diff --git a/doc/api/next_api_changes/deprecations/29152_REC.rst b/doc/api/next_api_changes/deprecations/29152_REC.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..26ff0b036968
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/api/next_api_changes/deprecations/29152_REC.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+``pie`` *labels* and *labeldistance* parameters
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+Currently the *labels* parameter of `~.Axes.pie` is used both for annotating the
+pie wedges directly, and for automatic legend entries.  For consistency
+with other plotting methods, in future *labels* will only be used for the legend.
+
+The *labeldistance* parameter will therefore default to ``None`` from Matplotlib
+3.14, when it will also be deprecated and then removed in Matplotlib 3.16.  To
+preserve the existing behavior for now, set ``labeldistance=1.1``.  For the longer
+term, use the new *wedge_labels* parameter of `~.Axes.pie` or the `~.Axes.pie_label`
+method instead of *labels*.
diff --git a/doc/release/next_whats_new/pie_wedge_labels.rst b/doc/release/next_whats_new/pie_wedge_labels.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..07a7bcf07b95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/release/next_whats_new/pie_wedge_labels.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+New *wedge_labels* parameter for pie
+------------------------------------
+
+`~.Axes.pie` now accepts a *wedge_labels* parameter as a shortcut to the
+`~.Axes.pie_label` method. This may be used for simple annotation of the wedges
+of the pie chart.  It can take
+
+* a list of strings, similar to the existing *labels* parameter
+* a format string similar to the existing *autopct* parameter except that it
+  uses the `str.format` method, and it can handle absolute values as well as
+  fractions/percentages
+
+*wedge_labels* has an accompanying *wedge_label_distance* parameter, to control
+the distance of the labels from the center of the pie.
+
+
+.. plot::
+    :include-source: true
+    :alt: Two pie charts.  The chart on the left has labels 'foo' and 'bar' outside the wedges.  The chart on the right has labels '1' and '2' inside the wedges.
+
+    import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+
+    fig, (ax1, ax2) = plt.subplots(ncols=2, layout='constrained')
+
+    ax1.pie([1, 2], wedge_labels=['foo', 'bar'], wedge_label_distance=1.1)
+    ax2.pie([1, 2], wedge_labels='{absval:d}', wedge_label_distance=0.6)
diff --git a/galleries/examples/misc/svg_filter_pie.py b/galleries/examples/misc/svg_filter_pie.py
index f8ccc5bcb22b..d438fe77b8a6 100644
--- a/galleries/examples/misc/svg_filter_pie.py
+++ b/galleries/examples/misc/svg_filter_pie.py
@@ -28,11 +28,11 @@
 
 # We want to draw the shadow for each pie, but we will not use "shadow"
 # option as it doesn't save the references to the shadow patches.
-pie = ax.pie(fracs, explode=explode, labels=labels, autopct='%1.1f%%')
+pie = ax.pie(fracs, explode=explode, wedge_labels=labels, wedge_label_distance=1.1)
 
-for w in pie.wedges:
+for w, label in zip(pie.wedges, labels):
     # set the id with the label.
-    w.set_gid(w.get_label())
+    w.set_gid(label)
 
     # we don't want to draw the edge of the pie
     w.set_edgecolor("none")
diff --git a/galleries/examples/pie_and_polar_charts/bar_of_pie.py b/galleries/examples/pie_and_polar_charts/bar_of_pie.py
index 7c703976db2e..6e58bba5209d 100644
--- a/galleries/examples/pie_and_polar_charts/bar_of_pie.py
+++ b/galleries/examples/pie_and_polar_charts/bar_of_pie.py
@@ -25,8 +25,11 @@
 explode = [0.1, 0, 0]
 # rotate so that first wedge is split by the x-axis
 angle = -180 * overall_ratios[0]
-pie = ax1.pie(overall_ratios, autopct='%1.1f%%', startangle=angle,
-              labels=labels, explode=explode)
+pie = ax1.pie(overall_ratios, startangle=angle, explode=explode)
+
+# label the wedges with our label strings and the ratios as percentages
+ax1.pie_label(pie, labels, distance=1.1)
+ax1.pie_label(pie, '{frac:.1%}', distance=0.6)
 
 # bar chart parameters
 age_ratios = [.33, .54, .07, .06]
diff --git a/galleries/examples/pie_and_polar_charts/pie_features.py b/galleries/examples/pie_and_polar_charts/pie_features.py
index 4c0eeaa4526e..8a586c43788a 100644
--- a/galleries/examples/pie_and_polar_charts/pie_features.py
+++ b/galleries/examples/pie_and_polar_charts/pie_features.py
@@ -15,15 +15,15 @@
 # ------------
 #
 # Plot a pie chart of animals and label the slices. To add
-# labels, pass a list of labels to the *labels* parameter
+# labels, pass a list of labels to the *wedge_labels* parameter.
 
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
 labels = 'Frogs', 'Hogs', 'Dogs', 'Logs'
-sizes = [15, 30, 45, 10]
+sizes = [12, 24, 36, 8]
 
 fig, ax = plt.subplots()
-ax.pie(sizes, labels=labels)
+ax.pie(sizes, wedge_labels=labels)
 
 # %%
 # Each slice of the pie chart is a `.patches.Wedge` object; therefore in
@@ -31,16 +31,44 @@
 # the *wedgeprops* argument, as demonstrated in
 # :doc:`/gallery/pie_and_polar_charts/nested_pie`.
 #
+# Controlling label positions
+# ---------------------------
+# If you want the labels outside the pie, set a *wedge_label_distance* greater than 1.
+# This is the distance from the center of the pie as a fraction of its radius.
+
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+ax.pie(sizes, wedge_labels=labels, wedge_label_distance=1.1)
+
+# %%
+#
 # Auto-label slices
 # -----------------
 #
-# Pass a function or format string to *autopct* to label slices.
+# Pass a format string to *wedge_labels* to label slices with their values...
+
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+ax.pie(sizes, wedge_labels='{absval:.1f}')
+
+# %%
+#
+# ...or with their percentages...
+
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+ax.pie(sizes, wedge_labels='{frac:.1%}')
+
+# %%
+#
+# ...or both.
 
 fig, ax = plt.subplots()
-ax.pie(sizes, labels=labels, autopct='%1.1f%%')
+ax.pie(sizes, wedge_labels='{absval:d}\n{frac:.1%}')
+
+# %%
+#
+# For more control over labels, or to add multiple sets, see
+# :doc:`/gallery/pie_and_polar_charts/pie_label`.
 
 # %%
-# By default, the label values are obtained from the percent size of the slice.
 #
 # Color slices
 # ------------
@@ -48,8 +76,7 @@
 # Pass a list of colors to *colors* to set the color of each slice.
 
 fig, ax = plt.subplots()
-ax.pie(sizes, labels=labels,
-       colors=['olivedrab', 'rosybrown', 'gray', 'saddlebrown'])
+ax.pie(sizes, colors=['olivedrab', 'rosybrown', 'gray', 'saddlebrown'])
 
 # %%
 # Hatch slices
@@ -58,22 +85,9 @@
 # Pass a list of hatch patterns to *hatch* to set the pattern of each slice.
 
 fig, ax = plt.subplots()
-ax.pie(sizes, labels=labels, hatch=['**O', 'oO', 'O.O', '.||.'])
-
-# %%
-# Swap label and autopct text positions
-# -------------------------------------
-# Use the *labeldistance* and *pctdistance* parameters to position the *labels*
-# and *autopct* text respectively.
-
-fig, ax = plt.subplots()
-ax.pie(sizes, labels=labels, autopct='%1.1f%%',
-       pctdistance=1.25, labeldistance=.6)
+ax.pie(sizes, hatch=['**O', 'oO', 'O.O', '.||.'])
 
 # %%
-# *labeldistance* and *pctdistance* are ratios of the radius; therefore they
-# vary between ``0`` for the center of the pie and ``1`` for the edge of the
-# pie, and can be set to greater than ``1`` to place text outside the pie.
 #
 # Explode, shade, and rotate slices
 # ---------------------------------
@@ -86,11 +100,10 @@
 #
 # This example orders the slices, separates (explodes) them, and rotates them.
 
-explode = (0, 0.1, 0, 0)  # only "explode" the 2nd slice (i.e. 'Hogs')
+explode = (0, 0.2, 0, 0)  # only "explode" the 2nd slice (i.e. 'Hogs')
 
 fig, ax = plt.subplots()
-ax.pie(sizes, explode=explode, labels=labels, autopct='%1.1f%%',
-       shadow=True, startangle=90)
+ax.pie(sizes, explode=explode, wedge_labels='{frac:.1%}', shadow=True, startangle=90)
 plt.show()
 
 # %%
@@ -107,8 +120,7 @@
 
 fig, ax = plt.subplots()
 
-ax.pie(sizes, labels=labels, autopct='%.0f%%',
-       textprops={'size': 'small'}, radius=0.5)
+ax.pie(sizes, wedge_labels='{frac:.1%}', textprops={'size': 'small'}, radius=0.5)
 plt.show()
 
 # %%
@@ -119,8 +131,8 @@
 # the `.Shadow` patch. This can be used to modify the default shadow.
 
 fig, ax = plt.subplots()
-ax.pie(sizes, explode=explode, labels=labels, autopct='%1.1f%%',
-       shadow={'ox': -0.04, 'edgecolor': 'none', 'shade': 0.9}, startangle=90)
+ax.pie(sizes, explode=explode, shadow={'ox': -0.04, 'edgecolor': 'none', 'shade': 0.9},
+       startangle=90)
 plt.show()
 
 # %%
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
index 7fa360220664..6215c26b4e80 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
@@ -3514,13 +3514,13 @@ def stem(self, *args, linefmt=None, markerfmt=None, basefmt=None, bottom=0,
         self.add_container(stem_container)
         return stem_container
 
-    @_api.make_keyword_only("3.10", "explode")
-    @_preprocess_data(replace_names=["x", "explode", "labels", "colors"])
-    def pie(self, x, explode=None, labels=None, colors=None,
-            autopct=None, pctdistance=0.6, shadow=False, labeldistance=1.1,
-            startangle=0, radius=1, counterclock=True,
-            wedgeprops=None, textprops=None, center=(0, 0),
-            frame=False, rotatelabels=False, *, normalize=True, hatch=None):
+    @_preprocess_data(replace_names=["x", "explode", "labels", "colors",
+                                     "wedge_labels"])
+    def pie(self, x, *, explode=None, labels=None, colors=None, wedge_labels=None,
+            wedge_label_distance=0.6, autopct=None, pctdistance=0.6, shadow=False,
+            labeldistance=False, startangle=0, radius=1, counterclock=True,
+            wedgeprops=None, textprops=None, center=(0, 0), frame=False,
+            rotatelabels=False, normalize=True, hatch=None):
         """
         Plot a pie chart.
 
@@ -3540,7 +3540,13 @@ def pie(self, x, explode=None, labels=None, colors=None,
             of the radius with which to offset each wedge.
 
         labels : list, default: None
-            A sequence of strings providing the labels for each wedge
+            A sequence of strings providing the legend labels for each wedge.
+
+            .. deprecated:: 3.12
+                In future these labels will not appear on the wedges but only
+                be made available for the legend (see *labeldistance* below).
+                To place labels on the wedges, use *wedge_labels* or the
+                `pie_label` method.
 
         colors : :mpltype:`color` or list of :mpltype:`color`, default: None
             A sequence of colors through which the pie chart will cycle.  If
@@ -3553,12 +3559,35 @@ def pie(self, x, explode=None, labels=None, colors=None,
 
             .. versionadded:: 3.7
 
+        wedge_labels : str or list of str, optional
+            A sequence of strings providing the labels for each wedge, or a format
+            string with ``absval`` and/or ``frac`` placeholders.  For example, to label
+            each wedge with its value and the percentage in brackets::
+
+                wedge_labels="{absval:d} ({frac:.0%})"
+
+            For more control or to add multiple sets of labels, use `pie_label`
+            instead.
+
+            .. versionadded:: 3.12
+
+        wedge_label_distance : float, default: 0.6
+            The radial position of the wedge labels, relative to the pie radius.
+            Values > 1 are outside the wedge and values < 1 are inside the wedge.
+
+            .. versionadded:: 3.12
+
         autopct : None or str or callable, default: None
             If not *None*, *autopct* is a string or function used to label the
             wedges with their numeric value. The label will be placed inside
             the wedge. If *autopct* is a format string, the label will be
             ``fmt % pct``. If *autopct* is a function, then it will be called.
 
+            .. admonition:: Discouraged
+
+                Consider using the *wedge_labels* parameter or `pie_label`
+                method instead.
+
         pctdistance : float, default: 0.6
             The relative distance along the radius at which the text
             generated by *autopct* is drawn. To draw the text outside the pie,
@@ -3571,6 +3600,11 @@ def pie(self, x, explode=None, labels=None, colors=None,
             If set to ``None``, labels are not drawn but are still stored for
             use in `.legend`.
 
+            .. deprecated:: 3.12
+                From v3.14 *labeldistance* will default to ``None`` and will
+                later be removed altogether.  Use *wedge_labels* and
+                *wedge_label_distance* or the `pie_label` method instead.
+
         shadow : bool or dict, default: False
             If bool, whether to draw a shadow beneath the pie. If dict, draw a shadow
             passing the properties in the dict to `.Shadow`.
@@ -3654,6 +3688,26 @@ def pie(self, x, explode=None, labels=None, colors=None,
             fracs = x
         if labels is None:
             labels = [''] * len(x)
+        else:
+            if wedge_labels is not None and labeldistance is not None:
+                raise ValueError(
+                    'wedge_labels is a replacement for labels when annotating the '
+                    'wedges, so the two should not be used together.  To add multiple'
+                    'sets of labels, use the pie_label method.'
+                    )
+            if labeldistance is False:
+                # NB: when the labeldistance default changes, both labeldistance and
+                # rotatelabels should be deprecated for removal.
+                msg = (
+                    "From %(removal)s labeldistance will default to None, so that the "
+                    "strings provided in the labels parameter are only available for "
+                    "the legend.  Later labeldistance will be removed completely.  To "
+                    "preserve existing behavior for now, pass labeldistance=1.1.  "
+                    "Consider using the wedge_labels parameter or the pie_label method "
+                    "instead of the labels parameter."
+                    )
+                _api.warn_deprecated("3.12", message=msg)
+                labeldistance = 1.1
         if explode is None:
             explode = [0] * len(x)
         if len(x) != len(labels):
@@ -3711,11 +3765,16 @@ def get_next_color():
 
         pc = PieContainer(slices, x, normalize)
 
-        if labeldistance is None:
+        if wedge_labels is not None:
+            self.pie_label(pc, wedge_labels, distance=wedge_label_distance,
+                           textprops=textprops)
+
+        elif labeldistance is None:
             # Insert an empty list of texts for backwards compatibility of the
             # return value.
             pc.add_texts([])
-        else:
+
+        if labeldistance is not None:
             # Add labels to the wedges.
             labels_textprops = {
                 'fontsize': mpl.rcParams['xtick.labelsize'],
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.pyi b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.pyi
index 09587ab753a3..906ed8b06b2e 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.pyi
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.pyi
@@ -310,6 +310,8 @@ class Axes(_AxesBase):
         explode: ArrayLike | None = ...,
         labels: Sequence[str] | None = ...,
         colors: ColorType | Sequence[ColorType] | None = ...,
+        wedge_labels: str | Sequence | None = ...,
+        wedge_label_distance: float | Sequence = ...,
         autopct: str | Callable[[float], str] | None = ...,
         pctdistance: float = ...,
         shadow: bool = ...,
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py b/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
index a20553d719db..51b90b328077 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
@@ -3939,13 +3939,16 @@ def phase_spectrum(
 @_copy_docstring_and_deprecators(Axes.pie)
 def pie(
     x: ArrayLike,
+    *,
     explode: ArrayLike | None = None,
     labels: Sequence[str] | None = None,
     colors: ColorType | Sequence[ColorType] | None = None,
+    wedge_labels: str | Sequence | None = None,
+    wedge_label_distance: float | Sequence = 0.6,
     autopct: str | Callable[[float], str] | None = None,
     pctdistance: float = 0.6,
     shadow: bool = False,
-    labeldistance: float | None = 1.1,
+    labeldistance: float | None = False,
     startangle: float = 0,
     radius: float = 1,
     counterclock: bool = True,
@@ -3954,7 +3957,6 @@ def pie(
     center: tuple[float, float] = (0, 0),
     frame: bool = False,
     rotatelabels: bool = False,
-    *,
     normalize: bool = True,
     hatch: str | Sequence[str] | None = None,
     data=None,
@@ -3964,6 +3966,8 @@ def pie(
         explode=explode,
         labels=labels,
         colors=colors,
+        wedge_labels=wedge_labels,
+        wedge_label_distance=wedge_label_distance,
         autopct=autopct,
         pctdistance=pctdistance,
         shadow=shadow,
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
index fe121e12c9f1..a4102e78071a 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
@@ -6365,8 +6365,23 @@ def test_pie_default():
     colors = ['yellowgreen', 'gold', 'lightskyblue', 'lightcoral']
     explode = (0, 0.1, 0, 0)  # only "explode" the 2nd slice (i.e. 'Hogs')
     fig1, ax1 = plt.subplots(figsize=(8, 6))
-    ax1.pie(sizes, explode=explode, labels=labels, colors=colors,
-            autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90)
+    ax1.pie(sizes, explode=explode, wedge_labels=labels, wedge_label_distance=1.1,
+            colors=colors, autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90)
+
+
+@image_comparison(['pie_default.png'], tol=0.01)
+def test_pie_default_legacy():
+    # Same as above, but uses labels parameter.  Remove after labeldistance
+    # parameter deprecation expires.
+    # The slices will be ordered and plotted counter-clockwise.
+    labels = 'Frogs', 'Hogs', 'Dogs', 'Logs'
+    sizes = [15, 30, 45, 10]
+    colors = ['yellowgreen', 'gold', 'lightskyblue', 'lightcoral']
+    explode = (0, 0.1, 0, 0)  # only "explode" the 2nd slice (i.e. 'Hogs')
+    fig1, ax1 = plt.subplots(figsize=(8, 6))
+    with pytest.warns(mpl.MatplotlibDeprecationWarning):
+        ax1.pie(sizes, explode=explode, labels=labels, colors=colors,
+                autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90)
 
 
 @image_comparison(['pie_linewidth_0', 'pie_linewidth_0', 'pie_linewidth_0'],
@@ -6378,27 +6393,30 @@ def test_pie_linewidth_0():
     colors = ['yellowgreen', 'gold', 'lightskyblue', 'lightcoral']
     explode = (0, 0.1, 0, 0)  # only "explode" the 2nd slice (i.e. 'Hogs')
 
-    plt.pie(sizes, explode=explode, labels=labels, colors=colors,
-            autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90,
+    plt.pie(sizes, explode=explode, wedge_labels=labels, wedge_label_distance=1.1,
+            colors=colors, autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90,
             wedgeprops={'linewidth': 0})
     # Set aspect ratio to be equal so that pie is drawn as a circle.
     plt.axis('equal')
 
-    # Reuse testcase from above for a labeled data test
+    # Reuse testcase from above for a labeled data test.  Include legend labels
+    # to smoke test that they are correctly unpacked.
     data = {"l": labels, "s": sizes, "c": colors, "ex": explode}
     fig = plt.figure()
     ax = fig.gca()
-    ax.pie("s", explode="ex", labels="l", colors="c",
+    ax.pie("s", explode="ex", wedge_labels="l", colors="c", wedge_label_distance=1.1,
            autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90,
-           wedgeprops={'linewidth': 0}, data=data)
+           labels="l", labeldistance=None, wedgeprops={'linewidth': 0},
+           data=data)
     ax.axis('equal')
 
     # And again to test the pyplot functions which should also be able to be
     # called with a data kwarg
     plt.figure()
-    plt.pie("s", explode="ex", labels="l", colors="c",
+    plt.pie("s", explode="ex", wedge_labels="l", colors="c", wedge_label_distance=1.1,
             autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90,
-            wedgeprops={'linewidth': 0}, data=data)
+            labels="l", labeldistance=None, wedgeprops={'linewidth': 0},
+            data=data)
     plt.axis('equal')
 
 
@@ -6410,8 +6428,8 @@ def test_pie_center_radius():
     colors = ['yellowgreen', 'gold', 'lightskyblue', 'lightcoral']
     explode = (0, 0.1, 0, 0)  # only "explode" the 2nd slice (i.e. 'Hogs')
 
-    plt.pie(sizes, explode=explode, labels=labels, colors=colors,
-            autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90,
+    plt.pie(sizes, explode=explode, wedge_labels=labels, wedge_label_distance=1.1,
+            colors=colors, autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90,
             wedgeprops={'linewidth': 0}, center=(1, 2), radius=1.5)
 
     plt.annotate("Center point", xy=(1, 2), xytext=(1, 1.3),
@@ -6430,8 +6448,8 @@ def test_pie_linewidth_2():
     colors = ['yellowgreen', 'gold', 'lightskyblue', 'lightcoral']
     explode = (0, 0.1, 0, 0)  # only "explode" the 2nd slice (i.e. 'Hogs')
 
-    plt.pie(sizes, explode=explode, labels=labels, colors=colors,
-            autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90,
+    plt.pie(sizes, explode=explode, wedge_labels=labels, wedge_label_distance=1.1,
+            colors=colors, autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90,
             wedgeprops={'linewidth': 2})
     # Set aspect ratio to be equal so that pie is drawn as a circle.
     plt.axis('equal')
@@ -6445,8 +6463,8 @@ def test_pie_ccw_true():
     colors = ['yellowgreen', 'gold', 'lightskyblue', 'lightcoral']
     explode = (0, 0.1, 0, 0)  # only "explode" the 2nd slice (i.e. 'Hogs')
 
-    plt.pie(sizes, explode=explode, labels=labels, colors=colors,
-            autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90,
+    plt.pie(sizes, explode=explode, wedge_labels=labels, wedge_label_distance=1.1,
+            colors=colors, autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90,
             counterclock=True)
     # Set aspect ratio to be equal so that pie is drawn as a circle.
     plt.axis('equal')
@@ -6461,35 +6479,53 @@ def test_pie_frame_grid():
     # only "explode" the 2nd slice (i.e. 'Hogs')
     explode = (0, 0.1, 0, 0)
 
-    plt.pie(sizes, explode=explode, labels=labels, colors=colors,
-            autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90,
+    plt.pie(sizes, explode=explode, wedge_labels=labels, wedge_label_distance=1.1,
+            colors=colors, autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90,
             wedgeprops={'linewidth': 0},
             frame=True, center=(2, 2))
 
-    plt.pie(sizes[::-1], explode=explode, labels=labels, colors=colors,
-            autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90,
+    plt.pie(sizes[::-1], explode=explode, wedge_labels=labels, wedge_label_distance=1.1,
+            colors=colors, autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90,
             wedgeprops={'linewidth': 0},
             frame=True, center=(5, 2))
 
-    plt.pie(sizes, explode=explode[::-1], labels=labels, colors=colors,
-            autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90,
+    plt.pie(sizes, explode=explode[::-1], wedge_labels=labels, wedge_label_distance=1.1,
+            colors=colors, autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90,
             wedgeprops={'linewidth': 0},
             frame=True, center=(3, 5))
     # Set aspect ratio to be equal so that pie is drawn as a circle.
     plt.axis('equal')
 
 
+@image_comparison(['pie_rotatelabels_true.png'], style='mpl20', tol=0.009)
+def test_pie_label_rotate():
+    # The slices will be ordered and plotted counter-clockwise.
+    labels = 'Hogwarts', 'Frogs', 'Dogs', 'Logs'
+    sizes = [15, 30, 45, 10]
+    colors = ['yellowgreen', 'gold', 'lightskyblue', 'lightcoral']
+    explode = (0, 0.1, 0, 0)  # only "explode" the 2nd slice (i.e. 'Hogs')
+
+    pie = plt.pie(sizes, explode=explode, wedge_labels='{frac:.1%}', colors=colors,
+                  shadow=True, startangle=90)
+    plt.pie_label(pie, labels, distance=1.1, rotate=True)
+    # Set aspect ratio to be equal so that pie is drawn as a circle.
+    plt.axis('equal')
+
+
 @image_comparison(['pie_rotatelabels_true.png'], style='mpl20', tol=0.009)
 def test_pie_rotatelabels_true():
+    # As above but using legacy labels and rotatelabels parameters.  Remove
+    # when the labeldistance parameter deprecation expires.
     # The slices will be ordered and plotted counter-clockwise.
     labels = 'Hogwarts', 'Frogs', 'Dogs', 'Logs'
     sizes = [15, 30, 45, 10]
     colors = ['yellowgreen', 'gold', 'lightskyblue', 'lightcoral']
     explode = (0, 0.1, 0, 0)  # only "explode" the 2nd slice (i.e. 'Hogs')
 
-    plt.pie(sizes, explode=explode, labels=labels, colors=colors,
-            autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90,
-            rotatelabels=True)
+    with pytest.warns(mpl.MatplotlibDeprecationWarning):
+        plt.pie(sizes, explode=explode, labels=labels, colors=colors,
+                autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90,
+                rotatelabels=True)
     # Set aspect ratio to be equal so that pie is drawn as a circle.
     plt.axis('equal')
 
@@ -6501,7 +6537,7 @@ def test_pie_nolabel_but_legend():
     colors = ['yellowgreen', 'gold', 'lightskyblue', 'lightcoral']
     explode = (0, 0.1, 0, 0)  # only "explode" the 2nd slice (i.e. 'Hogs')
     plt.pie(sizes, explode=explode, labels=labels, colors=colors,
-            autopct='%1.1f%%', shadow=True, startangle=90, labeldistance=None,
+            wedge_labels='{frac:.1%}', shadow=True, startangle=90, labeldistance=None,
             rotatelabels=True)
     plt.axis('equal')
     plt.ylim(-1.2, 1.2)
@@ -6542,9 +6578,13 @@ def test_pie_textprops():
                      rotation_mode="anchor",
                      size=12, color="red")
 
-    _, texts, autopct = plt.gca().pie(data, labels=labels, autopct='%.2f',
-                                      textprops=textprops)
-    for labels in [texts, autopct]:
+    fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+
+    pie1 = ax.pie(data, wedge_labels=labels, autopct='%.2f', textprops=textprops)
+    with pytest.warns(mpl.MatplotlibDeprecationWarning):
+        pie2 = ax.pie(data, labels=labels, textprops=textprops)
+
+    for labels in pie1.texts + pie2.texts:
         for tx in labels:
             assert tx.get_ha() == textprops["horizontalalignment"]
             assert tx.get_va() == textprops["verticalalignment"]
@@ -6572,7 +6612,7 @@ def test_pie_invalid_labels():
     # Test ValueError raised when feeding short labels list to axes.pie
     fig, ax = plt.subplots()
     with pytest.raises(ValueError):
-        ax.pie([1, 2, 3], labels=["One", "Two"])
+        ax.pie([1, 2, 3], labels=["One", "Two"], labeldistance=None)
 
 
 def test_pie_invalid_radius():
@@ -6582,6 +6622,13 @@ def test_pie_invalid_radius():
         ax.pie([1, 2, 3], radius=-5)
 
 
+def test_pie_wedge_labels_and_labels():
+    fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match='wedge_labels is a replacement for labels'):
+        ax.pie([1, 2], wedge_labels=['spam', 'eggs'], labels=['bacon', 'beans'],
+               labeldistance=1.2)
+
+
 def test_normalize_kwarg_pie():
     fig, ax = plt.subplots()
     x = [0.3, 0.3, 0.1]
@@ -10011,10 +10058,10 @@ def test_pie_non_finite_values():
     df = [5, float('nan'), float('inf')]
 
     with pytest.raises(ValueError, match='Wedge sizes must be finite numbers'):
-        ax.pie(df, labels=['A', 'B', 'C'])
+        ax.pie(df)
 
 
 def test_pie_all_zeros():
     fig, ax = plt.subplots()
     with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="All wedge sizes are zero"):
-        ax.pie([0, 0], labels=["A", "B"])
+        ax.pie([0, 0])
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_container.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_container.py
index b7dfe1196685..d27ee1115171 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_container.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_container.py
@@ -57,10 +57,13 @@ def test_barcontainer_position_centers__bottoms__tops():
 
 def test_piecontainer_remove():
     fig, ax = plt.subplots()
-    pie = ax.pie([2, 3], labels=['foo', 'bar'], autopct="%1.0f%%")
+    pie = ax.pie([2, 3], wedge_labels=['foo', 'bar'], autopct="%1.0f%%")
     ax.pie_label(pie, ['baz', 'qux'])
+
     assert len(ax.patches) == 2
-    assert len(ax.texts) == 6
+    # We have added 6 labels but pie also adds an empty Text artist to each
+    # wedge if labeldistance is not None and labels is not passed
+    assert len(ax.texts) == 8
 
     pie.remove()
     assert not ax.patches