diff --git a/litestar/security/jwt/token.py b/litestar/security/jwt/token.py
index db7fbc9021..344853d39b 100644
--- a/litestar/security/jwt/token.py
+++ b/litestar/security/jwt/token.py
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ def __post_init__(self) -> None:
     def decode_payload(
         cls,
         encoded_token: str,
-        secret: str,
+        secret: str | bytes,
         algorithms: list[str],
         issuer: list[str] | None = None,
         audience: str | Sequence[str] | None = None,
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ def decode_payload(
     def decode(
         cls,
         encoded_token: str,
-        secret: str,
+        secret: str | bytes,
         algorithm: str,
         audience: str | Sequence[str] | None = None,
         issuer: str | Sequence[str] | None = None,
@@ -194,12 +194,18 @@ def decode(
         ) as e:
             raise NotAuthorizedException("Invalid token") from e
 
-    def encode(self, secret: str, algorithm: str) -> str:
+    def encode(
+        self,
+        secret: str | bytes,
+        algorithm: str,
+        headers: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
+    ) -> str:
         """Encode the token instance into a string.
 
         Args:
             secret: The secret with which the JWT is encoded.
             algorithm: The algorithm used to encode the JWT.
+            headers: Optional headers to include in the JWT (e.g., {"kid": "..."}).
 
         Returns:
             An encoded token string.
@@ -212,6 +218,7 @@ def encode(self, secret: str, algorithm: str) -> str:
                 payload={k: v for k, v in asdict(self).items() if v is not None},
                 key=secret,
                 algorithm=algorithm,
+                headers=headers,
             )
         except (jwt.DecodeError, NotImplementedError) as e:
             raise ImproperlyConfiguredException("Failed to encode token") from e
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_security/test_jwt/test_token.py b/tests/unit/test_security/test_jwt/test_token.py
index f93d719a6d..34328646d5 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_security/test_jwt/test_token.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_security/test_jwt/test_token.py
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ class CustomToken(Token):
         def decode_payload(
             cls,
             encoded_token: str,
-            secret: str,
+            secret: str | bytes,
             algorithms: list[str],
             issuer: list[str] | None = None,
             audience: str | Sequence[str] | None = None,
@@ -223,3 +223,14 @@ def decode_payload(
     _secret = secrets.token_hex()
     encoded = CustomToken(exp=datetime.now() + timedelta(days=1), sub="foo").encode(_secret, "HS256")
     assert CustomToken.decode(encoded, secret=_secret, algorithm="HS256").sub == "some-random-value"
+
+
+def test_token_encode_includes_custom_headers() -> None:
+    token = Token(exp=datetime.now() + timedelta(days=1), sub="some-random-value")
+    custom_headers = {"kid": "key-id"}
+    encoded = token.encode(secret=secrets.token_hex(), algorithm="HS256", headers=custom_headers)
+    header = jwt.get_unverified_header(encoded)
+
+    assert header["alg"] == "HS256"
+    assert "kid" in header
+    assert header["kid"] == custom_headers["kid"]