diff --git a/packages/material_ui/lib/src/theme_data.dart b/packages/material_ui/lib/src/theme_data.dart
index 3f21a84d69f0..77b6b862de9e 100644
--- a/packages/material_ui/lib/src/theme_data.dart
+++ b/packages/material_ui/lib/src/theme_data.dart
@@ -194,6 +194,23 @@ enum MaterialTapTargetSize {
   shrinkWrap,
 }
 
+/// Defines the Material Design style variant used by Material components.
+enum StyleVariant {
+  /// The Material Design 3 style variant.
+  material3,
+
+  /// The Material Design 3 Expressive style variant.
+  ///
+  /// Material 3 Expressive support is under development. Apps or components
+  /// that opt into this variant may see visual changes as more Expressive
+  /// features get added.
+  ///
+  /// See also:
+  ///
+  ///  * [Material Design 3 Expressive updates](https://m3.material.io/#9f2db05b-ebbb-47c2-892d-1cca35afa386) for design guidelines.
+  material3Expressive,
+}
+
 /// Defines the configuration of the overall visual [Theme] for a [MaterialApp]
 /// or a widget subtree within the app.
 ///
diff --git a/packages/material_ui/pending_changelogs/change_2026_09_01_1788300011018.yaml b/packages/material_ui/pending_changelogs/change_2026_09_01_1788300011018.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..2ebcd33fdc41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/material_ui/pending_changelogs/change_2026_09_01_1788300011018.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+changelog: |
+  - Adds the `StyleVariant` enum defining the Material 3 and Material 3 Expressive style variants.
+version: minor