diff --git a/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scdecomp/decomp.go b/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scdecomp/decomp.go
index 3f652b2203b5..d299903b80d0 100644
--- a/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scdecomp/decomp.go
+++ b/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scdecomp/decomp.go
@@ -543,7 +543,6 @@ func (w *walkCtx) walkColumn(tbl catalog.TableDescriptor, col catalog.Column) {
 	column := &scpb.Column{
 		TableID:                           tbl.GetID(),
 		ColumnID:                          col.GetID(),
-		IsHidden:                          col.IsHidden(),
 		IsInaccessible:                    col.IsInaccessible(),
 		GeneratedAsIdentityType:           col.GetGeneratedAsIdentityType(),
 		GeneratedAsIdentitySequenceOption: col.GetGeneratedAsIdentitySequenceOptionStr(),
@@ -591,6 +590,18 @@ func (w *walkCtx) walkColumn(tbl catalog.TableDescriptor, col catalog.Column) {
 			}
 		}
 		w.ev(scpb.Status_PUBLIC, columnType)
+
+		if col.IsHidden() {
+			if columnType.ElementCreationMetadata.In_26_1OrLater {
+				w.ev(scpb.Status_PUBLIC, &scpb.ColumnHidden{
+					TableID:  tbl.GetID(),
+					ColumnID: col.GetID(),
+				})
+			} else {
+				column.IsHidden = true
+			}
+		}
+
 	}
 	if !col.IsNullable() {
 		w.ev(scpb.Status_PUBLIC, &scpb.ColumnNotNull{
@@ -633,6 +644,7 @@ func (w *walkCtx) walkColumn(tbl catalog.TableDescriptor, col catalog.Column) {
 			ColumnID:   col.GetID(),
 		})
 	})
+
 }
 
 func (w *walkCtx) walkIndex(tbl catalog.TableDescriptor, idx catalog.Index) {
diff --git a/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scdecomp/helpers.go b/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scdecomp/helpers.go
index c40fbb9a4e77..f048a43c2ec4 100644
--- a/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scdecomp/helpers.go
+++ b/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scdecomp/helpers.go
@@ -142,5 +142,6 @@ func NewElementCreationMetadata(
 	return &scpb.ElementCreationMetadata{
 		In_23_1OrLater: true,
 		In_24_3OrLater: true,
+		In_26_1OrLater: clusterVersion.IsActive(clusterversion.V25_4), // FIXME: need 26.1
 	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scpb/elements.proto b/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scpb/elements.proto
index 69ecdb8c0231..c0c389a2b842 100644
--- a/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scpb/elements.proto
+++ b/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scpb/elements.proto
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 //
 // Use of this software is governed by the CockroachDB Software License
 // included in the /LICENSE file.
+// 
+// This file is used by `element_generator.go` to build `elements_generated.go`.
+// It's sensitive to formatting; tools such as `buf format` aren't recommended.
 
 syntax = "proto3";
 package cockroach.sql.schemachanger.scpb;
@@ -109,6 +112,7 @@ message ElementProto {
     ColumnComment column_comment = 35 [(gogoproto.moretags) = "parent:\"Column\""];
     ColumnNotNull column_not_null = 36 [(gogoproto.moretags) = "parent:\"Column\""];
     ColumnComputeExpression column_compute_expression = 190 [(gogoproto.moretags) = "parent:\"Column\""];
+    ColumnHidden column_hidden = 191 [(gogoproto.moretags) = "parent:\"Column\""];
 
     // Sequence elements.
     SequenceOption sequence_option = 37 [(gogoproto.moretags) = "parent:\"Sequence\""];
@@ -217,7 +221,9 @@ message Expression {
 message Column {
   uint32 table_id = 1 [(gogoproto.customname) = "TableID", (gogoproto.casttype) = "github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/sql/sem/catid.DescID"];
   uint32 column_id = 2 [(gogoproto.customname) = "ColumnID", (gogoproto.casttype) = "github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/sql/sem/catid.ColumnID"];
-  bool is_hidden = 3;
+  // Deprecated.
+  // The hidden attribute is now handled as a separate element (see ColumnHidden).
+  bool is_hidden = 3 [deprecated = true];
   bool is_inaccessible = 4;
   uint32 generated_as_identity_type = 5 [(gogoproto.casttype) = "github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/sql/catalog/catpb.GeneratedAsIdentityType"];
   string generated_as_identity_sequence_option = 6;
@@ -274,6 +280,12 @@ message ColumnComputeExpression {
   Usage usage = 5;
 }
 
+message ColumnHidden {
+  uint32 table_id = 1 [(gogoproto.customname) = "TableID", (gogoproto.casttype) = "github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/sql/sem/catid.DescID"];
+  uint32 column_id = 2 [(gogoproto.customname) = "ColumnID", (gogoproto.casttype) = "github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/sql/sem/catid.ColumnID"];
+}
+
+
 message ColumnFamily {
   uint32 table_id = 1 [(gogoproto.customname) = "TableID", (gogoproto.casttype) = "github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/sql/sem/catid.DescID"];
   uint32 family_id = 2 [(gogoproto.customname) = "FamilyID", (gogoproto.casttype) = "github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/sql/sem/catid.FamilyID"];
@@ -1013,4 +1025,5 @@ message FunctionSecurity {
 message ElementCreationMetadata {
   bool in_23_1_or_later = 1;
   bool in_24_3_or_later = 2;
+  bool in_26_1_or_later = 3;
 }
diff --git a/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scpb/elements_generated.go b/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scpb/elements_generated.go
index 4772a4227526..05e72a05a976 100644
--- a/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scpb/elements_generated.go
+++ b/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scpb/elements_generated.go
@@ -306,6 +306,43 @@ func (c *ElementCollection[E]) FilterColumnFamily() *ElementCollection[*ColumnFa
 	return (*ElementCollection[*ColumnFamily])(ret)
 }
 
+func (e ColumnHidden) element() {}
+
+// Element implements ElementGetter.
+func (e * ElementProto_ColumnHidden) Element() Element {
+	return e.ColumnHidden
+}
+
+// ForEachColumnHidden iterates over elements of type ColumnHidden.
+// Deprecated
+func ForEachColumnHidden(
+	c *ElementCollection[Element], fn func(current Status, target TargetStatus, e *ColumnHidden),
+) {
+  c.FilterColumnHidden().ForEach(fn)
+}
+
+// FindColumnHidden finds the first element of type ColumnHidden.
+// Deprecated
+func FindColumnHidden(
+	c *ElementCollection[Element],
+) (current Status, target TargetStatus, element *ColumnHidden) {
+	if tc := c.FilterColumnHidden(); !tc.IsEmpty() {
+		var e Element
+		current, target, e = tc.Get(0)
+		element = e.(*ColumnHidden)
+	}
+	return current, target, element
+}
+
+// ColumnHiddenElements filters elements of type ColumnHidden.
+func (c *ElementCollection[E]) FilterColumnHidden() *ElementCollection[*ColumnHidden] {
+	ret := c.genericFilter(func(_ Status, _ TargetStatus, e Element) bool {
+		_, ok := e.(*ColumnHidden)
+		return ok
+	})
+	return (*ElementCollection[*ColumnHidden])(ret)
+}
+
 func (e ColumnName) element() {}
 
 // Element implements ElementGetter.
@@ -3324,6 +3361,8 @@ func (e* ElementProto) SetElement(element Element) {
 			e.ElementOneOf = &ElementProto_ColumnDefaultExpression{ ColumnDefaultExpression: t}
 		case *ColumnFamily:
 			e.ElementOneOf = &ElementProto_ColumnFamily{ ColumnFamily: t}
+		case *ColumnHidden:
+			e.ElementOneOf = &ElementProto_ColumnHidden{ ColumnHidden: t}
 		case *ColumnName:
 			e.ElementOneOf = &ElementProto_ColumnName{ ColumnName: t}
 		case *ColumnNotNull:
@@ -3500,6 +3539,7 @@ func GetElementOneOfProtos() []interface{} {
 	((*ElementProto_ColumnComputeExpression)(nil)),
 	((*ElementProto_ColumnDefaultExpression)(nil)),
 	((*ElementProto_ColumnFamily)(nil)),
+	((*ElementProto_ColumnHidden)(nil)),
 	((*ElementProto_ColumnName)(nil)),
 	((*ElementProto_ColumnNotNull)(nil)),
 	((*ElementProto_ColumnOnUpdateExpression)(nil)),
@@ -3596,6 +3636,7 @@ func GetElementTypes() []interface{} {
 	((*ColumnComputeExpression)(nil)),
 	((*ColumnDefaultExpression)(nil)),
 	((*ColumnFamily)(nil)),
+	((*ColumnHidden)(nil)),
 	((*ColumnName)(nil)),
 	((*ColumnNotNull)(nil)),
 	((*ColumnOnUpdateExpression)(nil)),
diff --git a/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scpb/migration.go b/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scpb/migration.go
index 99585ade71e2..ca0443559d78 100644
--- a/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scpb/migration.go
+++ b/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scpb/migration.go
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ func migrateDeprecatedFields(
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Migrate ComputeExpr field  to separate ColumnComputeExpression target.
+	// Migrate ComputeExpr field to separate ColumnComputeExpression target.
 	if columnType := target.GetColumnType(); columnType != nil {
 		if columnType.ComputeExpr != nil {
 			newTarget := MakeTarget(
@@ -75,7 +75,24 @@ func migrateDeprecatedFields(
 			migrated = true
 		}
 	}
-	return
+
+	if column := target.GetColumn(); column != nil {
+		if column.IsHidden && version.IsActive(clusterversion.V25_4) { // FIXME: need clusterversion.V26_1 from release engineering
+			newTarget := MakeTarget(
+				AsTargetStatus(target.TargetStatus),
+				&ColumnHidden{
+					TableID:  column.TableID,
+					ColumnID: column.ColumnID,
+				},
+				&target.Metadata,
+			)
+			newTargets = append(newTargets, newTarget)
+			column.IsHidden = false
+			migrated = true
+		}
+	}
+
+	return migrated, newTargets
 }
 
 // migrateTargetElement migrates an individual target at a given index.
diff --git a/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scpb/migration_test.go b/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scpb/migration_test.go
index 6aa252671369..26afef0ebb5d 100644
--- a/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scpb/migration_test.go
+++ b/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scpb/migration_test.go
@@ -137,3 +137,40 @@ func TestDeprecatedTriggerDeps(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Equal(t, catid.DescID(112), triggerDeps.UsesRelations[0].ID)
 	require.Equal(t, catid.DescID(113), triggerDeps.UsesRelations[1].ID)
 }
+
+func TestDeprecatedColumnHiddenMigration(t *testing.T) {
+	state := DescriptorState{
+		Targets: []Target{
+			MakeTarget(ToPublic,
+				&Column{
+					TableID:  100,
+					ColumnID: 105,
+					IsHidden: true,
+				},
+				nil,
+			),
+		},
+		CurrentStatuses: []Status{Status_PUBLIC},
+		TargetRanks:     []uint32{1},
+	}
+	migrationOccurred := MigrateDescriptorState(
+		clusterversion.ClusterVersion{Version: clusterversion.Latest.Version()},
+		1,
+		&state,
+	)
+	require.True(t, migrationOccurred)
+	require.Len(t, state.CurrentStatuses, 2)
+	require.Len(t, state.Targets, 2)
+
+	column := state.Targets[0].GetColumn()
+	require.NotNil(t, column)
+	require.False(t, column.IsHidden)
+
+	columnHidden := state.Targets[1].GetColumnHidden()
+	require.NotNil(t, columnHidden)
+
+	require.Equal(t, column.TableID, columnHidden.TableID)
+	require.Equal(t, column.TableID, columnHidden.TableID)
+	require.Equal(t, state.CurrentStatuses[1], Status_PUBLIC)
+	require.Equal(t, state.TargetRanks[1], uint32(2))
+}
diff --git a/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scplan/internal/rules/current/helpers.go b/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scplan/internal/rules/current/helpers.go
index 45ad59fd5ee3..97b292175225 100644
--- a/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scplan/internal/rules/current/helpers.go
+++ b/pkg/sql/schemachanger/scplan/internal/rules/current/helpers.go
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ func isColumnDependent(e scpb.Element) bool {
 	switch e.(type) {
 	case *scpb.ColumnType, *scpb.ColumnNotNull:
 		return true
-	case *scpb.ColumnName, *scpb.ColumnComment, *scpb.IndexColumn:
+	case *scpb.ColumnName, *scpb.ColumnComment, *scpb.IndexColumn, *scpb.ColumnHidden:
 		return true
 	}
 	return isColumnTypeDependent(e)
@@ -272,6 +272,7 @@ func isColumnNotNull(e scpb.Element) bool {
 	}
 	return false
 }
+
 func isColumnTypeDependent(e scpb.Element) bool {
 	switch e.(type) {
 	case *scpb.SequenceOwner, *scpb.ColumnDefaultExpression, *scpb.ColumnOnUpdateExpression, *scpb.ColumnComputeExpression:
diff --git a/pkg/sql/schemachanger/screl/attr.go b/pkg/sql/schemachanger/screl/attr.go
index 13548c12c34c..24774602f9ca 100644
--- a/pkg/sql/schemachanger/screl/attr.go
+++ b/pkg/sql/schemachanger/screl/attr.go
@@ -122,8 +122,9 @@ const (
 
 var t = reflect.TypeOf
 
+// elementSchemaOptions maps attributes to the elements' fields.
 var elementSchemaOptions = []rel.SchemaOption{
-	// We need this `Element` attribute to be of type `protoulti.Message`
+	// We need this `Element` attribute to be of type `protoutil.Message`
 	// interface and better have it as the first in the schema option list. This
 	// is because the schema needs to know a type of each attribute, and it
 	// creates a mapping between attribute and the type. If you're trying to add a
@@ -136,6 +137,7 @@ var elementSchemaOptions = []rel.SchemaOption{
 	// concrete type underneath an interface value, so we won't have a problem
 	// evaluating field values within a concrete Element struct.
 	rel.AttrType(Element, t((*protoutil.Message)(nil)).Elem()),
+
 	// Top-level elements.
 	rel.EntityMapping(t((*scpb.Database)(nil)),
 		rel.EntityAttr(DescID, "DatabaseID"),
@@ -322,6 +324,10 @@ var elementSchemaOptions = []rel.SchemaOption{
 		rel.EntityAttr(ColumnID, "ColumnID"),
 		rel.EntityAttr(IndexID, "IndexIDForValidation"),
 	),
+	rel.EntityMapping(t((*scpb.ColumnHidden)(nil)),
+		rel.EntityAttr(DescID, "TableID"),
+		rel.EntityAttr(ColumnID, "ColumnID"),
+	),
 	// Index elements.
 	rel.EntityMapping(t((*scpb.IndexName)(nil)),
 		rel.EntityAttr(DescID, "TableID"),
diff --git a/pkg/sql/schemachanger/screl/scalars.go b/pkg/sql/schemachanger/screl/scalars.go
index c3fcd70b138f..b6c1846dd836 100644
--- a/pkg/sql/schemachanger/screl/scalars.go
+++ b/pkg/sql/schemachanger/screl/scalars.go
@@ -136,6 +136,8 @@ func VersionSupportsElementUse(el scpb.Element, version clusterversion.ClusterVe
 		return version.IsActive(clusterversion.V25_2)
 	case *scpb.TableLocalityRegionalByRowUsingConstraint:
 		return version.IsActive(clusterversion.V25_3)
+	case *scpb.ColumnHidden:
+		return version.IsActive(clusterversion.V25_4) // FIXME: need clusterversion.V26_1 from release engineering
 	default:
 		panic(errors.AssertionFailedf("unknown element %T", el))
 	}