diff --git a/livekit-rtc/livekit/rtc/__init__.py b/livekit-rtc/livekit/rtc/__init__.py
index 39b23feb..cc9c1b1e 100644
--- a/livekit-rtc/livekit/rtc/__init__.py
+++ b/livekit-rtc/livekit/rtc/__init__.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 from ._proto import stats_pb2 as stats
 from ._proto.e2ee_pb2 import EncryptionState, EncryptionType
-from ._proto.participant_pb2 import ParticipantKind, DisconnectReason
+from ._proto.participant_pb2 import ParticipantKind, ParticipantState, DisconnectReason
 from ._proto.room_pb2 import (
     ConnectionQuality,
     ConnectionState,
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@
     "LocalParticipant",
     "Participant",
     "ParticipantKind",
+    "ParticipantState",
     "DisconnectReason",
     "RemoteParticipant",
     "ConnectError",
diff --git a/livekit-rtc/livekit/rtc/participant.py b/livekit-rtc/livekit/rtc/participant.py
index f2cc206e..150477d5 100644
--- a/livekit-rtc/livekit/rtc/participant.py
+++ b/livekit-rtc/livekit/rtc/participant.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 import ctypes
 import asyncio
+import datetime
 import os
 import mimetypes
 import aiofiles
@@ -126,6 +127,20 @@ def kind(self) -> proto_participant.ParticipantKind.ValueType:
         """Participant's kind (e.g., regular participant, ingress, egress, sip, agent)."""
         return self._info.kind
 
+    @property
+    def state(self) -> proto_participant.ParticipantState.ValueType:
+        """Participant's connection state (joining, joined, active, disconnected)."""
+        return self._info.state
+
+    @property
+    def joined_at(self) -> datetime.datetime | None:
+        """Timestamp of when the participant joined the room, or None if not yet joined."""
+        if self._info.joined_at == 0:
+            return None
+        return datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(
+            self._info.joined_at / 1000, tz=datetime.timezone.utc
+        )
+
     @property
     def permissions(self) -> proto_participant.ParticipantPermission:
         """The participant's permissions within the room."""
diff --git a/livekit-rtc/livekit/rtc/room.py b/livekit-rtc/livekit/rtc/room.py
index a815bcd2..7fd778ae 100644
--- a/livekit-rtc/livekit/rtc/room.py
+++ b/livekit-rtc/livekit/rtc/room.py
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
 EventTypes = Literal[
     "participant_connected",
     "participant_disconnected",
+    "participant_active",
     "local_track_published",
     "local_track_unpublished",
     "local_track_subscribed",
@@ -339,6 +340,8 @@ def on(self, event: EventTypes, callback: Optional[Callable] = None) -> Callable
                 - Arguments: `participant` (RemoteParticipant)
             - **"participant_disconnected"**: Called when a participant leaves the room.
                 - Arguments: `participant` (RemoteParticipant)
+            - **"participant_active"**: Called when a remote participant becomes active and is ready to receive data messages.
+                - Arguments: `participant` (RemoteParticipant)
             - **"local_track_published"**: Called when a local track is published.
                 - Arguments: `publication` (LocalTrackPublication), `track` (Track)
             - **"local_track_unpublished"**: Called when a local track is unpublished.
@@ -581,7 +584,7 @@ def unregister_text_stream_handler(self, topic: str):
             self._text_stream_handlers.pop(topic)
 
     async def disconnect(
-        self, *, reason: DisconnectReason = DisconnectReason.CLIENT_INITIATED
+        self, *, reason: DisconnectReason.ValueType = DisconnectReason.CLIENT_INITIATED
     ) -> None:
         """Disconnects from the room."""
         if not self.isconnected():
@@ -667,6 +670,11 @@ def _on_room_event(self, event: proto_room.RoomEvent):
             rparticipant = self._remote_participants.pop(identity)
             rparticipant._info.disconnect_reason = event.participant_disconnected.disconnect_reason
             self.emit("participant_disconnected", rparticipant)
+        elif which == "participant_active":
+            rp = self._retrieve_remote_participant(event.participant_active.participant_identity)
+            if rp:
+                rp._info.state = proto_participant.PARTICIPANT_STATE_ACTIVE
+                self.emit("participant_active", rp)
         elif which == "local_track_published":
             sid = event.local_track_published.track_sid
             lpublication = self.local_participant.track_publications[sid]