diff --git a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/__snapshots__/data_grid.test.tsx.snap b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/__snapshots__/data_grid.test.tsx.snap
index 6edcf14e266d..9f1079fc9442 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/__snapshots__/data_grid.test.tsx.snap
+++ b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/__snapshots__/data_grid.test.tsx.snap
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ exports[`EuiDataGrid rendering renders additional toolbar controls 1`] = `
                   A
                 </div>
                 <div
-                  class="euiPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
+                  class="euiPopover euiDataGridHeaderCell__columnActionsPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
                 >
                   <button
                     aria-expanded="false"
@@ -684,7 +684,7 @@ exports[`EuiDataGrid rendering renders additional toolbar controls 1`] = `
                   B
                 </div>
                 <div
-                  class="euiPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
+                  class="euiPopover euiDataGridHeaderCell__columnActionsPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
                 >
                   <button
                     aria-expanded="false"
@@ -1099,7 +1099,7 @@ exports[`EuiDataGrid rendering renders control columns 1`] = `
                   A
                 </div>
                 <div
-                  class="euiPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
+                  class="euiPopover euiDataGridHeaderCell__columnActionsPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
                 >
                   <button
                     aria-expanded="false"
@@ -1151,7 +1151,7 @@ exports[`EuiDataGrid rendering renders control columns 1`] = `
                   B
                 </div>
                 <div
-                  class="euiPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
+                  class="euiPopover euiDataGridHeaderCell__columnActionsPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
                 >
                   <button
                     aria-expanded="false"
@@ -1719,7 +1719,7 @@ exports[`EuiDataGrid rendering renders custom column headers 1`] = `
                   Column A
                 </div>
                 <div
-                  class="euiPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
+                  class="euiPopover euiDataGridHeaderCell__columnActionsPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
                 >
                   <button
                     aria-expanded="false"
@@ -1772,7 +1772,7 @@ exports[`EuiDataGrid rendering renders custom column headers 1`] = `
                   </div>
                 </div>
                 <div
-                  class="euiPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
+                  class="euiPopover euiDataGridHeaderCell__columnActionsPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
                 >
                   <button
                     aria-expanded="false"
@@ -2162,7 +2162,7 @@ exports[`EuiDataGrid rendering renders with common and div attributes 1`] = `
                   A
                 </div>
                 <div
-                  class="euiPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
+                  class="euiPopover euiDataGridHeaderCell__columnActionsPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
                 >
                   <button
                     aria-expanded="false"
@@ -2214,7 +2214,7 @@ exports[`EuiDataGrid rendering renders with common and div attributes 1`] = `
                   B
                 </div>
                 <div
-                  class="euiPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
+                  class="euiPopover euiDataGridHeaderCell__columnActionsPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
                 >
                   <button
                     aria-expanded="false"
diff --git a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/__snapshots__/data_grid_body_custom.test.tsx.snap b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/__snapshots__/data_grid_body_custom.test.tsx.snap
index 2f1eb13189e5..0d6cec2e4ca0 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/__snapshots__/data_grid_body_custom.test.tsx.snap
+++ b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/__snapshots__/data_grid_body_custom.test.tsx.snap
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ exports[`EuiDataGridBodyCustomRender treats \`renderCustomGridBody\` as a render
         columnA
       </div>
       <div
-        class="euiPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
+        class="euiPopover euiDataGridHeaderCell__columnActionsPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
       >
         <button
           aria-expanded="false"
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ exports[`EuiDataGridBodyCustomRender treats \`renderCustomGridBody\` as a render
         columnB
       </div>
       <div
-        class="euiPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
+        class="euiPopover euiDataGridHeaderCell__columnActionsPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
       >
         <button
           aria-expanded="false"
diff --git a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/__snapshots__/data_grid_body_virtualized.test.tsx.snap b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/__snapshots__/data_grid_body_virtualized.test.tsx.snap
index 85369eb37da2..2336b03e3866 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/__snapshots__/data_grid_body_virtualized.test.tsx.snap
+++ b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/__snapshots__/data_grid_body_virtualized.test.tsx.snap
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ exports[`EuiDataGridBodyVirtualized renders 1`] = `
           columnA
         </div>
         <div
-          class="euiPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
+          class="euiPopover euiDataGridHeaderCell__columnActionsPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
         >
           <button
             aria-expanded="false"
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ exports[`EuiDataGridBodyVirtualized renders 1`] = `
           columnB
         </div>
         <div
-          class="euiPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
+          class="euiPopover euiDataGridHeaderCell__columnActionsPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
         >
           <button
             aria-expanded="false"
diff --git a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/__snapshots__/column_actions.test.tsx.snap b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/__snapshots__/column_actions.test.tsx.snap
index e211fa115da3..729d858dc53d 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/__snapshots__/column_actions.test.tsx.snap
+++ b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/__snapshots__/column_actions.test.tsx.snap
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ exports[`ColumnActions renders 1`] = `
 <body>
   <div>
     <div
-      class="euiPopover euiPopover-isOpen emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
+      class="euiPopover euiPopover-isOpen euiDataGridHeaderCell__columnActionsPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
     >
       <button
         aria-controls="euiPopover_generated-id_panelId"
diff --git a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/__snapshots__/data_grid_header_cell.test.tsx.snap b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/__snapshots__/data_grid_header_cell.test.tsx.snap
index 4a5b62552ca3..29fa403703a7 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/__snapshots__/data_grid_header_cell.test.tsx.snap
+++ b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/__snapshots__/data_grid_header_cell.test.tsx.snap
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ exports[`EuiDataGridHeaderCell renders 1`] = `
     someColumn
   </div>
   <div
-    class="euiPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
+    class="euiPopover euiDataGridHeaderCell__columnActionsPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
   >
     <button
       aria-expanded="false"
diff --git a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/column_actions.test.tsx b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/column_actions.test.tsx
index d11d920ace99..bd254f0ef381 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/column_actions.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/column_actions.test.tsx
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ describe('ColumnActions', () => {
     hasFocusTrap: false,
     setPropsFromColumnActions: jest.fn(),
     actionsButtonRef: jest.fn(),
+    showColumnActionsAlways: false,
   };
 
   it('renders', async () => {
diff --git a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/column_actions.tsx b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/column_actions.tsx
index e51c0ce4c0ca..b598a23eb903 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/column_actions.tsx
+++ b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/column_actions.tsx
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ export const ColumnActions: FunctionComponent<
     hasFocusTrap: boolean;
     setPropsFromColumnActions: (props: PropsFromColumnActions) => void;
     actionsButtonRef: Ref<HTMLButtonElement>;
+    showColumnActionsAlways: boolean;
   }
 > = memo(
   ({
@@ -101,6 +102,7 @@ export const ColumnActions: FunctionComponent<
     hasFocusTrap,
     setPropsFromColumnActions,
     actionsButtonRef,
+    showColumnActionsAlways,
   }) => {
     /**
      * Popover logic and accessibility
@@ -194,6 +196,7 @@ export const ColumnActions: FunctionComponent<
         panelPaddingSize="none"
         offset={7}
         anchorPosition="downRight"
+        className="euiDataGridHeaderCell__columnActionsPopover"
         css={styles.euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover}
         button={
           <EuiButtonIcon
@@ -211,6 +214,8 @@ export const ColumnActions: FunctionComponent<
             css={[
               styles.euiDataGridHeaderCell__actions.action,
               styles.euiDataGridHeaderCell__actions.end,
+              showColumnActionsAlways &&
+                styles.euiDataGridHeaderCell__actionAlwaysVisible,
             ]}
             data-test-subj={`dataGridHeaderCellActionButton-${id}`}
           />
diff --git a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/data_grid_header_cell.styles.ts b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/data_grid_header_cell.styles.ts
index 6e34558d1ca5..28ecb9233ad7 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/data_grid_header_cell.styles.ts
+++ b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/data_grid_header_cell.styles.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,15 @@ export const euiDataGridHeaderCellStyles = (euiThemeContext: UseEuiTheme) => {
       /* Remove inline struts from EuiButtonIcon */
       line-height: 0;
     `,
+    /** Undo hide-on-hover affordance when headerColumnActionsVisibility is `always` */
+    euiDataGridHeaderCell__actionAlwaysVisible: css`
+      opacity: 1 !important; /* stylelint-disable-line declaration-no-important */
+      transform: none !important; /* stylelint-disable-line declaration-no-important */
+      ${logicalCSS(
+        'margin-left',
+        '0 !important'
+      )}/* stylelint-disable-line declaration-no-important */
+    `,
     euiDataGridHeaderCell__actions: {
       action: css`
         overflow: hidden;
diff --git a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/data_grid_header_cell.test.tsx b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/data_grid_header_cell.test.tsx
index d727305ce4f2..6cb7251aebba 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/data_grid_header_cell.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/data_grid_header_cell.test.tsx
@@ -44,6 +44,36 @@ describe('EuiDataGridHeaderCell', () => {
     expect(container.querySelector('.euiPopover')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
+  it('applies stable header layout classes for headerColumnActionsVisibility', () => {
+    const { getByTestSubject } = render(
+      <EuiDataGridHeaderCell
+        {...requiredProps}
+        gridStyles={{
+          header: 'shade',
+          headerColumnActionsVisibility: 'always',
+        }}
+      />
+    );
+    expect(getByTestSubject('dataGridHeaderCell-someColumn')).toHaveClass(
+      'euiDataGridHeaderCell--columnActionsAlwaysVisible'
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('applies overlay class for headerColumnActionsDisplay', () => {
+    const { getByTestSubject } = render(
+      <EuiDataGridHeaderCell
+        {...requiredProps}
+        gridStyles={{
+          header: 'shade',
+          headerColumnActionsDisplay: 'overlay',
+        }}
+      />
+    );
+    expect(getByTestSubject('dataGridHeaderCell-someColumn')).toHaveClass(
+      'euiDataGridHeaderCell--columnActionsOverlay'
+    );
+  });
+
   describe('resizing', () => {
     it('renders a resizer', () => {
       const { getByTestSubject } = render(
diff --git a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/data_grid_header_cell.tsx b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/data_grid_header_cell.tsx
index cdaad068d7ad..7e93774b68b1 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/data_grid_header_cell.tsx
+++ b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/data_grid_header_cell.tsx
@@ -61,6 +61,12 @@ export const EuiDataGridHeaderCell: FunctionComponent<EuiDataGridHeaderCellProps
         {
           [`euiDataGridHeaderCell--${columnType}`]: columnType,
           'euiDataGridHeaderCell--hasColumnActions': hasColumnActions,
+          'euiDataGridHeaderCell--columnActionsAlwaysVisible':
+            hasColumnActions &&
+            gridStyles.headerColumnActionsVisibility === 'always',
+          'euiDataGridHeaderCell--columnActionsOverlay':
+            hasColumnActions &&
+            gridStyles.headerColumnActionsDisplay === 'overlay',
         },
         displayHeaderCellProps?.className
       );
@@ -137,6 +143,9 @@ export const EuiDataGridHeaderCell: FunctionComponent<EuiDataGridHeaderCellProps
                         css={[
                           styles.euiDataGridHeaderCell__actions.action,
                           styles.euiDataGridHeaderCell__actions.start,
+                          gridStyles.headerColumnActionsVisibility === 'always'
+                            ? styles.euiDataGridHeaderCell__actionAlwaysVisible
+                            : undefined,
                         ]}
                       />
                     </span>
@@ -176,6 +185,9 @@ export const EuiDataGridHeaderCell: FunctionComponent<EuiDataGridHeaderCellProps
                       hasFocusTrap={hasFocusTrap}
                       setPropsFromColumnActions={setPropsFromColumnActions}
                       actionsButtonRef={actionsButtonRef}
+                      showColumnActionsAlways={
+                        gridStyles.headerColumnActionsVisibility === 'always'
+                      }
                     />
                   )}
                 </>
diff --git a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/data_grid_header_cell_wrapper.styles.ts b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/data_grid_header_cell_wrapper.styles.ts
index e83fb425bd56..b3a1e5b73b8c 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/data_grid_header_cell_wrapper.styles.ts
+++ b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/data_grid_header_cell_wrapper.styles.ts
@@ -50,6 +50,36 @@ export const euiDataGridHeaderCellWrapperStyles = (
         }
       }
 
+      /* Match showActions gap when column actions stay visible (stable header height) */
+      &.euiDataGridHeaderCell--columnActionsAlwaysVisible {
+        &,
+        & > [data-focus-lock-disabled] {
+          gap: ${euiTheme.size.xxs};
+        }
+      }
+
+      /*
+       * When actions are overlaid they are not flex items; keep a steady gap between
+       * remaining flex items so hover/focus does not toggle layout.
+       */
+      &.euiDataGridHeaderCell--columnActionsOverlay {
+        &,
+        & > [data-focus-lock-disabled] {
+          gap: ${euiTheme.size.xxs};
+        }
+
+        .euiDataGridHeaderCell__columnActionsPopover {
+          position: absolute;
+          ${logicalCSS('top', 0)}
+          ${logicalCSS('bottom', 0)}
+          ${logicalCSS('right', 0)}
+          display: flex;
+          align-items: center;
+          ${logicalCSS('margin-left', 0)}
+          z-index: ${Number(euiTheme.levels.header) + 1};
+        }
+      }
+
       /* Workaround for focus trap */
       & > [data-focus-lock-disabled] {
         display: flex;
diff --git a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/data_grid_header_row.test.tsx b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/data_grid_header_row.test.tsx
index 2a792f7589b3..2b942b35c8df 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/data_grid_header_row.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/body/header/data_grid_header_row.test.tsx
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ describe('EuiDataGridHeaderRow', () => {
             someColumn
           </div>
           <div
-            class="euiPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
+            class="euiPopover euiDataGridHeaderCell__columnActionsPopover emotion-euiPopover-block-euiDataGridHeaderCell__popover"
           >
             <button
               aria-expanded="false"
diff --git a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/controls/display_selector.test.tsx b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/controls/display_selector.test.tsx
index 964af8eb30e9..524258809ae5 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/controls/display_selector.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/controls/display_selector.test.tsx
@@ -563,6 +563,8 @@ describe('useDataGridDisplaySelector', () => {
                 "fontSize": "m",
                 "footer": "overline",
                 "header": "shade",
+                "headerColumnActionsDisplay": "inline",
+                "headerColumnActionsVisibility": "hover",
                 "rowHover": "highlight",
                 "stickyFooter": true,
                 "stripes": true,
diff --git a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/controls/display_selector.tsx b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/controls/display_selector.tsx
index 4b4414460f4d..062c8ad77418 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/controls/display_selector.tsx
+++ b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/controls/display_selector.tsx
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ export const startingStyles: EuiDataGridStyle = {
   header: 'shade',
   footer: 'overline',
   stickyFooter: true,
+  headerColumnActionsVisibility: 'hover',
+  headerColumnActionsDisplay: 'inline',
 };
 const emptyRowHeightsOptions: EuiDataGridRowHeightsOptions = {};
 
diff --git a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/data_grid_types.ts b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/data_grid_types.ts
index f79d33654185..f8c440632d89 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/data_grid_types.ts
+++ b/packages/eui/src/components/datagrid/data_grid_types.ts
@@ -883,6 +883,19 @@ export type EuiDataGridStyleFooter = 'shade' | 'overline' | 'striped';
 export type EuiDataGridStyleRowHover = 'highlight' | 'none';
 export type EuiDataGridStyleCellPaddings = 's' | 'm' | 'l';
 
+/**
+ * When `always`, the column header actions (⋮) control stays visible instead of
+ * appearing only on row hover or focus, which keeps header height stable when
+ * header labels wrap to multiple lines.
+ */
+export type EuiDataGridStyleHeaderColumnActionsVisibility = 'hover' | 'always';
+
+/**
+ * When `overlay`, the column header actions control is absolutely positioned over
+ * the header cell so toggling its visibility does not change flex layout or header height.
+ */
+export type EuiDataGridStyleHeaderColumnActionsDisplay = 'inline' | 'overlay';
+
 export interface EuiDataGridStyle {
   /**
    * Size of fonts used within the row and column cells
@@ -924,6 +937,17 @@ export interface EuiDataGridStyle {
    * @default hover
    */
   rowHover?: EuiDataGridStyleRowHover;
+  /**
+   * Controls visibility of the per-column header actions menu (⋮).
+   * @default hover
+   */
+  headerColumnActionsVisibility?: EuiDataGridStyleHeaderColumnActionsVisibility;
+  /**
+   * Whether the column header actions control participates in flex layout (`inline`)
+   * or is layered on top of the header cell content (`overlay`), avoiding layout shift on hover.
+   * @default inline
+   */
+  headerColumnActionsDisplay?: EuiDataGridStyleHeaderColumnActionsDisplay;
   /**
    * Optionally pass custom classes to highlight or customize certain rows
    */