diff --git a/packages/cli/src/lib/new/preparation/loadPortableTemplateConfig.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/lib/new/preparation/loadPortableTemplateConfig.test.ts
index 5646c03524..2649db8bb8 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/lib/new/preparation/loadPortableTemplateConfig.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/lib/new/preparation/loadPortableTemplateConfig.test.ts
@@ -84,6 +84,54 @@ describe('loadPortableTemplateConfig', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it('should support pointing to built-in templates', async () => {
+    mockDir.setContent({
+      'package.json': JSON.stringify({
+        backstage: {
+          new: {
+            templates: [
+              'backend-plugin',
+              { id: 'template1', target: 'path/to/template1' },
+              'frontend-plugin',
+            ],
+            globals: {
+              license: 'MIT',
+              private: true,
+              namePrefix: '@acme/',
+              namePluginInfix: 'backstage-plugin-',
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      }),
+    });
+
+    await expect(
+      loadPortableTemplateConfig({
+        packagePath: mockDir.resolve('package.json'),
+      }),
+    ).resolves.toEqual({
+      isUsingDefaultTemplates: false,
+      templatePointers: [
+        {
+          id: 'backend-plugin',
+          description: 'A new backend plugin',
+          target: expect.stringMatching(/default-backend-plugin.yaml$/),
+        },
+        { id: 'template1', target: 'path/to/template1' },
+        {
+          id: 'frontend-plugin',
+          description: 'A new frontend plugin',
+          target: expect.stringMatching(/default-plugin.yaml$/),
+        },
+      ],
+      license: 'MIT',
+      private: true,
+      version: '0.1.0',
+      packageNamePrefix: '@acme/',
+      packageNamePluginInfix: 'backstage-plugin-',
+    });
+  });
+
   it('should use default templates if none are specified', async () => {
     mockDir.setContent({
       'package.json': JSON.stringify({
@@ -129,7 +177,27 @@ describe('loadPortableTemplateConfig', () => {
         packagePath: mockDir.resolve('package.json'),
       }),
     ).rejects.toThrow(
-      /^Failed to load templating configuration from '.*'; caused by Validation error/,
+      /^Failed to load templating configuration from '.*'; caused by Validation error: Expected array/,
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('should throw an error if built-in template does not exist', async () => {
+    mockDir.setContent({
+      'package.json': JSON.stringify({
+        backstage: {
+          new: {
+            templates: ['invalid'],
+          },
+        },
+      }),
+    });
+
+    await expect(
+      loadPortableTemplateConfig({
+        packagePath: mockDir.resolve('package.json'),
+      }),
+    ).rejects.toThrow(
+      /^Failed to load templating configuration from '.*'; caused by Validation error: Invalid enum value/,
     );
   });
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/lib/new/preparation/loadPortableTemplateConfig.ts b/packages/cli/src/lib/new/preparation/loadPortableTemplateConfig.ts
index 144d194062..5ec79acfd7 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/lib/new/preparation/loadPortableTemplateConfig.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/lib/new/preparation/loadPortableTemplateConfig.ts
@@ -37,13 +37,18 @@ const pkgJsonWithNewConfigSchema = z.object({
         .object({
           templates: z
             .array(
-              z
-                .object({
-                  id: z.string(),
-                  description: z.string().optional(),
-                  target: z.string(),
-                })
-                .strict(),
+              z.union([
+                z.enum(
+                  defaultTemplates.map(t => t.id) as [string, ...string[]],
+                ),
+                z
+                  .object({
+                    id: z.string(),
+                    description: z.string().optional(),
+                    target: z.string(),
+                  })
+                  .strict(),
+              ]),
             )
             .optional(),
           globals: z
@@ -85,9 +90,21 @@ export async function loadPortableTemplateConfig(
 
   const config = parsed.data.backstage?.new;
 
+  const templatePointers =
+    config?.templates?.map(t => {
+      if (typeof t === 'string') {
+        const defaultTemplate = defaultTemplates.find(d => d.id === t);
+        if (!defaultTemplate) {
+          throw new Error(`Built-in template '${t}' does not exist`);
+        }
+        return defaultTemplate;
+      }
+      return t;
+    }) ?? defaultTemplates;
+
   return {
     isUsingDefaultTemplates: !config?.templates,
-    templatePointers: config?.templates ?? defaultTemplates,
+    templatePointers,
     license: overrides.license ?? config?.globals?.license ?? defaults.license,
     version: overrides.version ?? config?.globals?.version ?? defaults.version,
     private: overrides.private ?? config?.globals?.private ?? defaults.private,