diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/11646-galaxy-executable.yml b/changelogs/fragments/11646-galaxy-executable.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c7b58583a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/11646-galaxy-executable.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+minor_changes:
+  - ansible_galaxy_install - add parameter ``executable`` (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/issues/7261, https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/pull/11646).
diff --git a/plugins/modules/ansible_galaxy_install.py b/plugins/modules/ansible_galaxy_install.py
index f6f68b6e3a..782c245a75 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/ansible_galaxy_install.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/ansible_galaxy_install.py
@@ -72,6 +72,12 @@ options:
       - Please notice that C(ansible-galaxy) does not install collections with O(type=both), when O(requirements_file) contains
         both roles and collections and O(dest) is specified.
     type: path
+  executable:
+    description:
+      - Path to the C(ansible-galaxy) executable.
+      - When not specified, the module uses C(ansible-galaxy) found by Ansible.
+    type: path
+    version_added: 12.5.0
   no_deps:
     description:
       - Refrain from installing dependencies.
@@ -202,7 +208,7 @@ class AnsibleGalaxyInstall(ModuleHelper):
     )
     ansible_version = None
 
-    output_params = ("type", "name", "dest", "requirements_file", "force", "no_deps")
+    output_params = ("type", "name", "dest", "requirements_file", "executable", "force", "no_deps")
     module = dict(
         argument_spec=dict(
             state=dict(type="str", choices=["present", "latest"], default="present"),
@@ -210,6 +216,7 @@ class AnsibleGalaxyInstall(ModuleHelper):
             name=dict(type="str"),
             requirements_file=dict(type="path"),
             dest=dict(type="path"),
+            executable=dict(type="path"),
             force=dict(type="bool", default=False),
             no_deps=dict(type="bool", default=False),
         ),
@@ -234,7 +241,11 @@ class AnsibleGalaxyInstall(ModuleHelper):
 
     def _make_runner(self, lang):
         return CmdRunner(
-            self.module, command=self.command, arg_formats=self.command_args_formats, force_lang=lang, check_rc=True
+            self.module,
+            command=self.vars.executable or self.command,
+            arg_formats=self.command_args_formats,
+            force_lang=lang,
+            check_rc=True,
         )
 
     def _get_ansible_galaxy_version(self):
@@ -264,7 +275,7 @@ class AnsibleGalaxyInstall(ModuleHelper):
         self.runner, self.vars.version = self._get_ansible_galaxy_version()
         self.ansible_version = tuple(int(x) for x in self.vars.version.split(".")[:3])
         if self.ansible_version < (2, 11):
-            self.module.fail_json(msg="Support for Ansible 2.9 and ansible-base 2.10 has been removed.")
+            self.do_raise(msg="Support for Ansible 2.9 and ansible-base 2.10 has been removed.")
         self.vars.set("new_collections", {}, change=True)
         self.vars.set("new_roles", {}, change=True)
         if self.vars.type != "collection":
diff --git a/tests/integration/targets/ansible_galaxy_install/tasks/main.yml b/tests/integration/targets/ansible_galaxy_install/tasks/main.yml
index 686422c065..3c8cb201fb 100644
--- a/tests/integration/targets/ansible_galaxy_install/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tests/integration/targets/ansible_galaxy_install/tasks/main.yml
@@ -141,3 +141,43 @@
     that:
       - upgrade_c1 is changed
       - upgrade_c2 is not changed
+
+###################################################
+- name: Find ansible-galaxy executable path
+  ansible.builtin.command: which ansible-galaxy
+  register: galaxy_which
+  changed_when: false
+
+- name: Make directory exec_c
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ remote_tmp_dir }}/exec_c"
+    state: directory
+
+- name: Install collection using explicit executable path
+  community.general.ansible_galaxy_install:
+    type: collection
+    name: netbox.netbox
+    dest: "{{ remote_tmp_dir }}/exec_c"
+    executable: "{{ galaxy_which.stdout }}"
+  register: exec_c0
+
+- name: Assert collection was installed using explicit executable
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - exec_c0 is changed
+      - '"netbox.netbox" in exec_c0.new_collections'
+      - exec_c0.executable == galaxy_which.stdout
+
+- name: Fail to install collection using bad executable path
+  community.general.ansible_galaxy_install:
+    type: collection
+    name: netbox.netbox
+    dest: "{{ remote_tmp_dir }}/exec_c"
+    executable: /nonexistent/ansible-galaxy
+  register: exec_c_fail
+  ignore_errors: true
+
+- name: Assert bad executable caused failure
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - exec_c_fail is failed