diff --git a/py-polars/polars/datatypes/_parse.py b/py-polars/polars/datatypes/_parse.py
index e7ac78cae6dd..3a5424bc8b59 100644
--- a/py-polars/polars/datatypes/_parse.py
+++ b/py-polars/polars/datatypes/_parse.py
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import enum
 import functools
 import re
 import sys
 from datetime import date, datetime, time, timedelta
 from decimal import Decimal as PyDecimal
+from inspect import isclass
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, ForwardRef, NoReturn, Union, get_args
 
 from polars.datatypes.classes import (
@@ -14,6 +16,7 @@
     Datetime,
     Decimal,
     Duration,
+    Enum,
     Float64,
     Int64,
     List,
@@ -94,6 +97,8 @@ def parse_py_type_into_dtype(input: PythonDataType | type[object]) -> PolarsData
         return Null()
     elif input is list or input is tuple:
         return List
+    elif isclass(input) and issubclass(input, enum.Enum):
+        return Enum(input)
     # this is required as pass through. Don't remove
     elif input == Unknown:
         return Unknown
diff --git a/py-polars/polars/datatypes/classes.py b/py-polars/polars/datatypes/classes.py
index 5543f629a620..bc60c3d6bad1 100644
--- a/py-polars/polars/datatypes/classes.py
+++ b/py-polars/polars/datatypes/classes.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import contextlib
+import enum
 from collections import OrderedDict
 from collections.abc import Mapping
 from datetime import timezone
@@ -596,7 +597,7 @@ class Enum(DataType):
 
     categories: Series
 
-    def __init__(self, categories: Series | Iterable[str]) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, categories: Series | Iterable[str] | type[enum.Enum]) -> None:
         # Issuing the warning on `__init__` does not trigger when the class is used
         # without being instantiated, but it's better than nothing
         from polars._utils.unstable import issue_unstable_warning
@@ -606,7 +607,9 @@ def __init__(self, categories: Series | Iterable[str]) -> None:
             " It is a work-in-progress feature and may not always work as expected."
         )
 
-        if not isinstance(categories, pl.Series):
+        if isclass(categories) and issubclass(categories, enum.Enum):
+            categories = pl.Series(values=categories.__members__.values())
+        elif not isinstance(categories, pl.Series):
             categories = pl.Series(values=categories)
 
         if categories.is_empty():
diff --git a/py-polars/tests/unit/constructors/test_dataframe.py b/py-polars/tests/unit/constructors/test_dataframe.py
index e885919294d1..dd5ae1aba896 100644
--- a/py-polars/tests/unit/constructors/test_dataframe.py
+++ b/py-polars/tests/unit/constructors/test_dataframe.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import enum
 import sys
 from collections import OrderedDict
 from collections.abc import Mapping
@@ -194,3 +195,13 @@ def test_df_init_schema_object() -> None:
 def test_df_init_data_orientation_inference_warning() -> None:
     with pytest.warns(DataOrientationWarning):
         pl.from_records([[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]], schema=["a", "b", "c"])
+
+
+def test_df_init_enum_dtype() -> None:
+    class PythonEnum(str, enum.Enum):
+        A = "A"
+        B = "B"
+        C = "C"
+
+    df = pl.DataFrame({"Col 1": ["A", "B", "C"]}, schema={"Col 1": PythonEnum})
+    assert df.dtypes[0] == pl.Enum(["A", "B", "C"])
diff --git a/py-polars/tests/unit/datatypes/test_enum.py b/py-polars/tests/unit/datatypes/test_enum.py
index 9bd4a49ddd1d..bc5a9370a222 100644
--- a/py-polars/tests/unit/datatypes/test_enum.py
+++ b/py-polars/tests/unit/datatypes/test_enum.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import enum
 import operator
 import re
 from datetime import date
@@ -41,6 +42,26 @@ def test_enum_init_empty(categories: pl.Series | list[str] | None) -> None:
     assert_series_equal(dtype.categories, expected)
 
 
+def test_enum_init_python_enum_19724() -> None:
+    class PythonEnum(str, enum.Enum):
+        CAT1 = "A"
+        CAT2 = "B"
+        CAT3 = "C"
+
+    result = pl.Enum(PythonEnum)
+    assert result == pl.Enum(["A", "B", "C"])
+
+
+def test_enum_init_python_enum_ints_19724() -> None:
+    class PythonEnum(int, enum.Enum):
+        CAT1 = 1
+        CAT2 = 2
+        CAT3 = 3
+
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError, match="Enum categories must be strings"):
+        pl.Enum(PythonEnum)
+
+
 def test_enum_non_existent() -> None:
     with pytest.raises(
         InvalidOperationError,
diff --git a/py-polars/tests/unit/datatypes/test_parse.py b/py-polars/tests/unit/datatypes/test_parse.py
index 0979292e8e50..017e7dd82b93 100644
--- a/py-polars/tests/unit/datatypes/test_parse.py
+++ b/py-polars/tests/unit/datatypes/test_parse.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import enum
 from datetime import date, datetime
 from typing import (
     TYPE_CHECKING,
@@ -43,6 +44,27 @@ def test_parse_into_dtype(input: Any, expected: PolarsDataType) -> None:
     assert_dtype_equal(result, expected)
 
 
+def test_parse_into_dtype_enum_19724() -> None:
+    class PythonEnum(str, enum.Enum):
+        CAT1 = "A"
+        CAT2 = "B"
+        CAT3 = "C"
+
+    result = parse_into_dtype(PythonEnum)
+    expected = pl.Enum(["A", "B", "C"])
+    assert_dtype_equal(result, expected)
+
+
+def test_parse_into_dtype_enum_ints_19724() -> None:
+    class PythonEnum(int, enum.Enum):
+        CAT1 = 1
+        CAT2 = 2
+        CAT3 = 3
+
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError, match="Enum categories must be strings"):
+        parse_into_dtype(PythonEnum)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     ("input", "expected"),
     [