diff --git a/packages/modals/src/elements/TooltipDialog/TooltipDialog.spec.tsx b/packages/modals/src/elements/TooltipDialog/TooltipDialog.spec.tsx
index b4dce630d9..881223f12f 100644
--- a/packages/modals/src/elements/TooltipDialog/TooltipDialog.spec.tsx
+++ b/packages/modals/src/elements/TooltipDialog/TooltipDialog.spec.tsx
@@ -232,4 +232,68 @@ describe('TooltipDialog', () => {
       expect(onCloseSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
     });
   });
+
+  describe('keepMounted', () => {
+    it('keeps dialog mounted in the DOM while visually hidden', () => {
+      const { queryByRole, getByTestId } = render(
+        <Example keepMounted backdropProps={{ 'data-test-id': 'backdrop' } as any} />
+      );
+
+      // Closed (hidden) state: still mounted but visually hidden and aria-hidden on backdrop
+      const hiddenDialog = queryByRole('dialog', { hidden: true });
+
+      expect(hiddenDialog).not.toBeNull();
+      expect(getByTestId('backdrop')).toHaveAttribute('aria-hidden', 'true');
+      // Backdrop should have hideVisually styles applied (position: absolute, clip, etc.)
+      const backdropStyles = window.getComputedStyle(getByTestId('backdrop'));
+      expect(backdropStyles.position).toBe('absolute');
+      expect(backdropStyles.width).toBe('1px');
+      expect(backdropStyles.height).toBe('1px');
+    });
+
+    it('toggles visibility and manages focus correctly when reopened', async () => {
+      const { getByText, getByRole, queryByRole, getByTestId } = render(
+        <Example keepMounted backdropProps={{ 'data-test-id': 'backdrop' } as any} />
+      );
+
+      const trigger = getByText('open');
+
+      // Initially hidden but mounted
+      const initiallyHiddenDialog = queryByRole('dialog', { hidden: true });
+      expect(initiallyHiddenDialog).not.toBeNull();
+      expect(getByTestId('backdrop')).toHaveAttribute('aria-hidden', 'true');
+
+      // Open
+      await act(async () => {
+        await user.click(trigger);
+      });
+
+      const openDialog = getByRole('dialog');
+      expect(openDialog).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(getByTestId('backdrop')).not.toHaveAttribute('aria-hidden');
+      expect(openDialog).toHaveFocus();
+      // Backdrop should NOT have hideVisually styles when visible
+      const visibleBackdropStyles = window.getComputedStyle(getByTestId('backdrop'));
+      expect(visibleBackdropStyles.position).toBe('fixed');
+
+      // Close (toggle button again)
+      await act(async () => {
+        await user.click(trigger);
+      });
+
+      // Dialog remains mounted but visually hidden again
+      const hiddenAgainDialog = queryByRole('dialog', { hidden: true });
+      expect(hiddenAgainDialog).not.toBeNull();
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(getByTestId('backdrop')).toHaveAttribute('aria-hidden', 'true');
+        // Backdrop should have hideVisually styles applied again
+        const hiddenBackdropStyles = window.getComputedStyle(getByTestId('backdrop'));
+        expect(hiddenBackdropStyles.position).toBe('absolute');
+        expect(hiddenBackdropStyles.width).toBe('1px');
+        expect(hiddenBackdropStyles.height).toBe('1px');
+      });
+      // Focus should return to trigger
+      expect(trigger).toHaveFocus();
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/modals/src/elements/TooltipDialog/TooltipDialog.tsx b/packages/modals/src/elements/TooltipDialog/TooltipDialog.tsx
index 81691d5bec..d14bed2a9a 100644
--- a/packages/modals/src/elements/TooltipDialog/TooltipDialog.tsx
+++ b/packages/modals/src/elements/TooltipDialog/TooltipDialog.tsx
@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@ import { createPortal } from 'react-dom';
 
 const PLACEMENT_DEFAULT = 'top';
 
+/**
+ * 1. When content is kept mounted we must manually focus on re-open
+ * 2. Hide only at 'exited' so exit animations finish
+ *    and floating-ui sizing/focus logic remain valid during 'exiting'.
+ *    Earlier hiding would cut animation and risk focus/layout issues.
+ */
 const TooltipDialogComponent = React.forwardRef<HTMLDivElement, ITooltipDialogProps>(
   (
     {
@@ -46,6 +52,7 @@ const TooltipDialogComponent = React.forwardRef<HTMLDivElement, ITooltipDialogPr
       offset: _offset,
       onClose,
       hasArrow = true,
+      keepMounted,
       isAnimated,
       zIndex,
       backdropProps,
@@ -148,19 +155,27 @@ const TooltipDialogComponent = React.forwardRef<HTMLDivElement, ITooltipDialogPr
 
     const Node = (
       <CSSTransition
-        unmountOnExit
+        unmountOnExit={!keepMounted}
         timeout={isAnimated ? 200 : 0}
         in={Boolean(referenceElement)}
         classNames={isAnimated ? 'garden-tooltip-modal-transition' : ''}
         nodeRef={transitionRef}
+        onEntered={() => {
+          if (keepMounted && focusOnMount && modalRef.current) {
+            modalRef.current.focus(); // [1]
+          }
+        }}
       >
         {transitionState => {
+          const isHidden = keepMounted && transitionState === 'exited'; // [2]
+
           return (
             <TooltipDialogContext.Provider value={value}>
               <StyledTooltipDialogBackdrop
                 {...(getBackdropProps() as HTMLAttributes<HTMLDivElement>)}
                 {...backdropProps}
                 ref={transitionRef}
+                aria-hidden={isHidden ? true : undefined}
               >
                 <StyledTooltipWrapper
                   ref={setFloatingElement}
@@ -203,6 +218,7 @@ TooltipDialogComponent.propTypes = {
   ),
   isAnimated: PropTypes.bool,
   hasArrow: PropTypes.bool,
+  keepMounted: PropTypes.bool,
   zIndex: PropTypes.number,
   onClose: PropTypes.func,
   backdropProps: PropTypes.any,
diff --git a/packages/modals/src/styled/StyledTooltipDialogBackdrop.ts b/packages/modals/src/styled/StyledTooltipDialogBackdrop.ts
index c1a6445541..b12cee1736 100644
--- a/packages/modals/src/styled/StyledTooltipDialogBackdrop.ts
+++ b/packages/modals/src/styled/StyledTooltipDialogBackdrop.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
  */
 
 import styled from 'styled-components';
+import { hideVisually } from 'polished';
 import { componentStyles } from '@zendeskgarden/react-theming';
 
 const COMPONENT_ID = 'modals.tooltip_dialog.backdrop';
@@ -34,5 +35,7 @@ export const StyledTooltipDialogBackdrop = styled.div.attrs({
     opacity: 0;
   }
 
+  ${props => props['aria-hidden'] && hideVisually()}
+
   ${componentStyles};
 `;
diff --git a/packages/modals/src/types/index.ts b/packages/modals/src/types/index.ts
index 71583390b6..5bb231660f 100644
--- a/packages/modals/src/types/index.ts
+++ b/packages/modals/src/types/index.ts
@@ -83,6 +83,10 @@ export interface ITooltipDialogProps extends Omit<IModalProps, 'isCentered' | 'i
    * Adds an arrow to the tooltop
    */
   hasArrow?: boolean;
+  /**
+   * Keeps the tooltip content mounted in the DOM when closed, rather than unmounting it
+   */
+  keepMounted?: boolean;
   /** @ignore Modifies the placement offset from the reference element (internal only) */
   offset?: number;
   /**