diff --git a/android/tests_backend/widgets/optioncontainer.py b/android/tests_backend/widgets/optioncontainer.py
index a33864a14d..0a65d5d3d6 100644
--- a/android/tests_backend/widgets/optioncontainer.py
+++ b/android/tests_backend/widgets/optioncontainer.py
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ def select_tab(self, index):
             item.setChecked(True)
             self.impl.onItemSelectedListener(item)
 
+    async def wait_for_tab(self, message):
+        await self.redraw(message)
+
     def tab_enabled(self, index):
         return self.native_navigationview.getMenu().getItem(index).isEnabled()
 
diff --git a/changes/2550.feature.rst b/changes/2550.feature.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3f4b88be2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/2550.feature.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+The GTK backend was modified to use PyGObject's native asyncio handling, instead of GBulb.
diff --git a/cocoa/tests_backend/widgets/optioncontainer.py b/cocoa/tests_backend/widgets/optioncontainer.py
index a717acefd8..722def09ca 100644
--- a/cocoa/tests_backend/widgets/optioncontainer.py
+++ b/cocoa/tests_backend/widgets/optioncontainer.py
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ def height(self):
     def select_tab(self, index):
         self.native.selectTabViewItemAtIndex(index)
 
+    async def wait_for_tab(self, message):
+        await self.redraw(message)
+
     def tab_enabled(self, index):
         # _isTabEnabled() is a hidden method, so the naming messes with Rubicon's
         # property lookup mechanism. Invoke it by passing the message directly.
diff --git a/examples/handlers/handlers/app.py b/examples/handlers/handlers/app.py
index cc7887a1e3..a081c81b06 100644
--- a/examples/handlers/handlers/app.py
+++ b/examples/handlers/handlers/app.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import asyncio
 import random
 
+import httpx
+
 import toga
 from toga.constants import COLUMN
 from toga.style import Pack
@@ -10,7 +12,8 @@ class HandlerApp(toga.App):
     # Button callback functions
     def do_clear(self, widget, **kwargs):
         self.counter = 0
-        self.label.text = "Ready."
+        self.on_running_label.text = "Ready."
+        self.background_label.text = "Ready."
         self.function_label.text = "Ready."
         self.generator_label.text = "Ready."
         self.async_label.text = "Ready."
@@ -44,23 +47,43 @@ async def do_async(self, widget, **kwargs):
         self.async_label.text = "Ready."
         widget.enabled = True
 
+    async def on_running(self, **kwargs):
+        """A task started when the app is running."""
+        # This task runs in the background, without blocking the main event loop
+        while True:
+            self.counter += 1
+            self.on_running_label.text = f"On Running: Iteration {self.counter}"
+            await asyncio.sleep(1)
+
     async def do_background_task(self):
         """A background task."""
         # This task runs in the background, without blocking the main event loop
         while True:
             self.counter += 1
-            self.label.text = f"Background: Iteration {self.counter}"
+            self.background_label.text = f"Background: Iteration {self.counter}"
             await asyncio.sleep(1)
 
+    async def do_web_get(self, widget, **kwargs):
+        async with httpx.AsyncClient() as client:
+            response = await client.get(
+                f"https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts/{random.randint(0, 100)}"
+            )
+
+        payload = response.json()
+
+        self.web_label.text = payload["title"]
+
     def startup(self):
         # Set up main window
         self.main_window = toga.MainWindow()
 
         # Labels to show responses.
-        self.label = toga.Label("Ready.", style=Pack(padding=10))
+        self.on_running_label = toga.Label("Ready.", style=Pack(padding=10))
+        self.background_label = toga.Label("Ready.", style=Pack(padding=10))
         self.function_label = toga.Label("Ready.", style=Pack(padding=10))
         self.generator_label = toga.Label("Ready.", style=Pack(padding=10))
         self.async_label = toga.Label("Ready.", style=Pack(padding=10))
+        self.web_label = toga.Label("Ready.", style=Pack(padding=10))
 
         # Add a background task.
         self.counter = 0
@@ -78,17 +101,23 @@ def startup(self):
             "Async callback", on_press=self.do_async, style=btn_style
         )
         btn_clear = toga.Button("Clear", on_press=self.do_clear, style=btn_style)
+        btn_web = toga.Button(
+            "Get web content", on_press=self.do_web_get, style=btn_style
+        )
 
         # Outermost box
         box = toga.Box(
             children=[
-                self.label,
+                self.on_running_label,
+                self.background_label,
                 btn_function,
                 self.function_label,
                 btn_generator,
                 self.generator_label,
                 btn_async,
                 self.async_label,
+                btn_web,
+                self.web_label,
                 btn_clear,
             ],
             style=Pack(flex=1, direction=COLUMN, padding=10),
diff --git a/examples/handlers/pyproject.toml b/examples/handlers/pyproject.toml
index 29de206e77..2231257076 100644
--- a/examples/handlers/pyproject.toml
+++ b/examples/handlers/pyproject.toml
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ description = "A testing app"
 sources = ["handlers"]
 requires = [
     "../../core",
+    "httpx",
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/gtk/pyproject.toml b/gtk/pyproject.toml
index 13059a5e66..7193aae47a 100644
--- a/gtk/pyproject.toml
+++ b/gtk/pyproject.toml
@@ -64,12 +64,8 @@ root = ".."
 
 [tool.setuptools_dynamic_dependencies]
 dependencies = [
-    "gbulb >= 0.5.3",
     "pycairo >= 1.17.0",
-    # New asyncio handling introduced in 3.50.0; that code is incompatible
-    # with gbulb, See #2550 for the code that replaces GBulb with the new
-    # asyncio code.
-    "pygobject < 3.50.0",
+    "pygobject >= 3.50.0",
     "toga-core == {version}",
 ]
 
diff --git a/gtk/src/toga_gtk/app.py b/gtk/src/toga_gtk/app.py
index 38531e203a..467614e6d8 100644
--- a/gtk/src/toga_gtk/app.py
+++ b/gtk/src/toga_gtk/app.py
@@ -1,13 +1,19 @@
 import asyncio
 import signal
 
-import gbulb
-
 from toga.app import App as toga_App
 from toga.command import Separator
 
 from .keys import gtk_accel
-from .libs import IS_WAYLAND, TOGA_DEFAULT_STYLES, Gdk, Gio, GLib, Gtk
+from .libs import (
+    IS_WAYLAND,
+    TOGA_DEFAULT_STYLES,
+    Gdk,
+    Gio,
+    GLib,
+    GLibEventLoopPolicy,
+    Gtk,
+)
 from .screens import Screen as ScreenImpl
 
 
@@ -21,8 +27,9 @@ def __init__(self, interface):
         self.interface = interface
         self.interface._impl = self
 
-        gbulb.install(gtk=True)
-        self.loop = asyncio.new_event_loop()
+        self.policy = GLibEventLoopPolicy()
+        asyncio.set_event_loop_policy(self.policy)
+        self.loop = self.policy.get_event_loop()
 
         # Stimulate the build of the app
         self.native = Gtk.Application(
@@ -146,7 +153,8 @@ def main_loop(self):
         # Retain a reference to the app so that no-window apps can exist
         self.native.hold()
 
-        self.loop.run_forever(application=self.native)
+        # Start the app event loop
+        self.native.run()
 
         # Release the reference to the app. This can't be invoked by the testbed,
         # because it's after the `run_forever()` that runs the testbed.
diff --git a/gtk/src/toga_gtk/libs/gtk.py b/gtk/src/toga_gtk/libs/gtk.py
index f6f4f8cc01..a9efbbd970 100644
--- a/gtk/src/toga_gtk/libs/gtk.py
+++ b/gtk/src/toga_gtk/libs/gtk.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 gi.require_version("Gdk", "3.0")
 gi.require_version("Gtk", "3.0")
 
+from gi.events import GLibEventLoopPolicy  # noqa: E402, F401
 from gi.repository import (  # noqa: E402, F401
     Gdk,
     GdkPixbuf,
diff --git a/gtk/tests_backend/widgets/optioncontainer.py b/gtk/tests_backend/widgets/optioncontainer.py
index 9cea43fb33..e410006057 100644
--- a/gtk/tests_backend/widgets/optioncontainer.py
+++ b/gtk/tests_backend/widgets/optioncontainer.py
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ def select_tab(self, index):
         if self.tab_enabled(index):
             self.native.set_current_page(index)
 
+    async def wait_for_tab(self, message):
+        await self.redraw(message, delay=0.1)
+
     def tab_enabled(self, index):
         return self.impl.sub_containers[index].get_visible()
 
diff --git a/iOS/tests_backend/widgets/optioncontainer.py b/iOS/tests_backend/widgets/optioncontainer.py
index d5cdbe8a2c..b2127470e4 100644
--- a/iOS/tests_backend/widgets/optioncontainer.py
+++ b/iOS/tests_backend/widgets/optioncontainer.py
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ def select_more(self):
         more = self.impl.native_controller.moreNavigationController
         self.impl.native_controller.selectedViewController = more
 
+    async def wait_for_tab(self, message):
+        await self.redraw(message)
+
     def reset_more(self):
         more = self.impl.native_controller.moreNavigationController
         more.popToRootViewControllerAnimated(False)
diff --git a/testbed/tests/widgets/test_optioncontainer.py b/testbed/tests/widgets/test_optioncontainer.py
index 31d210cc1e..a09b569fd0 100644
--- a/testbed/tests/widgets/test_optioncontainer.py
+++ b/testbed/tests/widgets/test_optioncontainer.py
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ async def test_select_tab(
 ):
     """Tabs of content can be selected"""
     # Initially selected tab has content that is the full size of the widget
-    await probe.redraw("Tab 1 should be selected")
+    await probe.wait_for_tab("Tab 1 should be selected")
     assert widget.current_tab.index == 0
 
     # The content should be the same size as the container; these dimensions can
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ async def test_select_tab(
 
     # Select item 1 programmatically
     widget.current_tab = "Tab 2"
-    await probe.redraw("Tab 2 should be selected")
+    await probe.wait_for_tab("Tab 2 should be selected")
 
     assert widget.current_tab.index == 1
     assert content2_probe.width > probe.width * 0.8
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ def on_select(widget, **kwargs):
 
     # Select item 2 in the GUI
     probe.select_tab(2)
-    await probe.redraw("Tab 3 should be selected")
+    await probe.wait_for_tab("Tab 3 should be selected")
 
     assert widget.current_tab.index == 2
     assert content3_probe.width > probe.width * 0.8
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ async def test_select_tab_overflow(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
         for i, extra in enumerate(extra_widgets, start=4):
             widget.content.append(f"Tab {i}", extra)
 
-        await probe.redraw("Tab 1 should be selected initially")
+        await probe.wait_for_tab("Tab 1 should be selected initially")
         assert widget.current_tab.index == 0
 
         # Ensure mock call count is clean
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ async def test_select_tab_overflow(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
         # `select_more()` doesn't exist, that feature doesn't exist on the platform.
         try:
             probe.select_more()
-            await probe.redraw("More option should be displayed")
+            await probe.wait_for_tab("More option should be displayed")
             # When the "more" menu is visible, the current tab is None.
             assert widget.current_tab.index is None
         except AttributeError:
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ async def test_select_tab_overflow(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
 
         # Select the second last tab in the GUI
         probe.select_tab(6)
-        await probe.redraw("Tab 7 should be selected")
+        await probe.wait_for_tab("Tab 7 should be selected")
 
         assert widget.current_tab.index == 6
         assert extra_probes[3].width > probe.width * 0.8
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ async def test_select_tab_overflow(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
 
         # Select the last tab programmatically while already on a "more" option
         widget.current_tab = "Tab 8"
-        await probe.redraw("Tab 8 should be selected")
+        await probe.wait_for_tab("Tab 8 should be selected")
 
         assert widget.current_tab.index == 7
         assert extra_probes[4].width > probe.width * 0.8
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ async def test_select_tab_overflow(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
 
         # Select the first tab in the GUI
         probe.select_tab(0)
-        await probe.redraw("Tab 0 should be selected")
+        await probe.wait_for_tab("Tab 0 should be selected")
         assert widget.current_tab.index == 0
         # on_select has been invoked
         on_select_handler.assert_called_once_with(widget)
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ async def test_select_tab_overflow(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
         try:
             probe.select_more()
             if probe.more_option_is_stateful:
-                await probe.redraw("Previous more option should be displayed")
+                await probe.wait_for_tab("Previous more option should be displayed")
                 assert widget.current_tab.index == 7
                 # more is stateful, so there's a been a select event for the
                 # previously selected "more" option.
@@ -215,9 +215,9 @@ async def test_select_tab_overflow(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
                 on_select_handler.reset_mock()
 
                 probe.reset_more()
-                await probe.redraw("More option should be reset")
+                await probe.wait_for_tab("More option should be reset")
             else:
-                await probe.redraw("More option should be displayed")
+                await probe.wait_for_tab("More option should be displayed")
 
             assert widget.current_tab.index is None
         except AttributeError:
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ async def test_select_tab_overflow(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
 
         # Select the second last tab in the GUI
         probe.select_tab(6)
-        await probe.redraw("Tab 7 should be selected")
+        await probe.wait_for_tab("Tab 7 should be selected")
 
         assert widget.current_tab.index == 6
         assert extra_probes[3].width > probe.width * 0.8
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ async def test_select_tab_overflow(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
 
         # Select the first tab in the GUI
         probe.select_tab(0)
-        await probe.redraw("Tab 0 should be selected")
+        await probe.wait_for_tab("Tab 0 should be selected")
         assert widget.current_tab.index == 0
         # on_select has been invoked
         on_select_handler.assert_called_once_with(widget)
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ async def test_select_tab_overflow(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
 
         # Select the last tab programmatically while on a non-more option
         widget.current_tab = "Tab 8"
-        await probe.redraw("Tab 8 should be selected")
+        await probe.wait_for_tab("Tab 8 should be selected")
 
         assert widget.current_tab.index == 7
         assert extra_probes[4].width > probe.width * 0.8
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ async def test_select_tab_overflow(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
             extra_probes.pop(0)
             widget.content.append(f"Tab {i}", extra)
 
-        await probe.redraw("OptionContainer is at capacity")
+        await probe.wait_for_tab("OptionContainer is at capacity")
 
         # Ensure mock call count is clean
         on_select_handler.reset_mock()
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ async def test_select_tab_overflow(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
             extra_probes.pop(0)
             widget.content.append("Tab B", extra)
 
-        await probe.redraw("Appended items were ignored")
+        await probe.wait_for_tab("Appended items were ignored")
 
         # Excess tab details can still be read and written
         widget.content[probe.max_tabs].text = "Extra Tab"
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ async def test_select_tab_overflow(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
         with pytest.warns(match=r"Tab is outside selectable range"):
             widget.current_tab = probe.max_tabs + 1
 
-        await probe.redraw("Item selection was ignored")
+        await probe.wait_for_tab("Item selection was ignored")
         on_select_handler.assert_not_called()
 
         # Insert a tab at the start. This will bump the last tab into the void
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ async def test_select_tab_overflow(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
             extra_probes.pop(0)
             widget.content.insert(2, "Tab C", extra)
 
-        await probe.redraw("Inserted item bumped the last item")
+        await probe.wait_for_tab("Inserted item bumped the last item")
 
         # Assert the properties of the last visible item
         assert widget.content[probe.max_tabs - 1].text == f"Tab {probe.max_tabs - 1}"
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ async def test_select_tab_overflow(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
         # the previous insertion back into view.
         widget.content.remove(1)
 
-        await probe.redraw("Deleting an item restores previously bumped item")
+        await probe.wait_for_tab("Deleting an item restores previously bumped item")
 
         assert widget.content[probe.max_tabs - 1].text == f"Tab {probe.max_tabs}"
         probe.assert_tab_icon(probe.max_tabs - 1, None)
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ async def test_select_tab_overflow(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
         # was disabled while it wasn't visible.
         widget.content.remove(1)
 
-        await probe.redraw("Deleting an item creates a previously excess item")
+        await probe.wait_for_tab("Deleting an item creates a previously excess item")
 
         assert widget.content[probe.max_tabs - 1].text == "Extra Tab"
         probe.assert_tab_icon(probe.max_tabs - 1, "new-tab")
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ async def test_enable_tab(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
 
     # Disable item 1
     widget.content[1].enabled = False
-    await probe.redraw("Tab 2 should be disabled")
+    await probe.wait_for_tab("Tab 2 should be disabled")
 
     assert widget.content[0].enabled
     assert not widget.content[1].enabled
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ async def test_enable_tab(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
 
     # Try to select a disabled tab
     probe.select_tab(1)
-    await probe.redraw("Try to select tab 2")
+    await probe.wait_for_tab("Try to select tab 2")
 
     if probe.disabled_tab_selectable:
         assert widget.current_tab.index == 1
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ async def test_enable_tab(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
 
     # Disable item 1 again, even though it's disabled
     widget.content[1].enabled = False
-    await probe.redraw("Tab 2 should still be disabled")
+    await probe.wait_for_tab("Tab 2 should still be disabled")
 
     assert widget.content[0].enabled
     assert not widget.content[1].enabled
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ async def test_enable_tab(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
     # where disabling a tab means hiding the tab completely, it will be *visual*
     # index 1, but content index 2. Make sure the indices are all correct.
     widget.current_tab = 2
-    await probe.redraw("Tab 3 should be selected")
+    await probe.wait_for_tab("Tab 3 should be selected")
 
     assert widget.current_tab.index == 2
     assert widget.current_tab.text == "Tab 3"
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ async def test_enable_tab(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
 
     # Enable item 1
     widget.content[1].enabled = True
-    await probe.redraw("Tab 2 should be enabled")
+    await probe.wait_for_tab("Tab 2 should be enabled")
 
     assert widget.content[0].enabled
     assert widget.content[1].enabled
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ async def test_enable_tab(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
 
     # Try to select tab 1
     probe.select_tab(1)
-    await probe.redraw("Tab 1 should be selected")
+    await probe.wait_for_tab("Tab 1 should be selected")
 
     assert widget.current_tab.index == 1
     assert widget.content[0].enabled
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ async def test_enable_tab(widget, probe, on_select_handler):
 
     # Enable item 1 again, even though it's enabled
     widget.content[1].enabled = True
-    await probe.redraw("Tab 2 should still be enabled")
+    await probe.wait_for_tab("Tab 2 should still be enabled")
 
     assert widget.content[0].enabled
     assert widget.content[1].enabled
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ async def test_change_content(
     new_probe = get_probe(new_box)
 
     widget.content.insert(1, "New tab", new_box, enabled=False)
-    await probe.redraw("New tab has been added disabled")
+    await probe.wait_for_tab("New tab has been added disabled")
 
     assert len(widget.content) == 4
     assert widget.content[1].text == "New tab"
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ async def test_change_content(
     # Enable the new content and select it
     widget.content[1].enabled = True
     widget.current_tab = "New tab"
-    await probe.redraw("New tab has been enabled and selected")
+    await probe.wait_for_tab("New tab has been enabled and selected")
 
     assert widget.current_tab.index == 1
     assert widget.current_tab.text == "New tab"
@@ -492,33 +492,33 @@ async def test_change_content(
 
     # Change the title of Tab 2
     widget.content["Tab 2"].text = "New 2"
-    await probe.redraw("Tab 2 has been renamed")
+    await probe.wait_for_tab("Tab 2 has been renamed")
 
     assert widget.content[2].text == "New 2"
 
     # Change the icon of Tab 2
     widget.content["New 2"].icon = "resources/new-tab"
-    await probe.redraw("Tab 2 has a new icon")
+    await probe.wait_for_tab("Tab 2 has a new icon")
 
     probe.assert_tab_icon(2, "new-tab")
 
     # Clear the icon of Tab 2
     widget.content["New 2"].icon = None
-    await probe.redraw("Tab 2 has the default icon")
+    await probe.wait_for_tab("Tab 2 has the default icon")
 
     probe.assert_tab_icon(2, None)
 
     # Remove Tab 2
     widget.content.remove("New 2")
-    await probe.redraw("Tab 2 has been removed")
+    await probe.wait_for_tab("Tab 2 has been removed")
     assert len(widget.content) == 3
 
     # Add tab 2 back in at the end with a new title
     widget.content.append("New Tab 2", content2)
-    await probe.redraw("Tab 2 has been added with a new title")
+    await probe.wait_for_tab("Tab 2 has been added with a new title")
 
     widget.current_tab = "New Tab 2"
-    await probe.redraw("Revised tab 2 has been selected")
+    await probe.wait_for_tab("Revised tab 2 has been selected")
 
     assert widget.current_tab.index == 3
     assert widget.current_tab.text == "New Tab 2"
diff --git a/winforms/tests_backend/widgets/optioncontainer.py b/winforms/tests_backend/widgets/optioncontainer.py
index bcd724b7d6..233ff1cc87 100644
--- a/winforms/tests_backend/widgets/optioncontainer.py
+++ b/winforms/tests_backend/widgets/optioncontainer.py
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ class OptionContainerProbe(SimpleProbe):
     def select_tab(self, index):
         self.native.SelectedIndex = index
 
+    async def wait_for_tab(self, message):
+        await self.redraw(message)
+
     def tab_enabled(self, index):
         return self.native.TabPages[index].Enabled