diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 8728d6e..db0a38b 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 dist: bionic
 language: python
 python:
-- '2.7'
-- '3.5'
 - '3.6'
 - '3.7'
 - '3.8'
+- '3.9'
 install: pip install tox tox-travis coverage codecov
 script: tox --recreate
 branches:
diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index f2745ec..b6c981e 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 Changelog
 =========
 
+Unreleased
+-----------
+- Drop compatibility for python 2 and officially support only python >= 3.6.
+
 4.0.2
 -----
 - Fix a bug that prevents using comments in the ``Examples:`` section. (youtux)
diff --git a/docs/conf.py b/docs/conf.py
index 46ae470..b1a5a43 100644
--- a/docs/conf.py
+++ b/docs/conf.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Pytest-BDD documentation build configuration file, created by
 # sphinx-quickstart on Sun Apr  7 21:07:56 2013.
@@ -15,7 +14,8 @@
 # add these directories to sys.path here. If the directory is relative to the
 # documentation root, use os.path.abspath to make it absolute, like shown here.
 
-import sys, os
+import os
+import sys
 
 sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath(".."))
 
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ source_suffix = ".rst"
 master_doc = "index"
 
 # General information about the project.
-project = u"Pytest-BDD"
-copyright = u"2013, Oleg Pidsadnyi"
+project = "Pytest-BDD"
+copyright = "2013, Oleg Pidsadnyi"
 
 # The version info for the project you're documenting, acts as replacement for
 # |version| and |release|, also used in various other places throughout the
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ latex_elements = {
 
 # Grouping the document tree into LaTeX files. List of tuples
 # (source start file, target name, title, author, documentclass [howto/manual]).
-latex_documents = [("index", "Pytest-BDD.tex", u"Pytest-BDD Documentation", u"Oleg Pidsadnyi", "manual")]
+latex_documents = [("index", "Pytest-BDD.tex", "Pytest-BDD Documentation", "Oleg Pidsadnyi", "manual")]
 
 # The name of an image file (relative to this directory) to place at the top of
 # the title page.
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ latex_documents = [("index", "Pytest-BDD.tex", u"Pytest-BDD Documentation", u"Ol
 
 # One entry per manual page. List of tuples
 # (source start file, name, description, authors, manual section).
-man_pages = [("index", "pytest-bdd", u"Pytest-BDD Documentation", [u"Oleg Pidsadnyi"], 1)]
+man_pages = [("index", "pytest-bdd", "Pytest-BDD Documentation", ["Oleg Pidsadnyi"], 1)]
 
 # If true, show URL addresses after external links.
 # man_show_urls = False
@@ -225,8 +225,8 @@ texinfo_documents = [
     (
         "index",
         "Pytest-BDD",
-        u"Pytest-BDD Documentation",
-        u"Oleg Pidsadnyi",
+        "Pytest-BDD Documentation",
+        "Oleg Pidsadnyi",
         "Pytest-BDD",
         "One line description of project.",
         "Miscellaneous",
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 632eb80..f383bfd 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 [tool.black]
 line-length = 120
-target-version = ['py27', 'py35', 'py36', 'py37', 'py38']
+target-version = ['py36', 'py37', 'py38']
diff --git a/pytest_bdd/cucumber_json.py b/pytest_bdd/cucumber_json.py
index fa0b3a1..e2d550c 100644
--- a/pytest_bdd/cucumber_json.py
+++ b/pytest_bdd/cucumber_json.py
@@ -1,14 +1,10 @@
 """Cucumber json output formatter."""
 
-import codecs
 import json
 import math
 import os
-import sys
 import time
 
-from .feature import force_unicode
-
 
 def add_options(parser):
     """Add pytest-bdd options."""
@@ -72,7 +68,7 @@ class LogBDDCucumberJSON(object):
         if report.passed or not step["failed"]:  # ignore setup/teardown
             result = {"status": "passed"}
         elif report.failed and step["failed"]:
-            result = {"status": "failed", "error_message": force_unicode(report.longrepr) if error_message else ""}
+            result = {"status": "failed", "error_message": str(report.longrepr) if error_message else ""}
         elif report.skipped:
             result = {"status": "skipped"}
         result["duration"] = int(math.floor((10 ** 9) * step["duration"]))  # nanosec
@@ -171,11 +167,7 @@ class LogBDDCucumberJSON(object):
         self.suite_start_time = time.time()
 
     def pytest_sessionfinish(self):
-        if sys.version_info[0] < 3:
-            logfile_open = codecs.open
-        else:
-            logfile_open = open
-        with logfile_open(self.logfile, "w", encoding="utf-8") as logfile:
+        with open(self.logfile, "w", encoding="utf-8") as logfile:
             logfile.write(json.dumps(list(self.features.values())))
 
     def pytest_terminal_summary(self, terminalreporter):
diff --git a/pytest_bdd/exceptions.py b/pytest_bdd/exceptions.py
index 17ef5c3..2570674 100644
--- a/pytest_bdd/exceptions.py
+++ b/pytest_bdd/exceptions.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 """pytest-bdd Exceptions."""
-import six
 
 
 class ScenarioIsDecoratorOnly(Exception):
@@ -30,19 +29,14 @@ class StepDefinitionNotFoundError(Exception):
     """Step definition not found."""
 
 
-class InvalidStepParserError(Exception):
-    """Invalid step parser."""
-
-
 class NoScenariosFound(Exception):
     """No scenarios found."""
 
 
-@six.python_2_unicode_compatible
 class FeatureError(Exception):
     """Feature parse error."""
 
-    message = u"{0}.\nLine number: {1}.\nLine: {2}.\nFile: {3}"
+    message = "{0}.\nLine number: {1}.\nLine: {2}.\nFile: {3}"
 
     def __str__(self):
         """String representation."""
diff --git a/pytest_bdd/feature.py b/pytest_bdd/feature.py
index 7051eb7..7ab3862 100644
--- a/pytest_bdd/feature.py
+++ b/pytest_bdd/feature.py
@@ -24,47 +24,15 @@ Syntax example:
 one line.
 """
 import os.path
-import sys
 
 import glob2
 
 from .parser import parse_feature
 
-
 # Global features dictionary
 features = {}
 
 
-def force_unicode(obj, encoding="utf-8"):
-    """Get the unicode string out of given object (python 2 and python 3).
-
-    :param obj: An `object`, usually a string.
-
-    :return: unicode string.
-    """
-    if sys.version_info < (3, 0):
-        if isinstance(obj, str):
-            return obj.decode(encoding)
-        else:
-            return unicode(obj)
-    else:  # pragma: no cover
-        return str(obj)
-
-
-def force_encode(string, encoding="utf-8"):
-    """Force string encoding (Python compatibility function).
-
-    :param str string: A string value.
-    :param str encoding: Encoding.
-
-    :return: Encoded string.
-    """
-    if sys.version_info < (3, 0):
-        if isinstance(string, unicode):
-            string = string.encode(encoding)
-    return string
-
-
 def get_feature(base_path, filename, encoding="utf-8"):
     """Get a feature by the filename.
 
diff --git a/pytest_bdd/generation.py b/pytest_bdd/generation.py
index 6f7e637..5267304 100644
--- a/pytest_bdd/generation.py
+++ b/pytest_bdd/generation.py
@@ -3,15 +3,14 @@
 import itertools
 import os.path
 
-from mako.lookup import TemplateLookup
 import py
+from mako.lookup import TemplateLookup
 
+from .feature import get_features
 from .scenario import find_argumented_step_fixture_name, make_python_docstring, make_python_name, make_string_literal
 from .steps import get_step_fixture_name
-from .feature import get_features
 from .types import STEP_TYPES
 
-
 template_lookup = TemplateLookup(directories=[os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "templates")])
 
 
@@ -109,7 +108,7 @@ def print_missing_code(scenarios, steps):
     tw.write(code)
 
 
-def _find_step_fixturedef(fixturemanager, item, name, type_, encoding="utf-8"):
+def _find_step_fixturedef(fixturemanager, item, name, type_):
     """Find step fixturedef.
 
     :param request: PyTest Item object.
@@ -117,11 +116,11 @@ def _find_step_fixturedef(fixturemanager, item, name, type_, encoding="utf-8"):
 
     :return: Step function.
     """
-    fixturedefs = fixturemanager.getfixturedefs(get_step_fixture_name(name, type_, encoding), item.nodeid)
+    fixturedefs = fixturemanager.getfixturedefs(get_step_fixture_name(name, type_), item.nodeid)
     if not fixturedefs:
         name = find_argumented_step_fixture_name(name, type_, fixturemanager)
         if name:
-            return _find_step_fixturedef(fixturemanager, item, name, encoding)
+            return _find_step_fixturedef(fixturemanager, item, name, type_)
     else:
         return fixturedefs
 
diff --git a/pytest_bdd/gherkin_terminal_reporter.py b/pytest_bdd/gherkin_terminal_reporter.py
index b4c9d4b..97f7ae7 100644
--- a/pytest_bdd/gherkin_terminal_reporter.py
+++ b/pytest_bdd/gherkin_terminal_reporter.py
@@ -1,7 +1,3 @@
-# -*- encoding: utf-8 -*-
-
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
-
 import re
 
 from _pytest.terminal import TerminalReporter
diff --git a/pytest_bdd/parser.py b/pytest_bdd/parser.py
index 702b7fb..c912b80 100644
--- a/pytest_bdd/parser.py
+++ b/pytest_bdd/parser.py
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@ import re
 import textwrap
 from collections import OrderedDict
 
-import six
-
 from . import types, exceptions
 
 SPLIT_LINE_RE = re.compile(r"(?<!\\)\|")
@@ -193,7 +191,7 @@ def parse_feature(basedir, filename, encoding="utf-8"):
             target.add_step(step)
         prev_line = clean_line
 
-    feature.description = u"\n".join(description).strip()
+    feature.description = "\n".join(description).strip()
     return feature
 
 
@@ -292,7 +290,6 @@ class Scenario(object):
             )
 
 
-@six.python_2_unicode_compatible
 class Step(object):
 
     """Step."""
@@ -447,9 +444,6 @@ class Examples(object):
         """Bool comparison."""
         return bool(self.vertical_examples or self.examples)
 
-    if six.PY2:
-        __nonzero__ = __bool__
-
 
 def get_tags(line):
     """Get tags out of the given line.
diff --git a/pytest_bdd/parsers.py b/pytest_bdd/parsers.py
index ab5b7ff..4f8a4b0 100644
--- a/pytest_bdd/parsers.py
+++ b/pytest_bdd/parsers.py
@@ -3,13 +3,11 @@
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 
 import re as base_re
+from functools import partial
 
 import parse as base_parse
-import six
 from parse_type import cfparse as base_cfparse
 
-from .exceptions import InvalidStepParserError
-
 
 class StepParser(object):
     """Parser of the individual step."""
@@ -22,11 +20,11 @@ class StepParser(object):
 
         :return: `dict` of step arguments
         """
-        raise NotImplementedError()
+        raise NotImplementedError()  # pragma: no cover
 
     def is_matching(self, name):
         """Match given name with the step name."""
-        raise NotImplementedError()
+        raise NotImplementedError()  # pragma: no cover
 
 
 class re(StepParser):
@@ -84,6 +82,11 @@ class cfparse(parse):
 class string(StepParser):
     """Exact string step parser."""
 
+    def __init__(self, name):
+        """Stringify"""
+        name = str(name, **({"encoding": "utf-8"} if isinstance(name, bytes) else {}))
+        super().__init__(name)
+
     def parse_arguments(self, name):
         """No parameters are available for simple string step.
 
@@ -104,11 +107,11 @@ def get_parser(step_name):
     :return: step parser object
     :rtype: StepArgumentParser
     """
-    if isinstance(step_name, six.string_types):
-        if isinstance(step_name, six.binary_type):  # Python 2 compatibility
-            step_name = step_name.decode("utf-8")
-        return string(step_name)
-    elif not hasattr(step_name, "is_matching") or not hasattr(step_name, "parse_arguments"):
-        raise InvalidStepParserError(step_name)
-    else:
+
+    def does_support_parser_interface(obj):
+        return all(map(partial(hasattr, obj), ["is_matching", "parse_arguments"]))
+
+    if does_support_parser_interface(step_name):
         return step_name
+    else:
+        return string(step_name)
diff --git a/pytest_bdd/plugin.py b/pytest_bdd/plugin.py
index 33b531e..20ac37e 100644
--- a/pytest_bdd/plugin.py
+++ b/pytest_bdd/plugin.py
@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@
 
 import pytest
 
-from . import given, when, then
 from . import cucumber_json
 from . import generation
-from . import reporting
 from . import gherkin_terminal_reporter
+from . import given, when, then
+from . import reporting
 from .utils import CONFIG_STACK
 
 
@@ -84,25 +84,3 @@ def pytest_cmdline_main(config):
 def pytest_bdd_apply_tag(tag, function):
     mark = getattr(pytest.mark, tag)
     return mark(function)
-
-
-@pytest.mark.tryfirst
-def pytest_collection_modifyitems(session, config, items):
-    """Re-order items using the creation counter as fallback.
-
-    Pytest has troubles to correctly order the test items for python < 3.6.
-    For this reason, we have to apply some better ordering for pytest_bdd scenario-decorated test functions.
-
-    This is not needed for python 3.6+, but this logic is safe to apply in that case as well.
-    """
-    # TODO: Try to only re-sort the items that have __pytest_bdd_counter__, and not the others,
-    #  since there may be other hooks that are executed before this and that want to reorder item as well
-    def item_key(item):
-        if isinstance(item, pytest.Function):
-            declaration_order = getattr(item.function, "__pytest_bdd_counter__", 0)
-        else:
-            declaration_order = 0
-        func, linenum = item.reportinfo()[:2]
-        return (func, linenum if linenum is not None else -1, declaration_order)
-
-    items.sort(key=item_key)
diff --git a/pytest_bdd/reporting.py b/pytest_bdd/reporting.py
index 7b7d6e4..68cf9bc 100644
--- a/pytest_bdd/reporting.py
+++ b/pytest_bdd/reporting.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ that enriches the pytest test reporting.
 
 import time
 
-from .feature import force_unicode
 from .utils import get_parametrize_markers_args
 
 
@@ -84,8 +83,7 @@ class ScenarioReport(object):
             elif tuple(node_param_values) in param_values:
                 self.param_index = param_values.index(tuple(node_param_values))
         self.example_kwargs = {
-            example_param: force_unicode(node.funcargs[example_param])
-            for example_param in scenario.get_example_params()
+            example_param: str(node.funcargs[example_param]) for example_param in scenario.get_example_params()
         }
 
     @property
diff --git a/pytest_bdd/scenario.py b/pytest_bdd/scenario.py
index 178f665..be196d0 100644
--- a/pytest_bdd/scenario.py
+++ b/pytest_bdd/scenario.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ except ImportError:
     from _pytest import python as pytest_fixtures
 
 from . import exceptions
-from .feature import force_unicode, get_feature, get_features
+from .feature import get_feature, get_features
 from .steps import get_step_fixture_name, inject_fixture
 from .utils import CONFIG_STACK, get_args, get_caller_module_locals, get_caller_module_path
 
@@ -30,11 +30,6 @@ PYTHON_REPLACE_REGEX = re.compile(r"\W")
 ALPHA_REGEX = re.compile(r"^\d+_*")
 
 
-# We have to keep track of the invocation of @scenario() so that we can reorder test item accordingly.
-# In python 3.6+ this is no longer necessary, as the order is automatically retained.
-_py2_scenario_creation_counter = 0
-
-
 def find_argumented_step_fixture_name(name, type_, fixturemanager, request=None):
     """Find argumented step fixture name."""
     # happens to be that _arg2fixturedefs is changed during the iteration so we use a copy
@@ -58,7 +53,7 @@ def find_argumented_step_fixture_name(name, type_, fixturemanager, request=None)
                 return parser_name
 
 
-def _find_step_function(request, step, scenario, encoding):
+def _find_step_function(request, step, scenario):
     """Match the step defined by the regular expression pattern.
 
     :param request: PyTest request object.
@@ -71,7 +66,7 @@ def _find_step_function(request, step, scenario, encoding):
     name = step.name
     try:
         # Simple case where no parser is used for the step
-        return request.getfixturevalue(get_step_fixture_name(name, step.type, encoding))
+        return request.getfixturevalue(get_step_fixture_name(name, step.type))
     except pytest_fixtures.FixtureLookupError:
         try:
             # Could not find a fixture with the same name, let's see if there is a parser involved
@@ -81,10 +76,8 @@ def _find_step_function(request, step, scenario, encoding):
             raise
         except pytest_fixtures.FixtureLookupError:
             raise exceptions.StepDefinitionNotFoundError(
-                u"""Step definition is not found: {step}."""
-                """ Line {step.line_number} in scenario "{scenario.name}" in the feature "{feature.filename}""".format(
-                    step=step, scenario=scenario, feature=scenario.feature
-                )
+                f"Step definition is not found: {step}. "
+                f'Line {step.line_number} in scenario "{scenario.name}" in the feature "{scenario.feature.filename}"'
             )
 
 
@@ -120,7 +113,7 @@ def _execute_step_function(request, scenario, step, step_func):
         raise
 
 
-def _execute_scenario(feature, scenario, request, encoding):
+def _execute_scenario(feature, scenario, request):
     """Execute the scenario.
 
     :param feature: Feature.
@@ -134,7 +127,7 @@ def _execute_scenario(feature, scenario, request, encoding):
         # Execute scenario steps
         for step in scenario.steps:
             try:
-                step_func = _find_step_function(request, step, scenario, encoding=encoding)
+                step_func = _find_step_function(request, step, scenario)
             except exceptions.StepDefinitionNotFoundError as exception:
                 request.config.hook.pytest_bdd_step_func_lookup_error(
                     request=request, feature=feature, scenario=scenario, step=step, exception=exception
@@ -148,12 +141,7 @@ def _execute_scenario(feature, scenario, request, encoding):
 FakeRequest = collections.namedtuple("FakeRequest", ["module"])
 
 
-def _get_scenario_decorator(feature, feature_name, scenario, scenario_name, encoding):
-    global _py2_scenario_creation_counter
-
-    counter = _py2_scenario_creation_counter
-    _py2_scenario_creation_counter += 1
-
+def _get_scenario_decorator(feature, feature_name, scenario, scenario_name):
     # HACK: Ideally we would use `def decorator(fn)`, but we want to return a custom exception
     # when the decorator is misused.
     # Pytest inspect the signature to determine the required fixtures, and in that case it would look
@@ -174,7 +162,7 @@ def _get_scenario_decorator(feature, feature_name, scenario, scenario_name, enco
 
         @pytest.mark.usefixtures(*function_args)
         def scenario_wrapper(request):
-            _execute_scenario(feature, scenario, request, encoding)
+            _execute_scenario(feature, scenario, request)
             return fn(*[request.getfixturevalue(arg) for arg in args])
 
         for param_set in scenario.get_params():
@@ -184,11 +172,8 @@ def _get_scenario_decorator(feature, feature_name, scenario, scenario_name, enco
             config = CONFIG_STACK[-1]
             config.hook.pytest_bdd_apply_tag(tag=tag, function=scenario_wrapper)
 
-        scenario_wrapper.__doc__ = u"{feature_name}: {scenario_name}".format(
-            feature_name=feature_name, scenario_name=scenario_name
-        )
+        scenario_wrapper.__doc__ = f"{feature_name}: {scenario_name}"
         scenario_wrapper.__scenario__ = scenario
-        scenario_wrapper.__pytest_bdd_counter__ = counter
         scenario.test_function = scenario_wrapper
         return scenario_wrapper
 
@@ -205,7 +190,7 @@ def scenario(feature_name, scenario_name, encoding="utf-8", example_converters=N
         example parameter, and value is the converter function.
     """
 
-    scenario_name = force_unicode(scenario_name, encoding)
+    scenario_name = str(scenario_name)
     caller_module_path = get_caller_module_path()
 
     # Get the feature
@@ -217,10 +202,9 @@ def scenario(feature_name, scenario_name, encoding="utf-8", example_converters=N
     try:
         scenario = feature.scenarios[scenario_name]
     except KeyError:
+        feature_name = feature.name or "[Empty]"
         raise exceptions.ScenarioNotFound(
-            u'Scenario "{scenario_name}" in feature "{feature_name}" in {feature_filename} is not found.'.format(
-                scenario_name=scenario_name, feature_name=feature.name or "[Empty]", feature_filename=feature.filename
-            )
+            f'Scenario "{scenario_name}" in feature "{feature_name}" in {feature.filename} is not found.'
         )
 
     scenario.example_converters = example_converters
@@ -229,7 +213,7 @@ def scenario(feature_name, scenario_name, encoding="utf-8", example_converters=N
     scenario.validate()
 
     return _get_scenario_decorator(
-        feature=feature, feature_name=feature_name, scenario=scenario, scenario_name=scenario_name, encoding=encoding
+        feature=feature, feature_name=feature_name, scenario=scenario, scenario_name=scenario_name
     )
 
 
@@ -256,12 +240,12 @@ def make_python_name(string):
 
 def make_python_docstring(string):
     """Make a python docstring literal out of a given string."""
-    return u'"""{}."""'.format(string.replace(u'"""', u'\\"\\"\\"'))
+    return '"""{}."""'.format(string.replace('"""', '\\"\\"\\"'))
 
 
 def make_string_literal(string):
     """Make python string literal out of a given string."""
-    return u"'{}'".format(string.replace(u"'", u"\\'"))
+    return "'{}'".format(string.replace("'", "\\'"))
 
 
 def get_python_name_generator(name):
diff --git a/pytest_bdd/scripts.py b/pytest_bdd/scripts.py
index 156a863..ed25acc 100644
--- a/pytest_bdd/scripts.py
+++ b/pytest_bdd/scripts.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import os.path
 import re
 
 import glob2
-import six
 
 from .generation import generate_code, parse_feature_files
 
@@ -49,10 +48,7 @@ def print_generated_code(args):
     """Print generated test code for the given filenames."""
     features, scenarios, steps = parse_feature_files(args.files)
     code = generate_code(features, scenarios, steps)
-    if six.PY2:
-        print(code.encode("utf-8"))
-    else:
-        print(code)
+    print(code)
 
 
 def main():
diff --git a/pytest_bdd/steps.py b/pytest_bdd/steps.py
index 483f744..d0f96da 100644
--- a/pytest_bdd/steps.py
+++ b/pytest_bdd/steps.py
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ def given_beautiful_article(article):
 """
 
 from __future__ import absolute_import
-import inspect
 
 import pytest
 
@@ -45,24 +44,20 @@ try:
 except ImportError:
     from _pytest import python as pytest_fixtures
 
-from .feature import force_encode
 from .types import GIVEN, WHEN, THEN
 from .parsers import get_parser
 from .utils import get_args, get_caller_module_locals
 
 
-def get_step_fixture_name(name, type_, encoding=None):
+def get_step_fixture_name(name, type_):
     """Get step fixture name.
 
-    :param name: unicode string
+    :param name: string
     :param type: step type
-    :param encoding: encoding
     :return: step fixture name
     :rtype: string
     """
-    return "pytestbdd_{type}_{name}".format(
-        type=type_, name=force_encode(name, **(dict(encoding=encoding) if encoding else {}))
-    )
+    return f"pytestbdd_{type_}_{name}"
 
 
 def given(name, converters=None, target_fixture=None):
@@ -118,7 +113,7 @@ def _step_decorator(step_type, step_name, converters=None, target_fixture=None):
         parser_instance = get_parser(step_name)
         parsed_step_name = parser_instance.name
 
-        step_func.__name__ = force_encode(parsed_step_name)
+        step_func.__name__ = str(parsed_step_name)
 
         def lazy_step_func():
             return step_func
diff --git a/pytest_bdd/templates/test.py.mak b/pytest_bdd/templates/test.py.mak
index f4cff13..15210ee 100644
--- a/pytest_bdd/templates/test.py.mak
+++ b/pytest_bdd/templates/test.py.mak
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 % if features:
-# coding=utf-8
 """${ features[0].name or features[0].rel_filename } feature tests."""
 
 from pytest_bdd import (
diff --git a/pytest_bdd/utils.py b/pytest_bdd/utils.py
index 60e99f2..fa3866a 100644
--- a/pytest_bdd/utils.py
+++ b/pytest_bdd/utils.py
@@ -1,47 +1,25 @@
 """Various utility functions."""
 
-from sys import _getframe
 from inspect import getframeinfo
-
-import six
+from inspect import signature as _signature
+from sys import _getframe
 
 CONFIG_STACK = []
 
-if six.PY2:
-    from inspect import getargspec as _getargspec
 
-    def get_args(func):
-        """Get a list of argument names for a function.
+def get_args(func):
+    """Get a list of argument names for a function.
 
-        :param func: The function to inspect.
+    :param func: The function to inspect.
 
-        :return: A list of argument names.
-        :rtype: list
-        """
-        return _getargspec(func).args
-
-
-else:
-    from inspect import signature as _signature
-
-    def get_args(func):
-        """Get a list of argument names for a function.
-
-        :param func: The function to inspect.
-
-        :return: A list of argument names.
-        :rtype: list
-        """
-        params = _signature(func).parameters.values()
-        return [param.name for param in params if param.kind == param.POSITIONAL_OR_KEYWORD]
+    :return: A list of argument names.
+    :rtype: list
+    """
+    params = _signature(func).parameters.values()
+    return [param.name for param in params if param.kind == param.POSITIONAL_OR_KEYWORD]
 
 
 def get_parametrize_markers_args(node):
-    """In pytest 3.6 new API to access markers has been introduced and it deprecated
-    MarkInfo objects.
-
-    This function uses that API if it is available otherwise it uses MarkInfo objects.
-    """
     return tuple(arg for mark in node.iter_markers("parametrize") for arg in mark.args)
 
 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 3ce4200..bfa7d65 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import re
 
 from setuptools import setup
 
-
 dirname = os.path.dirname(__file__)
 
 long_description = (
@@ -42,8 +41,9 @@ setup(
         "Programming Language :: Python :: 2",
         "Programming Language :: Python :: 3",
     ]
-    + [("Programming Language :: Python :: %s" % x) for x in "2.7 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8".split()],
-    install_requires=["glob2", "Mako", "parse", "parse_type", "py", "pytest>=4.3", "six>=1.9.0"],
+    + [("Programming Language :: Python :: %s" % x) for x in "3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9".split()],
+    python_requires=">=3.6",
+    install_requires=["glob2", "Mako", "parse", "parse_type", "py", "pytest>=4.3"],
     # the following makes a plugin available to py.test
     entry_points={
         "pytest11": ["pytest-bdd = pytest_bdd.plugin"],
diff --git a/tests/feature/test_cucumber_json.py b/tests/feature/test_cucumber_json.py
index 0c35c59..82f76a1 100644
--- a/tests/feature/test_cucumber_json.py
+++ b/tests/feature/test_cucumber_json.py
@@ -8,12 +8,13 @@ def runandparse(testdir, *args):
     """Run tests in testdir and parse json output."""
     resultpath = testdir.tmpdir.join("cucumber.json")
     result = testdir.runpytest("--cucumberjson={0}".format(resultpath), "-s", *args)
-    jsonobject = json.load(resultpath.open())
+    with resultpath.open() as f:
+        jsonobject = json.load(f)
     return result, jsonobject
 
 
 class OfType(object):
-    """Helper object comparison to which is always 'equal'."""
+    """Helper object to help compare object type to initialization type"""
 
     def __init__(self, type=None):
         self.type = type
@@ -22,9 +23,6 @@ class OfType(object):
         return isinstance(other, self.type) if self.type else True
 
 
-string = type(u"")
-
-
 def test_step_trace(testdir):
     """Test step trace."""
     testdir.makefile(
@@ -155,7 +153,7 @@ def test_step_trace(testdir):
                             "line": 12,
                             "match": {"location": ""},
                             "name": "a failing step",
-                            "result": {"error_message": OfType(string), "status": "failed", "duration": OfType(int)},
+                            "result": {"error_message": OfType(str), "status": "failed", "duration": OfType(int)},
                         },
                     ],
                     "tags": [{"name": "scenario-failing-tag", "line": 9}],
diff --git a/tests/feature/test_no_scenario.py b/tests/feature/test_no_scenario.py
index 44c8ede..d9a8754 100644
--- a/tests/feature/test_no_scenario.py
+++ b/tests/feature/test_no_scenario.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ def test_no_scenarios(testdir):
     features = testdir.mkdir("features")
     features.join("test.feature").write_text(
         textwrap.dedent(
-            u"""
+            """
         Given foo
         When bar
         Then baz
diff --git a/tests/feature/test_report.py b/tests/feature/test_report.py
index 70a3b84..56eac0f 100644
--- a/tests/feature/test_report.py
+++ b/tests/feature/test_report.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 """Test scenario reporting."""
 import textwrap
+
 import pytest
 
 
@@ -103,22 +104,22 @@ def test_step_trace(testdir):
     report = result.matchreport("test_passing", when="call").scenario
     expected = {
         "feature": {
-            "description": u"",
+            "description": "",
             "filename": feature.strpath,
             "line_number": 2,
-            "name": u"One passing scenario, one failing scenario",
+            "name": "One passing scenario, one failing scenario",
             "rel_filename": relpath,
-            "tags": [u"feature-tag"],
+            "tags": ["feature-tag"],
         },
         "line_number": 5,
-        "name": u"Passing",
+        "name": "Passing",
         "steps": [
             {
                 "duration": OfType(float),
                 "failed": False,
                 "keyword": "Given",
                 "line_number": 6,
-                "name": u"a passing step",
+                "name": "a passing step",
                 "type": "given",
             },
             {
@@ -126,11 +127,11 @@ def test_step_trace(testdir):
                 "failed": False,
                 "keyword": "And",
                 "line_number": 7,
-                "name": u"some other passing step",
+                "name": "some other passing step",
                 "type": "given",
             },
         ],
-        "tags": [u"scenario-passing-tag"],
+        "tags": ["scenario-passing-tag"],
         "examples": [],
         "example_kwargs": {},
     }
@@ -140,22 +141,22 @@ def test_step_trace(testdir):
     report = result.matchreport("test_failing", when="call").scenario
     expected = {
         "feature": {
-            "description": u"",
+            "description": "",
             "filename": feature.strpath,
             "line_number": 2,
-            "name": u"One passing scenario, one failing scenario",
+            "name": "One passing scenario, one failing scenario",
             "rel_filename": relpath,
-            "tags": [u"feature-tag"],
+            "tags": ["feature-tag"],
         },
         "line_number": 10,
-        "name": u"Failing",
+        "name": "Failing",
         "steps": [
             {
                 "duration": OfType(float),
                 "failed": False,
                 "keyword": "Given",
                 "line_number": 11,
-                "name": u"a passing step",
+                "name": "a passing step",
                 "type": "given",
             },
             {
@@ -163,11 +164,11 @@ def test_step_trace(testdir):
                 "failed": True,
                 "keyword": "And",
                 "line_number": 12,
-                "name": u"a failing step",
+                "name": "a failing step",
                 "type": "given",
             },
         ],
-        "tags": [u"scenario-failing-tag"],
+        "tags": ["scenario-failing-tag"],
         "examples": [],
         "example_kwargs": {},
     }
@@ -176,22 +177,22 @@ def test_step_trace(testdir):
     report = result.matchreport("test_outlined[12-5.0-7]", when="call").scenario
     expected = {
         "feature": {
-            "description": u"",
+            "description": "",
             "filename": feature.strpath,
             "line_number": 2,
-            "name": u"One passing scenario, one failing scenario",
+            "name": "One passing scenario, one failing scenario",
             "rel_filename": relpath,
-            "tags": [u"feature-tag"],
+            "tags": ["feature-tag"],
         },
         "line_number": 14,
-        "name": u"Outlined",
+        "name": "Outlined",
         "steps": [
             {
                 "duration": OfType(float),
                 "failed": False,
                 "keyword": "Given",
                 "line_number": 15,
-                "name": u"there are <start> cucumbers",
+                "name": "there are <start> cucumbers",
                 "type": "given",
             },
             {
@@ -199,7 +200,7 @@ def test_step_trace(testdir):
                 "failed": False,
                 "keyword": "When",
                 "line_number": 16,
-                "name": u"I eat <eat> cucumbers",
+                "name": "I eat <eat> cucumbers",
                 "type": "when",
             },
             {
@@ -207,7 +208,7 @@ def test_step_trace(testdir):
                 "failed": False,
                 "keyword": "Then",
                 "line_number": 17,
-                "name": u"I should have <left> cucumbers",
+                "name": "I should have <left> cucumbers",
                 "type": "then",
             },
         ],
@@ -227,22 +228,22 @@ def test_step_trace(testdir):
     report = result.matchreport("test_outlined[5-4.0-1]", when="call").scenario
     expected = {
         "feature": {
-            "description": u"",
+            "description": "",
             "filename": feature.strpath,
             "line_number": 2,
-            "name": u"One passing scenario, one failing scenario",
+            "name": "One passing scenario, one failing scenario",
             "rel_filename": relpath,
-            "tags": [u"feature-tag"],
+            "tags": ["feature-tag"],
         },
         "line_number": 14,
-        "name": u"Outlined",
+        "name": "Outlined",
         "steps": [
             {
                 "duration": OfType(float),
                 "failed": False,
                 "keyword": "Given",
                 "line_number": 15,
-                "name": u"there are <start> cucumbers",
+                "name": "there are <start> cucumbers",
                 "type": "given",
             },
             {
@@ -250,7 +251,7 @@ def test_step_trace(testdir):
                 "failed": False,
                 "keyword": "When",
                 "line_number": 16,
-                "name": u"I eat <eat> cucumbers",
+                "name": "I eat <eat> cucumbers",
                 "type": "when",
             },
             {
@@ -258,7 +259,7 @@ def test_step_trace(testdir):
                 "failed": False,
                 "keyword": "Then",
                 "line_number": 17,
-                "name": u"I should have <left> cucumbers",
+                "name": "I should have <left> cucumbers",
                 "type": "then",
             },
         ],
diff --git a/tests/feature/test_scenarios.py b/tests/feature/test_scenarios.py
index 4e4ab59..ba60ee2 100644
--- a/tests/feature/test_scenarios.py
+++ b/tests/feature/test_scenarios.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ def test_scenarios(testdir, pytest_params):
     features = testdir.mkdir("features")
     features.join("test.feature").write_text(
         textwrap.dedent(
-            u"""
+            """
     Scenario: Test scenario
         Given I have a bar
     """
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def test_scenarios(testdir, pytest_params):
     )
     features.join("subfolder", "test.feature").write_text(
         textwrap.dedent(
-            u"""
+            """
     Scenario: Test subfolder scenario
         Given I have a bar
 
diff --git a/tests/feature/test_tags.py b/tests/feature/test_tags.py
index 67650b2..0eb24bc 100644
--- a/tests/feature/test_tags.py
+++ b/tests/feature/test_tags.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """Test tags."""
 import textwrap
 
+import pkg_resources
 import pytest
 
 from pytest_bdd.parser import get_tags
@@ -234,7 +235,15 @@ def test_at_in_scenario(testdir):
         scenarios('test.feature')
     """
     )
-    result = testdir.runpytest_subprocess("--strict")
+
+    # Deprecate --strict after pytest 6.1
+    # https://docs.pytest.org/en/stable/deprecations.html#the-strict-command-line-option
+    pytest_version = pkg_resources.get_distribution("pytest").parsed_version
+    if pytest_version >= pkg_resources.parse_version("6.2"):
+        strict_option = "--strict-markers"
+    else:
+        strict_option = "--strict"
+    result = testdir.runpytest_subprocess(strict_option)
     result.stdout.fnmatch_lines(["*= 2 passed * =*"])
 
 
diff --git a/tests/scripts/test_generate.py b/tests/scripts/test_generate.py
index 7d76793..fc8eeec 100644
--- a/tests/scripts/test_generate.py
+++ b/tests/scripts/test_generate.py
@@ -1,12 +1,9 @@
-# coding=utf-8
 """Test code generation command."""
 
 import os
 import sys
 import textwrap
 
-import six
-
 from pytest_bdd.scripts import main
 
 PATH = os.path.dirname(__file__)
@@ -19,7 +16,7 @@ def test_generate(testdir, monkeypatch, capsys):
     feature = features.join("generate.feature")
     feature.write_text(
         textwrap.dedent(
-            u"""\
+            """\
             Feature: Code generation
 
                 Scenario: Given and when using the same fixture should not evaluate it twice
@@ -39,8 +36,7 @@ def test_generate(testdir, monkeypatch, capsys):
     main()
     out, err = capsys.readouterr()
     assert out == textwrap.dedent(
-        '''
-    # coding=utf-8
+        '''\
     """Code generation feature tests."""
 
     from pytest_bdd import (
@@ -79,11 +75,7 @@ def test_generate(testdir, monkeypatch, capsys):
         """my list should be [1]."""
         raise NotImplementedError
 
-    '''[
-            1:
-        ].replace(
-            u"'", u"'"
-        )
+    '''
     )
 
 
@@ -111,7 +103,6 @@ def test_generate_with_quotes(testdir):
     result = testdir.run("pytest-bdd", "generate", "generate_with_quotes.feature")
     assert result.stdout.str() == textwrap.dedent(
         '''\
-    # coding=utf-8
     """Handling quotes in code generation feature tests."""
 
     from pytest_bdd import (
@@ -165,7 +156,7 @@ def test_generate_with_quotes(testdir):
     )
 
 
-def test_unicode_characters(testdir):
+def test_unicode_characters(testdir, monkeypatch):
     """Test generating code with unicode characters.
 
     Primary purpose is to ensure compatibility with Python2.
@@ -175,7 +166,6 @@ def test_unicode_characters(testdir):
         ".feature",
         unicode_characters=textwrap.dedent(
             """\
-        # coding=utf-8
         Feature: Generating unicode characters
 
             Scenario: Calculating the circumference of a circle
@@ -186,10 +176,12 @@ def test_unicode_characters(testdir):
         ),
     )
 
+    if sys.version_info < (3, 7):
+        monkeypatch.setenv("PYTHONIOENCODING", "utf-8")
+
     result = testdir.run("pytest-bdd", "generate", "unicode_characters.feature")
     expected_output = textwrap.dedent(
-        u'''\
-            # coding=utf-8
+        '''\
             """Generating unicode characters feature tests."""
 
             from pytest_bdd import (
@@ -218,11 +210,9 @@ def test_unicode_characters(testdir):
 
 
             @then('We calculate 2 * ℼ * 𝑟')
-            def {function_with_unicode_chars}():
+            def we_calculate_2__ℼ__𝑟():
                 """We calculate 2 * ℼ * 𝑟."""
                 raise NotImplementedError
-            '''.format(
-            function_with_unicode_chars=u"we_calculate_2__ℼ__𝑟" if not six.PY2 else u"we_calculate_2____"
-        )
+            '''
     )
     assert result.stdout.str() == expected_output
diff --git a/tests/steps/test_unicode.py b/tests/steps/test_unicode.py
index 69160c2..4749779 100644
--- a/tests/steps/test_unicode.py
+++ b/tests/steps/test_unicode.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-# coding: utf-8
 """Tests for testing cases when we have unicode in feature file."""
 
 import textwrap
@@ -8,7 +7,7 @@ def test_steps_in_feature_file_have_unicode(testdir):
     testdir.makefile(
         ".feature",
         unicode=textwrap.dedent(
-            u"""\
+            """\
             Feature: Юнікодні символи
 
                 Scenario: Кроки в .feature файлі містять юнікод
@@ -24,8 +23,7 @@ def test_steps_in_feature_file_have_unicode(testdir):
 
     testdir.makepyfile(
         textwrap.dedent(
-            u"""\
-        # coding: utf-8
+            """\
         import sys
         import pytest
         from pytest_bdd import parsers, given, then, scenario
@@ -50,8 +48,6 @@ def test_steps_in_feature_file_have_unicode(testdir):
         @then(parsers.parse("I should see that the string equals to content '{content}'"))
         def assert_that_the_string_equals_to_content(content, string):
             assert string["content"] == content
-            if sys.version_info < (3, 0):
-                assert isinstance(content, unicode)
         """
         )
     )
@@ -63,7 +59,7 @@ def test_steps_in_py_file_have_unicode(testdir):
     testdir.makefile(
         ".feature",
         unicode=textwrap.dedent(
-            u"""\
+            """\
             Feature: Юнікодні символи
 
                 Scenario: Steps in .py file have unicode
@@ -75,8 +71,7 @@ def test_steps_in_py_file_have_unicode(testdir):
 
     testdir.makepyfile(
         textwrap.dedent(
-            u"""\
-        # coding: utf-8
+            """\
         import pytest
         from pytest_bdd import given, then, scenario
 
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 4725667..52138d9 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 [tox]
 distshare = {homedir}/.tox/distshare
 envlist = py38-pytestlatest-linters,
-          py27-pytest{43,44,45,46}-coverage,
-          py38-pytest{43,44,45,46,50,51,52,53,54,60, latest}-coverage,
-          py{35,36,38}-pytestlatest-coverage,
-          py27-pytestlatest-xdist-coverage
+          py39-pytest{43,44,45,46,50,51,52,53,54,60,61,62, latest}-coverage,
+          py{36,37,38}-pytestlatest-coverage,
+          py39-pytestlatest-xdist-coverage
 skip_missing_interpreters = true
 
 [testenv]
@@ -13,6 +12,8 @@ setenv =
     xdist: _PYTEST_MORE_ARGS=-n3 -rfsxX
 deps =
     pytestlatest: pytest
+    pytest62: pytest~=6.2.0
+    pytest61: pytest~=6.1.0
     pytest60: pytest~=6.0.0
     pytest54: pytest~=5.4.0
     pytest53: pytest~=5.3.0
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ deps =
     -r{toxinidir}/requirements-testing.txt
 commands = {env:_PYTEST_CMD:pytest} {env:_PYTEST_MORE_ARGS:} {posargs:-vvl}
 
+; Black doesn't support >py38 now
 [testenv:py38-pytestlatest-linters]
 deps = black
 commands = black --check --verbose setup.py docs pytest_bdd tests