if spec.variants["build_type"].value == "Debug":
             args.append("-DCMAKE_C_FLAGS=-g -O0")
             args.append("-DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS=-g -O0")
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nlopt/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nlopt/package.py
index b4aa99199dc..cf49d5e26e6 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nlopt/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nlopt/package.py
@@ -53,16 +53,12 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         # Specify on command line to alter defaults:
         # eg: spack install nlopt@master +guile -octave +cxx
 
-        # Spack should locate python by default - but to point to a build
-        if "+python" in spec:
-            args.append("-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE=%s" % spec["python"].command.path)
-
         # On is default
-        if "-shared" in spec:
+        if "~shared" in spec:
             args.append("-DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS:Bool=OFF")
 
         # On is default
-        if "-octave" in spec:
+        if "~octave" in spec:
             args.append("-DNLOPT_OCTAVE:Bool=OFF")
 
         if "+cxx" in spec:
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/odgi/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/odgi/package.py
index 0f4177d3151..0c4b9ea2ff3 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/odgi/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/odgi/package.py
@@ -41,8 +41,4 @@ class Odgi(CMakePackage):
     # >>> Dependencies list ends here
 
     def cmake_args(self):
-        args = [
-            "-DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED:BOOL=ON",
-            "-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE:FILEPATH={0}".format(self.spec["python"].command),
-        ]
-        return args
+        return ["-DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED:BOOL=ON"]
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/omnitrace/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/omnitrace/package.py
index c23ffc755e0..bc3ed317588 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/omnitrace/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/omnitrace/package.py
@@ -126,11 +126,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             tau_root = spec["tau"].prefix
             args.append(self.define("TAU_ROOT_DIR", tau_root))
 
-        if "+python" in spec:
-            pyexe = spec["python"].command.path
-            args.append(self.define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", pyexe))
-            args.append(self.define("Python3_EXECUTABLE", pyexe))
-
         if "+mpi" in spec:
             args.append(self.define("MPI_C_COMPILER", spec["mpi"].mpicc))
             args.append(self.define("MPI_CXX_COMPILER", spec["mpi"].mpicxx))
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/open3d/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/open3d/package.py
index 85fea1a1814..2a63de25cae 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/open3d/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/open3d/package.py
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ def patch(self):
         )
 
     def cmake_args(self):
-        args = [
+        return [
             self.define("BUILD_UNIT_TESTS", self.run_tests),
             self.define_from_variant("BUILD_PYTHON_MODULE", "python"),
             self.define_from_variant("BUILD_CUDA_MODULE", "cuda"),
@@ -95,11 +95,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             # self.define('USE_SYSTEM_TINYOBJLOADER', True),
         ]
 
-        if "+python" in self.spec:
-            args.append(self.define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", self.spec["python"].command.path))
-
-        return args
-
     def check(self):
         with working_dir(self.build_directory):
             tests = Executable(os.path.join("bin", "tests"))
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openbabel/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openbabel/package.py
index 346367cc155..65cff9e35c4 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openbabel/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openbabel/package.py
@@ -63,13 +63,7 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         args = []
 
         if "+python" in spec:
-            args.extend(
-                [
-                    "-DPYTHON_BINDINGS=ON",
-                    "-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE={0}".format(spec["python"].command.path),
-                    "-DRUN_SWIG=ON",
-                ]
-            )
+            args.extend(["-DPYTHON_BINDINGS=ON", "-DRUN_SWIG=ON"])
         else:
             args.append("-DPYTHON_BINDINGS=OFF")
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/opencv/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/opencv/package.py
index 1f23970a7b2..8e3f3236bb7 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/opencv/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/opencv/package.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ class Opencv(CMakePackage, CudaPackage):
     homepage = "https://opencv.org/"
     url = "https://github.com/opencv/opencv/archive/4.5.0.tar.gz"
     git = "https://github.com/opencv/opencv.git"
+    find_python_hints = False  # opencv uses custom OpenCVDetectPython.cmake
 
     maintainers("bvanessen", "adamjstewart")
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openmolcas/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openmolcas/package.py
index 7d53000ab7a..c3a59df79de 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openmolcas/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openmolcas/package.py
@@ -44,11 +44,7 @@ def setup_run_environment(self, env):
             env.append_path("PATH", self.prefix)
 
     def cmake_args(self):
-        args = [
-            "-DLINALG=OpenBLAS",
-            "-DOPENBLASROOT=%s" % self.spec["openblas"].prefix,
-            "-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE=%s" % self.spec["python"].command.path,
-        ]
+        args = ["-DLINALG=OpenBLAS", "-DOPENBLASROOT=%s" % self.spec["openblas"].prefix]
         if "+mpi" in self.spec:
             mpi_args = [
                 "-DMPI=ON",
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openpmd-api/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openpmd-api/package.py
index 694b785094a..b114ed8efeb 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openpmd-api/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openpmd-api/package.py
@@ -123,13 +123,7 @@ def cmake_args(self):
 
         # switch internally shipped third-party libraries for spack
         if spec.satisfies("+python"):
-            py_exe_define = (
-                "Python_EXECUTABLE" if spec.version >= Version("0.13.0") else "PYTHON_EXECUTABLE"
-            )
-            args += [
-                self.define(py_exe_define, self.spec["python"].command.path),
-                self.define("openPMD_USE_INTERNAL_PYBIND11", False),
-            ]
+            args.append(self.define("openPMD_USE_INTERNAL_PYBIND11", False))
 
         args.append(self.define("openPMD_USE_INTERNAL_JSON", False))
         if spec.satisfies("@:0.14"):  # pre C++17 releases
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openspeedshop-utils/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openspeedshop-utils/package.py
index 8df48bf4959..7fa3e646e3f 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openspeedshop-utils/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openspeedshop-utils/package.py
@@ -236,26 +236,19 @@ def set_defaultbase_cmake_options(self, spec, cmake_options):
         # Appends to cmake_options the options that will enable
         # the appropriate base level options to the openspeedshop
         # cmake build.
-        python_exe = spec["python"].command.path
-        python_library = spec["python"].libs[0]
-        python_include = spec["python"].headers.directories[0]
-
-        base_options = []
-
-        base_options.append("-DBINUTILS_DIR=%s" % spec["binutils"].prefix)
-        base_options.append("-DLIBELF_DIR=%s" % spec["elfutils"].prefix)
-        base_options.append("-DLIBDWARF_DIR=%s" % spec["libdwarf"].prefix)
-        base_options.append("-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE=%s" % python_exe)
-        base_options.append("-DPYTHON_INCLUDE_DIR=%s" % python_include)
-        base_options.append("-DPYTHON_LIBRARY=%s" % python_library)
-        base_options.append("-DBoost_NO_SYSTEM_PATHS=TRUE")
-        base_options.append("-DBoost_NO_BOOST_CMAKE=TRUE")
-        base_options.append("-DBOOST_ROOT=%s" % spec["boost"].prefix)
-        base_options.append("-DBoost_DIR=%s" % spec["boost"].prefix)
-        base_options.append("-DBOOST_LIBRARYDIR=%s" % spec["boost"].prefix.lib)
-        base_options.append("-DDYNINST_DIR=%s" % spec["dyninst"].prefix)
-
-        cmake_options.extend(base_options)
+        cmake_options.extend(
+            [
+                self.define("BINUTILS_DIR", spec["binutils"].prefix),
+                self.define("LIBELF_DIR", spec["elfutils"].prefix),
+                self.define("LIBDWARF_DIR", spec["libdwarf"].prefix),
+                self.define("Boost_NO_SYSTEM_PATHS", True),
+                self.define("Boost_NO_BOOST_CMAKE", True),
+                self.define("BOOST_ROOT", spec["boost"].prefix),
+                self.define("Boost_DIR", spec["boost"].prefix),
+                self.define("BOOST_LIBRARYDIR", spec["boost"].prefix.lib),
+                self.define("DYNINST_DIR", spec["dyninst"].prefix),
+            ]
+        )
 
     def set_mpi_cmake_options(self, spec, cmake_options):
         # Appends to cmake_options the options that will enable
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openspeedshop/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openspeedshop/package.py
index 101cf783b6e..5ef937a0f8e 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openspeedshop/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openspeedshop/package.py
@@ -254,27 +254,19 @@ def set_defaultbase_cmake_options(self, spec, cmake_options):
         # Appends to cmake_options the options that will enable
         # the appropriate base level options to the openspeedshop
         # cmake build.
-        python_exe = spec["python"].command.path
-        python_library = spec["python"].libs[0]
-        python_include = spec["python"].headers.directories[0]
-        true_value = "TRUE"
-
-        base_options = []
-
-        base_options.append("-DBINUTILS_DIR=%s" % spec["binutils"].prefix)
-        base_options.append("-DLIBELF_DIR=%s" % spec["elfutils"].prefix)
-        base_options.append("-DLIBDWARF_DIR=%s" % spec["libdwarf"].prefix)
-        base_options.append("-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE=%s" % python_exe)
-        base_options.append("-DPYTHON_INCLUDE_DIR=%s" % python_include)
-        base_options.append("-DPYTHON_LIBRARY=%s" % python_library)
-        base_options.append("-DBoost_NO_SYSTEM_PATHS=%s" % true_value)
-        base_options.append("-DBoost_NO_BOOST_CMAKE=%s" % true_value)
-        base_options.append("-DBOOST_ROOT=%s" % spec["boost"].prefix)
-        base_options.append("-DBoost_DIR=%s" % spec["boost"].prefix)
-        base_options.append("-DBOOST_LIBRARYDIR=%s" % spec["boost"].prefix.lib)
-        base_options.append("-DDYNINST_DIR=%s" % spec["dyninst"].prefix)
-
-        cmake_options.extend(base_options)
+        cmake_options.extend(
+            [
+                self.define("BINUTILS_DIR", spec["binutils"].prefix),
+                self.define("LIBELF_DIR", spec["elfutils"].prefix),
+                self.define("LIBDWARF_DIR", spec["libdwarf"].prefix),
+                self.define("Boost_NO_SYSTEM_PATHS", True),
+                self.define("Boost_NO_BOOST_CMAKE", True),
+                self.define("BOOST_ROOT", spec["boost"].prefix),
+                self.define("Boost_DIR", spec["boost"].prefix),
+                self.define("BOOST_LIBRARYDIR", spec["boost"].prefix.lib),
+                self.define("DYNINST_DIR", spec["dyninst"].prefix),
+            ]
+        )
 
     def set_mpi_cmake_options(self, spec, cmake_options):
         # Appends to cmake_options the options that will enable
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openturns/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openturns/package.py
index a40462c9cc1..d5e0d5d1a29 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openturns/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openturns/package.py
@@ -59,10 +59,8 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         if "+python" in spec:
             args.extend(
                 [
-                    # By default picks up the system python not the Spack build
-                    "-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE={0}".format(spec["python"].command.path),
                     # By default installs to the python prefix
-                    "-DPYTHON_SITE_PACKAGES={0}".format(python_platlib),
+                    "-DPYTHON_SITE_PACKAGES={0}".format(python_platlib)
                 ]
             )
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openwsman/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openwsman/package.py
index c6ec676f389..4be921bad99 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openwsman/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openwsman/package.py
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
                 arg.extend([define("BUILD_PYTHON", False), define("BUILD_PYTHON3", True)])
             else:
                 arg.extend([define("BUILD_PYTHON", True), define("BUILD_PYTHON3", False)])
-            arg.append(define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", spec["python"].command.path))
         else:
             arg.extend([define("BUILD_PYTHON", False), define("BUILD_PYTHON3", False)])
         return arg
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pagmo/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pagmo/package.py
index 05baf7bbf57..0a7538d2e34 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pagmo/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pagmo/package.py
@@ -99,10 +99,8 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         if "+python" in spec:
             args.extend(
                 [
-                    # By default picks up the system python not the Spack build
-                    "-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE={0}".format(spec["python"].command.path),
                     # By default installs to the python prefix not the pagmo prefix
-                    "-DPYTHON_MODULES_DIR={0}".format(python_platlib),
+                    "-DPYTHON_MODULES_DIR={0}".format(python_platlib)
                 ]
             )
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/paraview/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/paraview/package.py
index 85694e5e2ff..5d87021f04b 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/paraview/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/paraview/package.py
@@ -537,7 +537,6 @@ def use_x11():
             cmake_args.extend(
                 [
                     "-DPARAVIEW_%s_PYTHON:BOOL=ON" % py_use_opt,
-                    "-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE:FILEPATH=%s" % spec["python"].command.path,
                     "-D%s_PYTHON_VERSION:STRING=%d" % (py_ver_opt, py_ver_val),
                 ]
             )
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pfunit/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pfunit/package.py
index ac19168b500..671ae7ca019 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pfunit/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pfunit/package.py
@@ -152,7 +152,6 @@ def url_for_version(self, version):
     def cmake_args(self):
         spec = self.spec
         args = [
-            self.define("Python_EXECUTABLE", spec["python"].command),
             self.define("BUILD_SHARED_LIBS", False),
             self.define("CMAKE_Fortran_MODULE_DIRECTORY", spec.prefix.include),
             self.define_from_variant("ENABLE_BUILD_DOXYGEN", "docs"),
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/precice/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/precice/package.py
index 185a0a9d726..943a2f088d1 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/precice/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/precice/package.py
@@ -172,7 +172,8 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             cmake_args.extend(["-DPETSC_DIR=%s" % spec["petsc"].prefix, "-DPETSC_ARCH=."])
 
         # Python
-        if "+python" in spec:
+        if "@:2.3 +python" in spec:
+            # 2.4.0 and higher use find_package(Python3).
             python_library = spec["python"].libs[0]
             python_include = spec["python"].headers.directories[0]
             numpy_include = join_path(
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-pybind11/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-pybind11/package.py
index 9aceb4b02a7..b4baeeb0355 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-pybind11/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-pybind11/package.py
@@ -84,10 +84,7 @@ def patch(self):
 
 class CMakeBuilder(spack.build_systems.cmake.CMakeBuilder):
     def cmake_args(self):
-        return [
-            self.define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE:FILEPATH", self.spec["python"].command.path),
-            self.define("PYBIND11_TEST", self.pkg.run_tests),
-        ]
+        return [self.define("PYBIND11_TEST", self.pkg.run_tests)]
 
     def install(self, pkg, spec, prefix):
         super().install(pkg, spec, prefix)
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-pykokkos-base/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-pykokkos-base/package.py
index 381a1fd1112..6bf307a58ee 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-pykokkos-base/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-pykokkos-base/package.py
@@ -44,13 +44,9 @@ class PyPykokkosBase(CMakePackage, PythonExtension):
     depends_on("python@3:", type=("build", "run"))
 
     def cmake_args(self):
-        spec = self.spec
-
         args = [
             self.define("ENABLE_INTERNAL_KOKKOS", False),
             self.define("ENABLE_INTERNAL_PYBIND11", False),
-            self.define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", spec["python"].command.path),
-            self.define("Python3_EXECUTABLE", spec["python"].command.path),
             self.define_from_variant("ENABLE_VIEW_RANKS", "view_ranks"),
         ]
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-tfdlpack/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-tfdlpack/package.py
index 32612e56f6a..ac747b3f36a 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-tfdlpack/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-tfdlpack/package.py
@@ -33,14 +33,7 @@ class PyTfdlpack(CMakePackage, PythonExtension):
     depends_on("py-tensorflow", type=("build", "run"))
 
     def cmake_args(self):
-        args = ["-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE=" + self.spec["python"].command.path]
-
-        if "+cuda" in self.spec:
-            args.append("-DUSE_CUDA=ON")
-        else:
-            args.append("-DUSE_CUDA=OFF")
-
-        return args
+        return [self.define_from_variant("USE_CUDA", "cuda")]
 
     def install(self, spec, prefix):
         with working_dir("python"):
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/qmcpack/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/qmcpack/package.py
index 70077558f49..33e1580946f 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/qmcpack/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/qmcpack/package.py
@@ -391,7 +391,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         else:
             args.append("-DBUILD_PPCONVERT=0")
 
-        args.append(self.define("Python3_EXECUTABLE", self.spec["python"].command.path))
         return args
 
     # QMCPACK needs custom install method for the following reason:
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/rdma-core/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/rdma-core/package.py
index 6d2dbfbbc29..8c2998e5da0 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/rdma-core/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/rdma-core/package.py
@@ -107,11 +107,4 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         if self.spec.satisfies("~man_pages"):
             cmake_args.append("-DNO_MAN_PAGES=1")
 
-        if self.spec.satisfies("@:39.0"):
-            cmake_args.extend(
-                [
-                    self.define("PYTHON_LIBRARY", self.spec["python"].libs[0]),
-                    self.define("PYTHON_INCLUDE_DIR", self.spec["python"].headers.directories[0]),
-                ]
-            )
         return cmake_args
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/root/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/root/package.py
index 54ea8a1ef92..bbd29cc2c42 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/root/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/root/package.py
@@ -511,7 +511,6 @@ def _add_variant(variants, features, featurename, variantname):
         return " ".join(v)
 
     def cmake_args(self):
-        spec = self.spec
         define = self.define
         define_from_variant = self.define_from_variant
         options = []
@@ -694,9 +693,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             ftgl_prefix = self.spec["ftgl"].prefix
             options.append(define("FTGL_ROOT_DIR", ftgl_prefix))
             options.append(define("FTGL_INCLUDE_DIR", ftgl_prefix.include))
-        if "+python" in self.spec:
-            # See https://github.com/spack/spack/pull/11579
-            options.append(define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", spec["python"].command.path))
 
         return options
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-database/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-database/package.py
index b66da59a26d..7efd86781b0 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-database/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-database/package.py
@@ -51,11 +51,8 @@ def patch(self):
         )
 
     def cmake_args(self):
-        args = [
+        return [
             self.define("SCINE_BUILD_TESTS", self.run_tests),
             self.define("SCINE_BUILD_PYTHON_BINDINGS", "+python" in self.spec),
             self.define("SCINE_MARCH", ""),
         ]
-        if "+python" in self.spec:
-            args.append(self.define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", self.spec["python"].command.path))
-        return args
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-molassembler/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-molassembler/package.py
index 79a8b17ac03..6c1bc876637 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-molassembler/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-molassembler/package.py
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ def patch(self):
         )
 
     def cmake_args(self):
-        args = [
+        return [
             self.define("BUILD_SHARED_LIBS", True),
             self.define("SCINE_BUILD_TESTS", self.run_tests),
             self.define("SCINE_BUILD_PYTHON_BINDINGS", "+python" in self.spec),
@@ -95,6 +95,3 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             self.define("BOOST_NO_SYSTEM_PATHS", True),
             self.define("Boost_NO_BOOST_CMAKE", True),
         ]
-        if "+python" in self.spec:
-            args.append(self.define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", self.spec["python"].command.path))
-        return args
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-readuct/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-readuct/package.py
index 1844037743a..f00bc645e48 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-readuct/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-readuct/package.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ def patch(self):
         )
 
     def cmake_args(self):
-        args = [
+        return [
             self.define("SCINE_BUILD_TESTS", self.run_tests),
             self.define("SCINE_BUILD_PYTHON_BINDINGS", "+python" in self.spec),
             self.define("SCINE_MARCH", ""),
@@ -64,6 +64,3 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             self.define("BOOST_NO_SYSTEM_PATHS", True),
             self.define("Boost_NO_BOOST_CMAKE", True),
         ]
-        if "+python" in self.spec:
-            args.append(self.define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", self.spec["python"].command.path))
-        return args
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-serenity/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-serenity/package.py
index ca2924b2c0f..7dd6d8dd396 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-serenity/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-serenity/package.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ def patch(self):
         )
 
     def cmake_args(self):
-        args = [
+        return [
             self.define("SCINE_BUILD_TESTS", self.run_tests),
             self.define_from_variant("SCINE_BUILD_PYTHON_BINDINGS", "python"),
             self.define("SCINE_MARCH", ""),
@@ -69,6 +69,3 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             self.define("BOOST_NO_SYSTEM_PATHS", True),
             self.define("Boost_NO_BOOST_CMAKE", True),
         ]
-        if "+python" in self.spec:
-            args.append(self.define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", self.spec["python"].command.path))
-        return args
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-sparrow/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-sparrow/package.py
index 0d8fbf855b6..44d1ccf84a8 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-sparrow/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-sparrow/package.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ def patch(self):
         )
 
     def cmake_args(self):
-        args = [
+        return [
             self.define("SCINE_BUILD_TESTS", self.run_tests),
             self.define("SCINE_BUILD_PYTHON_BINDINGS", "+python" in self.spec),
             self.define("SCINE_MARCH", ""),
@@ -86,9 +86,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             self.define("BOOST_NO_SYSTEM_PATHS", True),
             self.define("Boost_NO_BOOST_CMAKE", True),
         ]
-        if "+python" in self.spec:
-            args.append(self.define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", self.spec["python"].command.path))
-        return args
 
     # Adapted from ddd in MacPorts: cmake will build the executable
     # "sparrow" right next to the copy of the source directory "Sparrow".
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-utilities/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-utilities/package.py
index 4f65702afbe..3dcf0fb2a9e 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-utilities/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-utilities/package.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def patch(self):
         )
 
     def cmake_args(self):
-        args = [
+        return [
             self.define("SCINE_BUILD_TESTS", self.run_tests),
             self.define_from_variant("SCINE_BUILD_PYTHON_BINDINGS", "python"),
             self.define("SCINE_MARCH", ""),
@@ -77,7 +77,3 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             self.define("BOOST_NO_SYSTEM_PATHS", True),
             self.define("Boost_NO_BOOST_CMAKE", True),
         ]
-        if "+python" in self.spec:
-            args.append(self.define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", self.spec["python"].command.path))
-
-        return args
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-xtb/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-xtb/package.py
index f06bc13003b..9cd7dca1827 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-xtb/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/scine-xtb/package.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ def patch(self):
         os.rename("_dev", "dev")
 
     def cmake_args(self):
-        args = [
+        return [
             self.define("SCINE_BUILD_TESTS", self.run_tests),
             self.define("SCINE_BUILD_PYTHON_BINDINGS", "+python" in self.spec),
             self.define("SCINE_MARCH", ""),
@@ -62,6 +62,3 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             self.define("BOOST_NO_SYSTEM_PATHS", True),
             self.define("Boost_NO_BOOST_CMAKE", True),
         ]
-        if "+python" in self.spec:
-            args.append(self.define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", self.spec["python"].command.path))
-        return args
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/sensei/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/sensei/package.py
index 7f79d7df113..96e4dd4393c 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/sensei/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/sensei/package.py
@@ -116,27 +116,30 @@ class Sensei(CMakePackage):
 
     def cmake_args(self):
         spec = self.spec
+        prefix = ""
+        if spec.satisfies("@5:"):
+            prefix = "SENSEI_"
 
         # -Ox flags are set by default in CMake based on the build type
         args = [
             self.define_from_variant("BUILD_SHARED_LIBS", "shared"),
             self.define("SENSEI_USE_EXTERNAL_pugixml", True),
-            self.define("ENABLE_SENSEI", True),
+            self.define(f"{prefix}ENABLE_SENSEI", True),
             self.define("MPI_C_COMPILER", spec["mpi"].mpicc),
             self.define("MPI_CXX_COMPILER", spec["mpi"].mpicxx),
             # Don"t rely on MPI found in cray environment for cray systems.
             # On non-cray systems this should be a no-op
-            self.define("ENABLE_CRAY_MPICH", False),
-            self.define_from_variant("ENABLE_ASCENT", "ascent"),
-            self.define_from_variant("ENABLE_VTKM", "vtkm"),
-            self.define_from_variant("ENABLE_CATALYST", "catalyst"),
-            self.define_from_variant("ENABLE_LIBSIM", "libsim"),
-            self.define_from_variant("ENABLE_VTK_IO", "vtkio"),
-            self.define_from_variant("ENABLE_PYTHON", "python"),
-            self.define_from_variant("ENABLE_ADIOS2", "adios2"),
-            self.define_from_variant("ENABLE_HDF5", "hdf5"),
-            self.define_from_variant("ENABLE_PARALLEL3D", "miniapps"),
-            self.define_from_variant("ENABLE_OSCILLATORS", "miniapps"),
+            self.define(f"{prefix}ENABLE_CRAY_MPICH", False),
+            self.define_from_variant(f"{prefix}ENABLE_ASCENT", "ascent"),
+            self.define_from_variant(f"{prefix}ENABLE_VTKM", "vtkm"),
+            self.define_from_variant(f"{prefix}ENABLE_CATALYST", "catalyst"),
+            self.define_from_variant(f"{prefix}ENABLE_LIBSIM", "libsim"),
+            self.define_from_variant(f"{prefix}ENABLE_VTK_IO", "vtkio"),
+            self.define_from_variant(f"{prefix}ENABLE_PYTHON", "python"),
+            self.define_from_variant(f"{prefix}ENABLE_ADIOS2", "adios2"),
+            self.define_from_variant(f"{prefix}ENABLE_HDF5", "hdf5"),
+            self.define_from_variant(f"{prefix}ENABLE_PARALLEL3D", "miniapps"),
+            self.define_from_variant(f"{prefix}ENABLE_OSCILLATORS", "miniapps"),
         ]
 
         if "+adios2" in spec:
@@ -151,11 +154,8 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             args.append("-DVISIT_DIR:PATH={0}/current/linux-x86_64".format(spec["visit"].prefix))
 
         if "+python" in spec:
-            args.append(self.define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", spec["python"].command.path))
-            args.append(self.define("Python_EXECUTABLE", spec["python"].command.path))
-            args.append(self.define("Python3_EXECUTABLE", spec["python"].command.path))
             if spec.satisfies("@3:"):
                 args.append(self.define("SENSEI_PYTHON_VERSION", 3))
-            args.append(self.define_from_variant("ENABLE_CATALYST_PYTHON", "catalyst"))
+            args.append(self.define_from_variant(f"{prefix}ENABLE_CATALYST_PYTHON", "catalyst"))
 
         return args
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/serenity/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/serenity/package.py
index 6a3e69c5153..12c05b147ab 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/serenity/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/serenity/package.py
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ def patch(self):
         )
 
     def cmake_args(self):
-        args = [
+        return [
             self.define("SERENITY_BUILD_TESTS", self.run_tests),
             self.define_from_variant("SERENITY_BUILD_PYTHON_BINDINGS", "python"),
             self.define("SERENITY_MARCH", ""),
@@ -137,6 +137,3 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             self.define("BOOST_NO_SYSTEM_PATHS", True),
             self.define("Boost_NO_BOOST_CMAKE", True),
         ]
-        if "+python" in self.spec:
-            args.append(self.define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", self.spec["python"].command.path))
-        return args
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/sollve/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/sollve/package.py
index f9783acc52f..3cb3e5cd7eb 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/sollve/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/sollve/package.py
@@ -259,7 +259,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             "-DLLVM_ENABLE_RTTI:BOOL=ON",
             "-DLLVM_ENABLE_EH:BOOL=ON",
             "-DCLANG_DEFAULT_OPENMP_RUNTIME:STRING=libomp",
-            "-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE:PATH={0}".format(spec["python"].command.path),
         ]
 
         # TODO: Instead of unconditionally disabling CUDA, add a "cuda" variant
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/spectre/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/spectre/package.py
index 4f40fa4cf89..6d288e8fea0 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/spectre/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/spectre/package.py
@@ -307,7 +307,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         args = [
             self.define("CHARM_ROOT", self.spec["charmpp"].prefix),
             self.define_from_variant("BUILD_SHARED_LIBS", "shared"),
-            self.define("Python_EXECUTABLE", self.spec["python"].command.path),
             self.define_from_variant("BUILD_PYTHON_BINDINGS", "python"),
             self.define("BUILD_TESTING", self.run_tests),
             self.define_from_variant("BUILD_DOCS", "doc"),
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/steps/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/steps/package.py
index 7d6c59657a5..f616d30d152 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/steps/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/steps/package.py
@@ -85,7 +85,6 @@ def patch(self):
     def cmake_args(self):
         args = [
             self.define("BLAS_LIBRARIES", self.spec["blas"].libs.joined(";")),
-            self.define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", self.spec["python"].command),
             self.define("STEPS_INSTALL_PYTHON_DEPS", False),
             self.define_from_variant("BUILD_STOCHASTIC_TESTS", "stochtests"),
             self.define_from_variant("BUILD_TESTING", "codechecks"),
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tasmanian/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tasmanian/package.py
index dcbaa2e7933..c9285453f4d 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tasmanian/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tasmanian/package.py
@@ -114,11 +114,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             args.append("-DBLAS_LIBRARIES={0}".format(spec["blas"].libs.joined(";")))
             args.append("-DLAPACK_LIBRARIES={0}".format(spec["lapack"].libs.joined(";")))
 
-        if spec.satisfies("+python"):
-            args.append(
-                "-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE:FILEPATH={0}".format(self.spec["python"].command.path)
-            )
-
         return args
 
     @run_after("install")
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/templight/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/templight/package.py
index e49375e30e2..76df5f2bed9 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/templight/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/templight/package.py
@@ -128,7 +128,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         cmake_args = [
             "-DLLVM_REQUIRES_RTTI:BOOL=ON",
             "-DCLANG_DEFAULT_OPENMP_RUNTIME:STRING=libomp",
-            "-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE:PATH={0}".format(spec["python"].command.path),
             "-DLLVM_EXTERNAL_POLLY_BUILD:Bool=OFF",
             "-DLLVM_TOOL_POLLY_BUILD:Bool=OFF",
             "-DLLVM_POLLY_BUILD:Bool=OFF",
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tfel/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tfel/package.py
index 540d6f2503a..39d13b29cda 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tfel/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tfel/package.py
@@ -180,6 +180,8 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             args.append("-Denable-python-bindings=OFF")
 
         if ("+python" in self.spec) or ("+python_bindings" in self.spec):
+            # Note: calls find_package(PythonLibs) before find_package(PythonInterp), so these
+            # variables are required.
             python = self.spec["python"]
             args.append("-DPYTHON_LIBRARY={0}".format(python.libs[0]))
             args.append("-DPYTHON_INCLUDE_DIR={0}".format(python.headers.directories[0]))
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/timemory/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/timemory/package.py
index fa5eb2bdc56..290a85bc9f0 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/timemory/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/timemory/package.py
@@ -322,11 +322,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             self.define_from_variant("TIMEMORY_USE_ALLINEA_MAP", "allinea_map"),
         ]
 
-        if "+python" in spec:
-            pyexe = spec["python"].command.path
-            args.append(self.define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=", pyexe))
-            args.append(self.define("Python3_EXECUTABLE", pyexe))
-
         if "+mpi" in spec:
             args.append(self.define("MPI_C_COMPILER", spec["mpi"].mpicc))
             args.append(self.define("MPI_CXX_COMPILER", spec["mpi"].mpicxx))
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tiramisu/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tiramisu/package.py
index b3c95a07385..c6e74e1546b 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tiramisu/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tiramisu/package.py
@@ -57,10 +57,7 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             self.define("USE_FLEXNLP", False),
         ]
         if "+python" in spec:
-            args += [
-                self.define("Tiramisu_INSTALL_PYTHONDIR", python_platlib),
-                self.define("Python3_EXECUTABLE", spec["python"].command.path),
-            ]
+            args += [self.define("Tiramisu_INSTALL_PYTHONDIR", python_platlib)]
         return args
 
     @property
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/vdt/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/vdt/package.py
index 24869c0865e..0b5a2aafdf9 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/vdt/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/vdt/package.py
@@ -46,10 +46,7 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         elif spec.satisfies("target=ppc64le:"):
             disable_features.add("fma")
 
-        args = [
-            self.define_from_variant("PRELOAD"),
-            self.define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", spec["python"].command),
-        ]
+        args = [self.define_from_variant("PRELOAD")]
         for f in ["sse", "avx", "avx2", "fma", "neon"]:
             args.append(
                 self.define(f.upper(), f not in disable_features and f in self.spec.target)
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/vtk/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/vtk/package.py
index de16f92e6f3..38863fdcc38 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/vtk/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/vtk/package.py
@@ -310,8 +310,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         # Enable/Disable wrappers for Python.
         if "+python" in spec:
             cmake_args.append("-DVTK_WRAP_PYTHON=ON")
-            if spec.satisfies("@:8"):
-                cmake_args.append("-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE={0}".format(spec["python"].command.path))
             if "+mpi" in spec and spec.satisfies("@:8"):
                 cmake_args.append("-DVTK_USE_SYSTEM_MPI4PY:BOOL=ON")
             if spec.satisfies("@9.0.0: ^python@3:"):
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xcfun/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xcfun/package.py
index 4e803367bcc..737e8b356ed 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xcfun/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xcfun/package.py
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             "-DPYMOD_INSTALL_LIBDIR=/python{0}/site-packages".format(spec["python"].version[:-1]),
             "-DXCFUN_MAX_ORDER=8",
             "-DXCFUN_PYTHON_INTERFACE=ON",
-            "-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE={0}".format(spec["python"].command),
             "-DENABLE_TESTALL=OFF",
         ]
         return args
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xrootd/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xrootd/package.py
index 1d20706fc9e..8b964368993 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xrootd/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xrootd/package.py
@@ -203,12 +203,7 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         ]
         # see https://github.com/spack/spack/pull/11581
         if "+python" in self.spec:
-            options.extend(
-                [
-                    define("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE", spec["python"].command.path),
-                    define("XRD_PYTHON_REQ_VERSION", spec["python"].version.up_to(2)),
-                ]
-            )
+            options.append(define("XRD_PYTHON_REQ_VERSION", spec["python"].version.up_to(2)))
 
         if "+scitokens-cpp" in self.spec:
             options.append("-DSCITOKENS_CPP_DIR=%s" % spec["scitokens-cpp"].prefix)
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xtensor-python/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xtensor-python/package.py
index 1b0c883e564..0d277428cdf 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xtensor-python/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/xtensor-python/package.py
@@ -33,11 +33,3 @@ class XtensorPython(CMakePackage):
     depends_on("python", type=("build", "link", "run"))
 
     extends("python")
-
-    def cmake_args(self):
-        spec = self.spec
-
-        python_exe = spec["python"].command.path
-
-        args = ["-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE={0}".format(python_exe)]
-        return args