diff --git a/livekit/src/proto.rs b/livekit/src/proto.rs
index ee178b040..146724ed5 100644
--- a/livekit/src/proto.rs
+++ b/livekit/src/proto.rs
@@ -158,6 +158,17 @@ impl From<participant_info::Kind> for participant::ParticipantKind {
     }
 }
 
+impl From<participant_info::State> for participant::ParticipantState {
+    fn from(value: participant_info::State) -> Self {
+        match value {
+            participant_info::State::Joining => participant::ParticipantState::Joining,
+            participant_info::State::Joined => participant::ParticipantState::Joined,
+            participant_info::State::Active => participant::ParticipantState::Active,
+            participant_info::State::Disconnected => participant::ParticipantState::Disconnected,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 impl From<ChatMessage> for RoomChatMessage {
     fn from(proto_msg: ChatMessage) -> Self {
         RoomChatMessage {
diff --git a/livekit/src/room/mod.rs b/livekit/src/room/mod.rs
index aebe35a56..47f14aae4 100644
--- a/livekit/src/room/mod.rs
+++ b/livekit/src/room/mod.rs
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ pub use self::{
 };
 pub use crate::rtc_engine::SimulateScenario;
 use crate::{
-    participant::ConnectionQuality,
+    participant::{ParticipantState, ConnectionQuality},
     prelude::*,
     registered_audio_filter_plugins,
     rtc_engine::{
@@ -86,7 +86,16 @@ pub enum RoomError {
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 #[non_exhaustive]
 pub enum RoomEvent {
+    /// Remote participant joined the room.
+    ///
+    /// This event is fired immediately after a participant joins before
+    /// it is able to receive data messages. To send data messages in response
+    /// to a participant joining, respond to the [`Self::ParticipantActive`] event instead.
+    ///
     ParticipantConnected(RemoteParticipant),
+    /// Remote participant is active and ready to receive data messages.
+    ParticipantActive(RemoteParticipant),
+    /// Remote participant disconnected from the room.
     ParticipantDisconnected(RemoteParticipant),
     LocalTrackPublished {
         publication: LocalTrackPublication,
@@ -495,6 +504,7 @@ impl Room {
         let local_participant = LocalParticipant::new(
             rtc_engine.clone(),
             pi.kind().into(),
+            pi.state().into(),
             pi.sid.try_into().unwrap(),
             pi.identity.into(),
             pi.name,
@@ -639,6 +649,7 @@ impl Room {
                 let pi = pi.clone();
                 inner.create_participant(
                     pi.kind().into(),
+                    pi.state().into(),
                     pi.sid.try_into().unwrap(),
                     pi.identity.into(),
                     pi.name,
@@ -989,7 +1000,12 @@ impl RoomSession {
                     // disconnected
                 }
             } else if let Some(remote_participant) = remote_participant {
+                let already_active = remote_participant.state() == ParticipantState::Active;
                 remote_participant.update_info(pi.clone());
+                if !already_active && remote_participant.state() == ParticipantState::Active {
+                    self.dispatcher
+                        .dispatch(&RoomEvent::ParticipantActive(remote_participant.clone()));
+                }
                 participants.push(Participant::Remote(remote_participant));
             } else {
                 // Create a new participant
@@ -997,6 +1013,7 @@ impl RoomSession {
                     let pi = pi.clone();
                     self.create_participant(
                         pi.kind().into(),
+                        pi.state().into(),
                         pi.sid.try_into().unwrap(),
                         pi.identity.into(),
                         pi.name,
@@ -1008,6 +1025,11 @@ impl RoomSession {
                 self.dispatcher
                     .dispatch(&RoomEvent::ParticipantConnected(remote_participant.clone()));
 
+                if remote_participant.state() == ParticipantState::Active {
+                    // Already active, also emit active event
+                    self.dispatcher
+                        .dispatch(&RoomEvent::ParticipantActive(remote_participant.clone()));
+                }
                 remote_participant.update_info(pi.clone()); // Add tracks
             }
         }
@@ -1577,6 +1599,7 @@ impl RoomSession {
     fn create_participant(
         self: &Arc<Self>,
         kind: ParticipantKind,
+        state: ParticipantState,
         sid: ParticipantSid,
         identity: ParticipantIdentity,
         name: String,
@@ -1586,6 +1609,7 @@ impl RoomSession {
         let participant = RemoteParticipant::new(
             self.rtc_engine.clone(),
             kind,
+            state,
             sid.clone(),
             identity.clone(),
             name,
diff --git a/livekit/src/room/participant/local_participant.rs b/livekit/src/room/participant/local_participant.rs
index a9a2320fd..21de731b3 100644
--- a/livekit/src/room/participant/local_participant.rs
+++ b/livekit/src/room/participant/local_participant.rs
@@ -22,7 +22,10 @@ use std::{
     time::Duration,
 };
 
-use super::{ConnectionQuality, ParticipantInner, ParticipantKind, ParticipantTrackPermission};
+use super::{
+    ConnectionQuality, ParticipantInner, ParticipantKind, ParticipantState,
+    ParticipantTrackPermission,
+};
 use crate::{
     data_stream::{
         ByteStreamInfo, ByteStreamWriter, StreamByteOptions, StreamResult, StreamTextOptions,
@@ -98,6 +101,7 @@ impl Debug for LocalParticipant {
             .field("sid", &self.sid())
             .field("identity", &self.identity())
             .field("name", &self.name())
+            .field("state", &self.state())
             .finish()
     }
 }
@@ -106,6 +110,7 @@ impl LocalParticipant {
     pub(crate) fn new(
         rtc_engine: Arc<RtcEngine>,
         kind: ParticipantKind,
+        state: ParticipantState,
         sid: ParticipantSid,
         identity: ParticipantIdentity,
         name: String,
@@ -114,7 +119,9 @@ impl LocalParticipant {
         encryption_type: EncryptionType,
     ) -> Self {
         Self {
-            inner: super::new_inner(rtc_engine, sid, identity, name, metadata, attributes, kind),
+            inner: super::new_inner(
+                rtc_engine, sid, identity, name, metadata, attributes, kind, state,
+            ),
             local: Arc::new(LocalInfo {
                 events: LocalEvents::default(),
                 encryption_type,
@@ -691,6 +698,10 @@ impl LocalParticipant {
         self.inner.info.read().name.clone()
     }
 
+    pub fn state(&self) -> ParticipantState {
+        self.inner.info.read().state
+    }
+
     pub fn metadata(&self) -> String {
         self.inner.info.read().metadata.clone()
     }
diff --git a/livekit/src/room/participant/mod.rs b/livekit/src/room/participant/mod.rs
index cbe687776..e56df5bb9 100644
--- a/livekit/src/room/participant/mod.rs
+++ b/livekit/src/room/participant/mod.rs
@@ -46,6 +46,14 @@ pub enum ParticipantKind {
     Agent,
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, Eq, PartialEq)]
+pub enum ParticipantState {
+    Joining,
+    Joined,
+    Active,
+    Disconnected,
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, Eq, PartialEq)]
 pub enum DisconnectReason {
     UnknownReason,
@@ -84,6 +92,7 @@ impl Participant {
         pub fn audio_level(self: &Self) -> f32;
         pub fn connection_quality(self: &Self) -> ConnectionQuality;
         pub fn kind(self: &Self) -> ParticipantKind;
+        pub fn state(self: &Self) -> ParticipantState;
         pub fn disconnect_reason(self: &Self) -> DisconnectReason;
         pub fn is_encrypted(self: &Self) -> bool;
 
@@ -116,6 +125,7 @@ struct ParticipantInfo {
     pub audio_level: f32,
     pub connection_quality: ConnectionQuality,
     pub kind: ParticipantKind,
+    pub state: ParticipantState,
     pub disconnect_reason: DisconnectReason,
 }
 
@@ -160,6 +170,7 @@ pub(super) fn new_inner(
     metadata: String,
     attributes: HashMap<String, String>,
     kind: ParticipantKind,
+    state: ParticipantState,
 ) -> Arc<ParticipantInner> {
     Arc::new(ParticipantInner {
         rtc_engine,
@@ -170,6 +181,7 @@ pub(super) fn new_inner(
             metadata,
             attributes,
             kind,
+            state,
             speaking: false,
             audio_level: 0.0,
             connection_quality: ConnectionQuality::Excellent,
@@ -190,6 +202,7 @@ pub(super) fn update_info(
     let mut info = inner.info.write();
     info.disconnect_reason = new_info.disconnect_reason().into();
     info.kind = new_info.kind().into();
+    info.state = new_info.state().into();
     info.sid = new_info.sid.try_into().unwrap();
     info.identity = new_info.identity.into();
 
diff --git a/livekit/src/room/participant/remote_participant.rs b/livekit/src/room/participant/remote_participant.rs
index a4e1df2ae..ef812bdc3 100644
--- a/livekit/src/room/participant/remote_participant.rs
+++ b/livekit/src/room/participant/remote_participant.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ use livekit_protocol as proto;
 use livekit_runtime::timeout;
 use parking_lot::Mutex;
 
-use super::{ConnectionQuality, ParticipantInner, ParticipantKind, TrackKind};
+use super::{ConnectionQuality, ParticipantInner, ParticipantKind, ParticipantState, TrackKind};
 use crate::{
     prelude::*,
     rtc_engine::RtcEngine,
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ impl Debug for RemoteParticipant {
             .field("sid", &self.sid())
             .field("identity", &self.identity())
             .field("name", &self.name())
+            .field("state", &self.state())
             .finish()
     }
 }
@@ -75,6 +76,7 @@ impl RemoteParticipant {
     pub(crate) fn new(
         rtc_engine: Arc<RtcEngine>,
         kind: ParticipantKind,
+        state: ParticipantState,
         sid: ParticipantSid,
         identity: ParticipantIdentity,
         name: String,
@@ -83,7 +85,9 @@ impl RemoteParticipant {
         auto_subscribe: bool,
     ) -> Self {
         Self {
-            inner: super::new_inner(rtc_engine, sid, identity, name, metadata, attributes, kind),
+            inner: super::new_inner(
+                rtc_engine, sid, identity, name, metadata, attributes, kind, state,
+            ),
             remote: Arc::new(RemoteInfo { events: Default::default(), auto_subscribe }),
         }
     }
@@ -488,6 +492,10 @@ impl RemoteParticipant {
         self.inner.info.read().name.clone()
     }
 
+    pub fn state(&self) -> ParticipantState {
+        self.inner.info.read().state
+    }
+
     pub fn metadata(&self) -> String {
         self.inner.info.read().metadata.clone()
     }