diff --git a/internal/compiler/compiler.go b/internal/compiler/compiler.go
index 5c52d60e..ee7c4adb 100644
--- a/internal/compiler/compiler.go
+++ b/internal/compiler/compiler.go
@@ -3,10 +3,13 @@ package compiler
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
+
 	"github.com/go-task/task/v3/internal/execext"
 	"github.com/go-task/task/v3/internal/filepathext"
 	"github.com/go-task/task/v3/internal/logger"
@@ -64,6 +67,8 @@ func (c *Compiler) getVariables(t *ast.Task, call *ast.Call, evaluateShVars bool
 				newVar.Value = value
 			}
 			newVar.Sh = tr.Replace(v.Sh)
+			newVar.Json = tr.Replace(v.Json)
+			newVar.Yaml = tr.Replace(v.Yaml)
 			newVar.Dir = v.Dir
 			// If the variable should not be evaluated, but is nil, set it to an empty string
 			// This stops empty interface errors when using the templater to replace values later
@@ -80,6 +85,18 @@ func (c *Compiler) getVariables(t *ast.Task, call *ast.Call, evaluateShVars bool
 			if err := tr.Err(); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
+			// Evaluate JSON
+			if newVar.Json != "" {
+				if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(newVar.Json), &newVar.Value); err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+			}
+			// Evaluate YAML
+			if newVar.Yaml != "" {
+				if err := yaml.Unmarshal([]byte(newVar.Yaml), &newVar.Value); err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+			}
 			// If the variable is not dynamic, we can set it and return
 			if newVar.Value != nil || newVar.Sh == "" {
 				result.Set(k, ast.Var{Value: newVar.Value})
diff --git a/taskfile/ast/var.go b/taskfile/ast/var.go
index ea1aeaa0..69613fb0 100644
--- a/taskfile/ast/var.go
+++ b/taskfile/ast/var.go
@@ -76,6 +76,8 @@ type Var struct {
 	Value any
 	Live  any
 	Sh    string
+	Json  string
+	Yaml  string
 	Dir   string
 }
 
@@ -105,19 +107,23 @@ func (v *Var) UnmarshalYAML(node *yaml.Node) error {
 			case yaml.MappingNode:
 				key := node.Content[0].Value
 				switch key {
-				case "sh", "map":
+				case "sh", "map", "json", "yaml":
 					var m struct {
-						Sh  string
-						Map any
+						Sh   string
+						Map  any
+						Json string
+						Yaml string
 					}
 					if err := node.Decode(&m); err != nil {
 						return err
 					}
 					v.Sh = m.Sh
 					v.Value = m.Map
+					v.Json = m.Json
+					v.Yaml = m.Yaml
 					return nil
 				default:
-					return fmt.Errorf(`yaml: line %d: %q is not a valid variable type. Try "sh", "map" or using a scalar value`, node.Line, key)
+					return fmt.Errorf(`yaml: line %d: %q is not a valid variable type. Try "sh", "map", "json", "yaml" or using a scalar value`, node.Line, key)
 				}
 			default:
 				var value any
diff --git a/testdata/vars/any2/Taskfile.yml b/testdata/vars/any2/Taskfile.yml
index 547a627d..2d6769ea 100644
--- a/testdata/vars/any2/Taskfile.yml
+++ b/testdata/vars/any2/Taskfile.yml
@@ -19,3 +19,35 @@ tasks:
           {{- else}} and {{$child.name -}}
           {{- end -}}
         {{- end -}}"
+
+  json:
+    vars:
+      JSON_STRING:
+        sh: cat example.json
+      JSON:
+        json: "{{.JSON_STRING}}"
+    cmds:
+      - >-
+        echo "{{.JSON.name}} has {{len .JSON.children}} children called
+        {{- $children := .JSON.children -}}
+        {{- range $i, $child := $children -}}
+          {{- if lt $i (sub (len $children) 1)}} {{$child.name -}},
+          {{- else}} and {{$child.name -}}
+          {{- end -}}
+        {{- end -}}"
+
+  yaml:
+    vars:
+      YAML_STRING:
+        sh: cat example.yaml
+      YAML:
+        yaml: "{{.YAML_STRING}}"
+    cmds:
+      - >-
+        echo "{{.YAML.name}} has {{len .YAML.children}} children called
+        {{- $children := .YAML.children -}}
+        {{- range $i, $child := $children -}}
+          {{- if lt $i (sub (len $children) 1)}} {{$child.name -}},
+          {{- else}} and {{$child.name -}}
+          {{- end -}}
+        {{- end -}}"
diff --git a/testdata/vars/any2/example.json b/testdata/vars/any2/example.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0d671527
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testdata/vars/any2/example.json
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+{
+    "name": "Alice",
+    "age": 30,
+    "children": [
+        {
+            "name": "Bob",
+            "age": 5
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "Charlie",
+            "age": 3
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "Diane",
+            "age": 1
+        }
+    ]
+}
diff --git a/testdata/vars/any2/example.yaml b/testdata/vars/any2/example.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..368fca61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testdata/vars/any2/example.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+name: Alice
+age: 30
+children:
+  - name: Bob
+    age: 5
+  - name: Charlie
+    age: 3
+  - name: Diane
+    age: 1