diff --git a/Analysis/Tutorials/include/Analysis/configurableCut.h b/Analysis/Tutorials/include/Analysis/configurableCut.h
index 0e9deef256856..446db71958217 100644
--- a/Analysis/Tutorials/include/Analysis/configurableCut.h
+++ b/Analysis/Tutorials/include/Analysis/configurableCut.h
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@
 class configurableCut
 {
  public:
-  configurableCut(float cut_ = 2., int state_ = 1, bool option_ = true, std::vector<float> bins_ = {0.5, 1.5, 2.5})
-    : cut{cut_}, state{state_}, option{option_}, bins{bins_}
+  configurableCut(float cut_ = 2., int state_ = 1, bool option_ = true, std::vector<float> bins_ = {0.5, 1.5, 2.5}, std::vector<std::string> labels_ = {"l1", "l2", "l3"})
+    : cut{cut_}, state{state_}, option{option_}, bins{bins_}, labels{labels_}
   {
   }
 
@@ -37,11 +37,15 @@ class configurableCut
   void setBins(std::vector<float> bins_);
   std::vector<float> getBins() const;
 
+  void setLabels(std::vector<std::string> labels_);
+  std::vector<std::string> getLabels() const;
+
  private:
   float cut;
   int state;
   bool option;
   std::vector<float> bins;
+  std::vector<std::string> labels;
 
   ClassDef(configurableCut, 4);
 };
diff --git a/Analysis/Tutorials/src/configurableCut.cxx b/Analysis/Tutorials/src/configurableCut.cxx
index c43b34293e178..eac596e038de1 100644
--- a/Analysis/Tutorials/src/configurableCut.cxx
+++ b/Analysis/Tutorials/src/configurableCut.cxx
@@ -60,3 +60,13 @@ std::vector<float> configurableCut::getBins() const
 {
   return bins;
 };
+
+void configurableCut::setLabels(std::vector<std::string> labels_)
+{
+  labels = labels_;
+}
+
+std::vector<std::string> configurableCut::getLabels() const
+{
+  return labels;
+}
diff --git a/Analysis/Tutorials/src/configurableObjects.cxx b/Analysis/Tutorials/src/configurableObjects.cxx
index 6058336feca4e..bc99060e065d5 100644
--- a/Analysis/Tutorials/src/configurableObjects.cxx
+++ b/Analysis/Tutorials/src/configurableObjects.cxx
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ struct ConfigurableObjectDemo {
   {
     LOGF(INFO, "Cut1: %.3f; Cut2: %.3f", cut, mutable_cut);
     LOGF(INFO, "Cut1 bins: %s; Cut2 bins: %s", printArray(cut->getBins()), printArray(mutable_cut->getBins()));
+    LOGF(INFO, "Cut1 labels: %s; Cut2 labels: %s", printArray(cut->getLabels()), printArray(mutable_cut->getLabels()));
     auto vec = (std::vector<int>)array;
     LOGF(INFO, "Array: %s", printArray(vec).c_str());
     for (auto& track : tracks) {
diff --git a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/ConfigParamsHelper.h b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/ConfigParamsHelper.h
index b48fb0291b1e1..02b9c9a56a4c3 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/ConfigParamsHelper.h
+++ b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/ConfigParamsHelper.h
@@ -118,7 +118,8 @@ struct ConfigParamsHelper {
     } else if constexpr (V == VariantType::ArrayInt ||
                          V == VariantType::ArrayFloat ||
                          V == VariantType::ArrayDouble ||
-                         V == VariantType::ArrayBool) {
+                         V == VariantType::ArrayBool ||
+                         V == VariantType::ArrayString) {
       auto value = boost::program_options::value<std::string>();
       value = value->default_value(spec.defaultValue.asString());
       if constexpr (V != VariantType::String) {
diff --git a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/Variant.h b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/Variant.h
index 7622ef09571c9..20f711987d505 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/Variant.h
+++ b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/Variant.h
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ enum class VariantType : int { Int = 0,
                                ArrayFloat,
                                ArrayDouble,
                                ArrayBool,
+                               ArrayString,
                                Empty,
                                Unknown };
 
@@ -66,11 +67,13 @@ DECLARE_VARIANT_TRAIT(int*, ArrayInt);
 DECLARE_VARIANT_TRAIT(float*, ArrayFloat);
 DECLARE_VARIANT_TRAIT(double*, ArrayDouble);
 DECLARE_VARIANT_TRAIT(bool*, ArrayBool);
+DECLARE_VARIANT_TRAIT(std::string*, ArrayString);
 
 DECLARE_VARIANT_TRAIT(std::vector<int>, ArrayInt);
 DECLARE_VARIANT_TRAIT(std::vector<float>, ArrayFloat);
 DECLARE_VARIANT_TRAIT(std::vector<double>, ArrayDouble);
 DECLARE_VARIANT_TRAIT(std::vector<bool>, ArrayBool);
+DECLARE_VARIANT_TRAIT(std::vector<std::string>, ArrayString);
 
 template <typename T>
 struct variant_array_symbol {
@@ -97,6 +100,11 @@ struct variant_array_symbol<bool> {
   constexpr static char symbol = 'b';
 };
 
+template <>
+struct variant_array_symbol<std::string> {
+  constexpr static char symbol = 's';
+};
+
 template <typename T>
 inline constexpr VariantType variant_trait_v = variant_trait<T>::value;
 
@@ -121,6 +129,7 @@ DECLARE_VARIANT_TYPE(int*, ArrayInt);
 DECLARE_VARIANT_TYPE(float*, ArrayFloat);
 DECLARE_VARIANT_TYPE(double*, ArrayDouble);
 DECLARE_VARIANT_TYPE(bool*, ArrayBool);
+DECLARE_VARIANT_TYPE(std::string*, ArrayString);
 
 template <typename S, typename T>
 struct variant_helper {
@@ -217,6 +226,10 @@ class Variant
         mSize = other.mSize;
         variant_helper<storage_t, bool*>::set(&mStore, other.get<bool*>(), mSize);
         return;
+      case variant_trait_v<std::string*>:
+        mSize = other.mSize;
+        variant_helper<storage_t, std::string*>::set(&mStore, other.get<std::string*>(), mSize);
+        return;
       default:
         mStore = other.mStore;
         mSize = other.mSize;
@@ -243,6 +256,8 @@ class Variant
       case variant_trait_v<bool*>:
         *reinterpret_cast<bool**>(&(other.mStore)) = nullptr;
         return;
+      case variant_trait_v<std::string*>:
+        *reinterpret_cast<std::string**>(&(other.mStore)) = nullptr;
       default:
         return;
     }
@@ -258,6 +273,7 @@ class Variant
       case variant_trait_v<float*>:
       case variant_trait_v<double*>:
       case variant_trait_v<bool*>:
+      case variant_trait_v<std::string*>:
         if (reinterpret_cast<void**>(&mStore) != nullptr) {
           free(*reinterpret_cast<void**>(&mStore));
         }
@@ -290,6 +306,10 @@ class Variant
         mSize = other.mSize;
         variant_helper<storage_t, bool*>::set(&mStore, other.get<bool*>(), mSize);
         return;
+      case variant_trait_v<std::string*>:
+        mSize = other.mSize;
+        variant_helper<storage_t, std::string*>::set(&mStore, other.get<std::string*>(), mSize);
+        return;
       default:
         mStore = other.mStore;
         mSize = other.mSize;
diff --git a/Framework/Core/src/BoostOptionsRetriever.cxx b/Framework/Core/src/BoostOptionsRetriever.cxx
index b966c48098511..efe4f85e933fe 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/src/BoostOptionsRetriever.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Core/src/BoostOptionsRetriever.cxx
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ namespace o2::framework
 BoostOptionsRetriever::BoostOptionsRetriever(bool ignoreUnknown,
                                              int argc, char** argv)
   : mDescription{std::make_unique<boost::program_options::options_description>("ALICE O2 Framework - Available options")},
-    mIgnoreUnknown{ignoreUnknown},
     mArgc{argc},
-    mArgv{argv}
+    mArgv{argv},
+    mIgnoreUnknown{ignoreUnknown}
 {
 }
 
@@ -68,7 +68,8 @@ void BoostOptionsRetriever::update(std::vector<ConfigParamSpec> const& specs,
       case VariantType::ArrayFloat:
       case VariantType::ArrayDouble:
       case VariantType::ArrayBool:
-        options = options(name, bpo::value<std::string>()->default_value(spec.defaultValue.asString(), help));
+      case VariantType::ArrayString:
+        options = options(name, bpo::value<std::string>()->default_value(spec.defaultValue.asString()), help);
         break;
       case VariantType::Unknown:
       case VariantType::Empty:
diff --git a/Framework/Core/src/ConfigParamsHelper.cxx b/Framework/Core/src/ConfigParamsHelper.cxx
index 225505734bd4b..a6c29c35e5f9f 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/src/ConfigParamsHelper.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Core/src/ConfigParamsHelper.cxx
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ void ConfigParamsHelper::populateBoostProgramOptions(
       case VariantType::ArrayBool:
         addConfigSpecOption<VariantType::ArrayBool>(spec, options);
         break;
+      case VariantType::ArrayString:
+        addConfigSpecOption<VariantType::ArrayString>(spec, options);
+        break;
       case VariantType::Unknown:
       case VariantType::Empty:
         break;
diff --git a/Framework/Core/src/PropertyTreeHelpers.cxx b/Framework/Core/src/PropertyTreeHelpers.cxx
index 71b8e0fc10303..0860744dd55dd 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/src/PropertyTreeHelpers.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Core/src/PropertyTreeHelpers.cxx
@@ -74,6 +74,9 @@ void PropertyTreeHelpers::populateDefaults(std::vector<ConfigParamSpec> const& s
         case VariantType::ArrayBool:
           addBranch(key, spec.defaultValue.get<bool*>(), spec.defaultValue.size());
           break;
+        case VariantType::ArrayString:
+          addBranch(key, spec.defaultValue.get<std::string*>(), spec.defaultValue.size());
+          break;
         case VariantType::Unknown:
         case VariantType::Empty:
         default:
@@ -106,6 +109,21 @@ std::vector<T> toVector(std::string const& input)
   }
   return result;
 }
+
+template <>
+std::vector<std::string> toVector(std::string const& input)
+{
+  std::vector<std::string> result;
+  //check if the array string has correct array type symbol
+  assert(input[0] == variant_array_symbol<std::string>::symbol);
+  std::regex smatch(R"((?:(?!=,)|(?!=\[))\w+(?=,|\]))");
+  auto end = std::sregex_iterator();
+  auto values = std::sregex_iterator(input.begin(), input.end(), smatch);
+  for (auto v = values; v != end; ++v) {
+    result.push_back(v->str());
+  }
+  return result;
+}
 } // namespace
 
 void PropertyTreeHelpers::populate(std::vector<ConfigParamSpec> const& schema,
@@ -171,6 +189,11 @@ void PropertyTreeHelpers::populate(std::vector<ConfigParamSpec> const& schema,
           addBranch(key, v);
         };
           break;
+        case VariantType::ArrayString: {
+          auto v = toVector<std::string>(vmap[key].as<std::string>());
+          addBranch(key, v);
+        };
+          break;
         case VariantType::Unknown:
         case VariantType::Empty:
         default:
@@ -224,6 +247,7 @@ void PropertyTreeHelpers::populate(std::vector<ConfigParamSpec> const& schema,
         case VariantType::ArrayFloat:
         case VariantType::ArrayDouble:
         case VariantType::ArrayBool:
+        case VariantType::ArrayString:
           pt.put_child(key, *it);
           break;
         case VariantType::Unknown:
diff --git a/Framework/Core/src/RootConfigParamHelpers.cxx b/Framework/Core/src/RootConfigParamHelpers.cxx
index 81b6851fd283f..c73c594782c2b 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/src/RootConfigParamHelpers.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Core/src/RootConfigParamHelpers.cxx
@@ -115,8 +115,13 @@ void ptreeToMember(boost::property_tree::ptree const& value,
         *static_cast<std::vector<double>*>(ptr) = extractVector<double>(value);
         return;
       case compile_time_hash("vector<bool>"):
+        throw std::runtime_error("Bool arrays are not implemented yet");
+      case compile_time_hash("vector<std::string>"):
+      case compile_time_hash("vector<string>"):
+        *static_cast<std::vector<std::string>*>(ptr) = extractVector<std::string>(value);
+        return;
       default:
-        throw std::runtime_error("Not and int/float/double/bool vector");
+        throw std::runtime_error("Not an int/float/double/bool vector");
     }
   }
   auto dt = dm->GetDataType();
@@ -205,8 +210,11 @@ ConfigParamSpec memberToConfigParamSpec(const char* tname, TDataMember* dm, void
       case compile_time_hash("vector<bool>"):
         throw std::runtime_error("bool vector not supported yet");
         //        return ConfigParamSpec{tname, VariantType::ArrayBool, *static_cast<std::vector<bool>*>(ptr), {"No help"}};
+      case compile_time_hash("vector<std::string>"):
+      case compile_time_hash("vector<string>"):
+        return ConfigParamSpec{tname, VariantType::ArrayString, *static_cast<std::vector<std::string>*>(ptr), {"No help"}};
       default:
-        throw std::runtime_error("Not and int/float/double/bool vector");
+        throw std::runtime_error("Not an int/float/double/bool vector");
     }
   }
   auto dt = dm->GetDataType();
diff --git a/Framework/Core/src/Variant.cxx b/Framework/Core/src/Variant.cxx
index c1f9708bed46b..5f9c60217ffb0 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/src/Variant.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Core/src/Variant.cxx
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& oss, Variant const& val)
     case VariantType::ArrayBool:
       printArray<bool>(oss, val.get<bool*>(), val.size());
       break;
+    case VariantType::ArrayString:
+      printArray<std::string>(oss, val.get<std::string*>(), val.size());
+      break;
     case VariantType::Empty:
       break;
     default:
diff --git a/Framework/Core/test/test_Variants.cxx b/Framework/Core/test/test_Variants.cxx
index 0b34a853f8713..11a42487c759b 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/test/test_Variants.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Core/test/test_Variants.cxx
@@ -105,4 +105,28 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(VariantTest)
   for (auto i = 0u; i < fd.size(); ++i) {
     BOOST_CHECK(farr[i] == (fd.get<float*>())[i]);
   }
+
+  std::vector<std::string> vstrings{"s1", "s2", "s3"};
+  std::string strings[] = {"l1", "l2", "l3"};
+  Variant vstr(strings, 3);
+  Variant vvstr(vstrings);
+
+  BOOST_CHECK(vstr.size() == 3);
+  BOOST_CHECK(vvstr.size() == 3);
+  for (auto i = 0u; i < vstr.size(); ++i) {
+    BOOST_CHECK(strings[i] == (vstr.get<std::string*>())[i]);
+  }
+  for (auto i = 0u; i < vvstr.size(); ++i) {
+    BOOST_CHECK(vstrings[i] == (vvstr.get<std::string*>())[i]);
+  }
+
+  Variant vsc(vstr);            // Copy constructor
+  Variant vsm(std::move(vstr)); // Move constructor
+  Variant vscc = vsm;           // Copy assignment
+  for (auto i = 0u; i < vsm.size(); ++i) {
+    BOOST_CHECK(strings[i] == (vsm.get<std::string*>())[i]);
+  }
+  for (auto i = 0u; i < vscc.size(); ++i) {
+    BOOST_CHECK(strings[i] == (vscc.get<std::string*>())[i]);
+  }
 }