Systems and methods for releasing semiconductor dies during pick and place operations are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for handling semiconductor dies comprises a support member positioned to carry at least one semiconductor die releasably attached to a support substrate. The system further includes a picking device having a pick head coupleable to a vacuum source and positioned to releasably attach to the semiconductor die at a pick station. The system still further includes a cooling member coupleable to a cold fluid source and configured to direct a cold fluid supplied by the cold fluid source toward the support substrate at the pick station. The cold fluid cools a die attach region of the substrate where the semiconductor die is attached to the substrate to facilitate removal of the semiconductor die.