diff --git a/.changeset/bui-table-root-loading-prop.md b/.changeset/bui-table-root-loading-prop.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7c3f453c82
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/bui-table-root-loading-prop.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+'@backstage/ui': patch
+---
+
+Added a `loading` prop and `data-loading` data attribute to `TableRoot`, allowing consumers to distinguish between stale data and initial loading states. Both `stale` and `loading` set `aria-busy` on the table.
+
+Affected components: TableRoot
diff --git a/.changeset/bui-table-skeleton-loading.md b/.changeset/bui-table-skeleton-loading.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..df20393c50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/bui-table-skeleton-loading.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+'@backstage/ui': patch
+---
+
+Improved the `Table` component loading state to show a skeleton UI with visible headers instead of plain "Loading..." text. The table now renders its full structure during loading, with animated skeleton rows in place of data. The loading state includes proper accessibility support with `aria-busy` on the table and screen reader announcements.
+
+Affected components: Table
diff --git a/docs-ui/src/app/components/table/props-definition.tsx b/docs-ui/src/app/components/table/props-definition.tsx
index abfdd45549..6d35cb3350 100644
--- a/docs-ui/src/app/components/table/props-definition.tsx
+++ b/docs-ui/src/app/components/table/props-definition.tsx
@@ -430,6 +430,17 @@ export const tableRootPropDefs: Record<string, PropDef> = {
       </>
     ),
   },
+  loading: {
+    type: 'boolean',
+    default: 'false',
+    description: (
+      <>
+        Whether the table is in a loading state (e.g., initial data fetch). Adds{' '}
+        <Chip>aria-busy</Chip> attribute and <Chip>data-loading</Chip> data
+        attribute for styling.
+      </>
+    ),
+  },
 };
 
 export const columnPropDefs: Record<string, PropDef> = {
diff --git a/packages/ui/report.api.md b/packages/ui/report.api.md
index 95bc6d86b8..09454cecc9 100644
--- a/packages/ui/report.api.md
+++ b/packages/ui/report.api.md
@@ -2332,6 +2332,9 @@ export const TableDefinition: {
     readonly stale: {
       readonly dataAttribute: true;
     };
+    readonly loading: {
+      readonly dataAttribute: true;
+    };
   };
 };
 
@@ -2449,6 +2452,7 @@ export const TableRoot: (props: TableRootProps) => JSX_2.Element;
 // @public (undocumented)
 export type TableRootOwnProps = {
   stale?: boolean;
+  loading?: boolean;
 };
 
 // @public (undocumented)
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/Table/Table.module.css b/packages/ui/src/components/Table/Table.module.css
index 55cf235e56..472e0733ac 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/Table/Table.module.css
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/Table/Table.module.css
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@
     table-layout: fixed;
     transition: opacity 0.2s ease-in-out;
 
-    &[data-stale='true'] {
+    &[data-stale='true'],
+    &[data-loading='true'] {
       opacity: 0.6;
     }
   }
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/Table/components/Table.tsx b/packages/ui/src/components/Table/components/Table.tsx
index 523e5bd6c3..96e7cfe166 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/Table/components/Table.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/Table/components/Table.tsx
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import type {
 import { useMemo } from 'react';
 import { VisuallyHidden } from '../../VisuallyHidden';
 import { Flex } from '../../Flex';
+import { TableBodySkeleton } from './TableBodySkeleton';
 
 function isRowRenderFn<T extends TableItem>(
   rowConfig: RowConfig<T> | RowRenderFn<T> | undefined,
@@ -61,8 +62,13 @@ function useDisabledRows<T extends TableItem>({
 function useLiveRegionLabel(
   pagination: TablePaginationType,
   isStale: boolean,
+  isLoading: boolean,
   hasData: boolean,
 ): string {
+  if (isLoading) {
+    return 'Loading table data.';
+  }
+
   if (!hasData || pagination.type === 'none') {
     return '';
   }
@@ -115,13 +121,7 @@ export function Table<T extends TableItem>({
     onSelectionChange,
   } = selection || {};
 
-  if (loading && !data) {
-    return (
-      <div className={className} style={style}>
-        Loading...
-      </div>
-    );
-  }
+  const isInitialLoading = loading && !data;
 
   if (error) {
     return (
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ export function Table<T extends TableItem>({
   const liveRegionLabel = useLiveRegionLabel(
     pagination,
     isStale,
+    isInitialLoading,
     data !== undefined,
   );
 
@@ -158,14 +159,19 @@ export function Table<T extends TableItem>({
       </VisuallyHidden>
       {wrapResizable(
         <TableRoot
-          selectionMode={selectionMode}
-          selectionBehavior={selectionBehavior}
-          selectedKeys={selectedKeys}
-          onSelectionChange={onSelectionChange}
+          {...(isInitialLoading
+            ? {}
+            : {
+                selectionMode,
+                selectionBehavior,
+                selectedKeys,
+                onSelectionChange,
+              })}
           sortDescriptor={sort?.descriptor ?? undefined}
           onSortChange={sort?.onSortChange}
           disabledKeys={disabledRows}
           stale={isStale}
+          loading={isInitialLoading}
           aria-describedby={liveRegionId}
         >
           <TableHeader columns={visibleColumns}>
@@ -187,39 +193,43 @@ export function Table<T extends TableItem>({
               )
             }
           </TableHeader>
-          <TableBody
-            items={data}
-            dependencies={[visibleColumns]}
-            renderEmptyState={
-              emptyState ? () => <Flex p="3">{emptyState}</Flex> : undefined
-            }
-          >
-            {item => {
-              const itemIndex = data?.indexOf(item) ?? -1;
-
-              if (isRowRenderFn(rowConfig)) {
-                return rowConfig({
-                  item,
-                  index: itemIndex,
-                });
+          {isInitialLoading ? (
+            <TableBodySkeleton columns={visibleColumns} />
+          ) : (
+            <TableBody
+              items={data}
+              dependencies={[visibleColumns]}
+              renderEmptyState={
+                emptyState ? () => <Flex p="3">{emptyState}</Flex> : undefined
               }
+            >
+              {item => {
+                const itemIndex = data?.indexOf(item) ?? -1;
 
-              return (
-                <Row
-                  id={String(item.id)}
-                  columns={visibleColumns}
-                  href={rowConfig?.getHref?.(item)}
-                  onAction={
-                    rowConfig?.onClick
-                      ? () => rowConfig?.onClick?.(item)
-                      : undefined
-                  }
-                >
-                  {column => column.cell(item)}
-                </Row>
-              );
-            }}
-          </TableBody>
+                if (isRowRenderFn(rowConfig)) {
+                  return rowConfig({
+                    item,
+                    index: itemIndex,
+                  });
+                }
+
+                return (
+                  <Row
+                    id={String(item.id)}
+                    columns={visibleColumns}
+                    href={rowConfig?.getHref?.(item)}
+                    onAction={
+                      rowConfig?.onClick
+                        ? () => rowConfig?.onClick?.(item)
+                        : undefined
+                    }
+                  >
+                    {column => column.cell(item)}
+                  </Row>
+                );
+              }}
+            </TableBody>
+          )}
         </TableRoot>,
       )}
       {pagination.type === 'page' && (
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/Table/components/TableBodySkeleton.tsx b/packages/ui/src/components/Table/components/TableBodySkeleton.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1623fdc9cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/Table/components/TableBodySkeleton.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2025 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { TableBody } from './TableBody';
+import { Row } from './Row';
+import { Cell } from './Cell';
+import { Skeleton } from '../../Skeleton';
+import type { ColumnConfig, TableItem } from '../types';
+
+const SKELETON_ROW_COUNT = 5;
+const SKELETON_WIDTHS = ['75%', '50%', '60%', '45%', '70%'];
+
+const skeletonItems = Array.from({ length: SKELETON_ROW_COUNT }, (_, i) => ({
+  id: `skeleton-${i}`,
+}));
+
+/** @internal */
+export function TableBodySkeleton<T extends TableItem>({
+  columns,
+}: {
+  columns: readonly ColumnConfig<T>[];
+}) {
+  return (
+    <TableBody items={skeletonItems} dependencies={[columns]}>
+      {item => {
+        const rowIndex = Number(item.id.split('-')[1]);
+        return (
+          <Row id={item.id} columns={columns}>
+            {column => (
+              <Cell key={column.id} aria-hidden="true">
+                <Skeleton
+                  width={
+                    SKELETON_WIDTHS[
+                      (rowIndex + columns.indexOf(column)) %
+                        SKELETON_WIDTHS.length
+                    ]
+                  }
+                />
+              </Cell>
+            )}
+          </Row>
+        );
+      }}
+    </TableBody>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/Table/components/TableRoot.tsx b/packages/ui/src/components/Table/components/TableRoot.tsx
index af96d1809e..223e9d648b 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/Table/components/TableRoot.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/Table/components/TableRoot.tsx
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ export const TableRoot = (props: TableRootProps) => {
     <ReactAriaTable
       className={ownProps.classes.root}
       aria-label="Data table"
-      aria-busy={ownProps.stale}
+      aria-busy={ownProps.stale || ownProps.loading}
       {...dataAttributes}
       {...restProps}
     />
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/Table/definition.ts b/packages/ui/src/components/Table/definition.ts
index eb41617b93..1c3953a19a 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/Table/definition.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/Table/definition.ts
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ export const TableDefinition = defineComponent<TableRootOwnProps>()({
   },
   propDefs: {
     stale: { dataAttribute: true },
+    loading: { dataAttribute: true },
   },
 });
 
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/Table/types.ts b/packages/ui/src/components/Table/types.ts
index 099a855d33..0736afa05b 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/Table/types.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/Table/types.ts
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ export interface SortState {
 /** @public */
 export type TableRootOwnProps = {
   stale?: boolean;
+  loading?: boolean;
 };
 
 /** @public */