diff --git a/src/material/legacy-tabs/_tabs-theme.scss b/src/material/legacy-tabs/_tabs-theme.scss
index 1affedcc2c5d..0ae1ccbb4a0a 100644
--- a/src/material/legacy-tabs/_tabs-theme.scss
+++ b/src/material/legacy-tabs/_tabs-theme.scss
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
     @each $name, $color in $theme-colors {
       // Set the foreground color of the tabs
       &.mat-#{$name} {
-        @include _label-focus-color($color);
+        @include _label-focus-color($foreground, $color);
         @include _ink-bar-color($color);
 
         // Override ink bar when background color is the same
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
     @each $name, $color in $theme-colors {
       // Set background color of the tabs and override focus color
       &.mat-background-#{$name} {
-        @include _label-focus-color($color);
+        @include _label-focus-color($foreground, $color);
         @include _tabs-background($color);
       }
     }
@@ -88,13 +88,15 @@
   }
 }
 
-@mixin _label-focus-color($tab-focus-color) {
+@mixin _label-focus-color($foreground, $tab-focus-color) {
   .mat-tab-label,
   .mat-tab-link {
     &.cdk-keyboard-focused,
     &.cdk-program-focused {
-      &:not(.mat-tab-disabled) {
-        background-color: theming.get-color-from-palette($tab-focus-color, lighter, 0.3);
+      background-color: theming.get-color-from-palette($tab-focus-color, lighter, 0.3);
+
+      &.mat-tab-disabled {
+        background-color: theming.get-color-from-palette($foreground, disabled, 0.1);
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/material/legacy-tabs/tab-group.html b/src/material/legacy-tabs/tab-group.html
index c39e3528f2a0..edac901c068e 100644
--- a/src/material/legacy-tabs/tab-group.html
+++ b/src/material/legacy-tabs/tab-group.html
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
        cdkMonitorElementFocus
        *ngFor="let tab of _tabs; let i = index"
        [id]="_getTabLabelId(i)"
-       [attr.tabIndex]="_getTabIndex(tab, i)"
+       [attr.tabIndex]="_getTabIndex(i)"
        [attr.aria-posinset]="i + 1"
        [attr.aria-setsize]="_tabs.length"
        [attr.aria-controls]="_getTabContentId(i)"
diff --git a/src/material/legacy-tabs/tab-header.spec.ts b/src/material/legacy-tabs/tab-header.spec.ts
index 2afae8c5ef32..c5380f792952 100644
--- a/src/material/legacy-tabs/tab-header.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material/legacy-tabs/tab-header.spec.ts
@@ -74,35 +74,32 @@ describe('MatTabHeader', () => {
       expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(2);
     });
 
-    it('should not set focus a disabled tab', () => {
+    it('should be able to focus a disabled tab', () => {
       appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex = 0;
       fixture.detectChanges();
       expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(0);
 
-      // Set focus on the disabled tab, but focus should remain 0
       appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex = appComponent.disabledTabIndex;
       fixture.detectChanges();
-      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(0);
+      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(appComponent.disabledTabIndex);
     });
 
-    it('should move focus right and skip disabled tabs', () => {
+    it('should move focus right including over disabled tabs', () => {
       appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex = 0;
       fixture.detectChanges();
       expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(0);
 
-      // Move focus right, verify that the disabled tab is 1 and should be skipped
       expect(appComponent.disabledTabIndex).toBe(1);
       dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', RIGHT_ARROW);
       fixture.detectChanges();
-      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(2);
+      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(1);
 
-      // Move focus right to index 3
       dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', RIGHT_ARROW);
       fixture.detectChanges();
-      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(3);
+      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(2);
     });
 
-    it('should move focus left and skip disabled tabs', () => {
+    it('should move focus left including over disabled tabs', () => {
       appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex = 3;
       fixture.detectChanges();
       expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(3);
@@ -112,11 +109,10 @@ describe('MatTabHeader', () => {
       fixture.detectChanges();
       expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(2);
 
-      // Move focus left, verify that the disabled tab is 1 and should be skipped
       expect(appComponent.disabledTabIndex).toBe(1);
       dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', LEFT_ARROW);
       fixture.detectChanges();
-      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(0);
+      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(1);
     });
 
     it('should support key down events to move and select focus', () => {
@@ -124,19 +120,36 @@ describe('MatTabHeader', () => {
       fixture.detectChanges();
       expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(0);
 
+      // Move focus right to 1
+      dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', RIGHT_ARROW);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(1);
+
+      // Try to select 1. Should not work since it's disabled.
+      expect(appComponent.selectedIndex).toBe(0);
+      const firstEnterEvent = dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', ENTER);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      expect(appComponent.selectedIndex).toBe(0);
+      expect(firstEnterEvent.defaultPrevented).toBe(false);
+
       // Move focus right to 2
       dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', RIGHT_ARROW);
       fixture.detectChanges();
       expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(2);
 
-      // Select the focused index 2
+      // Select 2 which is enabled.
       expect(appComponent.selectedIndex).toBe(0);
-      const enterEvent = dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', ENTER);
+      const secondEnterEvent = dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', ENTER);
       fixture.detectChanges();
       expect(appComponent.selectedIndex).toBe(2);
-      expect(enterEvent.defaultPrevented).toBe(true);
+      expect(secondEnterEvent.defaultPrevented).toBe(true);
+
+      // Move focus left to 1
+      dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', LEFT_ARROW);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(1);
 
-      // Move focus right to 0
+      // Move again to 0
       dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', LEFT_ARROW);
       fixture.detectChanges();
       expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(0);
@@ -174,7 +187,7 @@ describe('MatTabHeader', () => {
       expect(event.defaultPrevented).toBe(true);
     });
 
-    it('should skip disabled items when moving focus using HOME', () => {
+    it('should focus disabled items when moving focus using HOME', () => {
       appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex = 3;
       appComponent.tabs[0].disabled = true;
       fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -183,8 +196,7 @@ describe('MatTabHeader', () => {
       dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', HOME);
       fixture.detectChanges();
 
-      // Note that the second tab is disabled by default already.
-      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(2);
+      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(0);
     });
 
     it('should move focus to the last tab when pressing END', () => {
@@ -199,7 +211,7 @@ describe('MatTabHeader', () => {
       expect(event.defaultPrevented).toBe(true);
     });
 
-    it('should skip disabled items when moving focus using END', () => {
+    it('should focus disabled items when moving focus using END', () => {
       appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex = 0;
       appComponent.tabs[3].disabled = true;
       fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -208,7 +220,7 @@ describe('MatTabHeader', () => {
       dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', END);
       fixture.detectChanges();
 
-      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(2);
+      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(3);
     });
 
     it('should not do anything if a modifier key is pressed', () => {
diff --git a/src/material/tabs/_tabs-theme.scss b/src/material/tabs/_tabs-theme.scss
index 4a88caa2da77..a03f3a73ceeb 100644
--- a/src/material/tabs/_tabs-theme.scss
+++ b/src/material/tabs/_tabs-theme.scss
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
   $primary: theming.get-color-from-palette(map.get($config, primary));
   $accent: theming.get-color-from-palette(map.get($config, accent));
   $warn: theming.get-color-from-palette(map.get($config, warn));
+  $foreground: map.get($config, foreground);
 
   @include mdc-helpers.using-mdc-theme($config) {
     .mat-mdc-tab, .mat-mdc-tab-link {
@@ -27,6 +28,13 @@
       // Disable for now for backwards compatibility. These styles are inside the theme in order
       // to avoid CSS specificity issues.
       background-color: transparent;
+
+      &.mat-mdc-tab-disabled {
+        .mdc-tab__ripple::before,
+        .mat-ripple-element {
+          background-color: theming.get-color-from-palette($foreground, disabled);
+        }
+      }
     }
 
     @include _palette-styles($primary);
diff --git a/src/material/tabs/paginated-tab-header.ts b/src/material/tabs/paginated-tab-header.ts
index 8e34cc0567e6..266190b47d82 100644
--- a/src/material/tabs/paginated-tab-header.ts
+++ b/src/material/tabs/paginated-tab-header.ts
@@ -215,7 +215,9 @@ export abstract class MatPaginatedTabHeader
     this._keyManager = new FocusKeyManager<MatPaginatedTabHeaderItem>(this._items)
       .withHorizontalOrientation(this._getLayoutDirection())
       .withHomeAndEnd()
-      .withWrap();
+      .withWrap()
+      // Allow focus to land on disabled tabs, as per https://w3c.github.io/aria-practices/#kbd_disabled_controls
+      .skipPredicate(() => false);
 
     this._keyManager.updateActiveItem(this._selectedIndex);
 
@@ -329,8 +331,12 @@ export abstract class MatPaginatedTabHeader
       case ENTER:
       case SPACE:
         if (this.focusIndex !== this.selectedIndex) {
-          this.selectFocusedIndex.emit(this.focusIndex);
-          this._itemSelected(event);
+          const item = this._items.get(this.focusIndex);
+
+          if (item && !item.disabled) {
+            this.selectFocusedIndex.emit(this.focusIndex);
+            this._itemSelected(event);
+          }
         }
         break;
       default:
@@ -392,12 +398,7 @@ export abstract class MatPaginatedTabHeader
    * providing a valid index and return true.
    */
   _isValidIndex(index: number): boolean {
-    if (!this._items) {
-      return true;
-    }
-
-    const tab = this._items ? this._items.toArray()[index] : null;
-    return !!tab && !tab.disabled;
+    return this._items ? !!this._items.toArray()[index] : true;
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/material/tabs/tab-group.html b/src/material/tabs/tab-group.html
index 157fe938c340..4a5a747fa6b9 100644
--- a/src/material/tabs/tab-group.html
+++ b/src/material/tabs/tab-group.html
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
        cdkMonitorElementFocus
        *ngFor="let tab of _tabs; let i = index"
        [id]="_getTabLabelId(i)"
-       [attr.tabIndex]="_getTabIndex(tab, i)"
+       [attr.tabIndex]="_getTabIndex(i)"
        [attr.aria-posinset]="i + 1"
        [attr.aria-setsize]="_tabs.length"
        [attr.aria-controls]="_getTabContentId(i)"
diff --git a/src/material/tabs/tab-group.scss b/src/material/tabs/tab-group.scss
index 01132d9e5da9..fe9667800a7e 100644
--- a/src/material/tabs/tab-group.scss
+++ b/src/material/tabs/tab-group.scss
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 // MDC doesn't support disabled tabs so we need to improvise.
 .mat-mdc-tab-disabled {
   opacity: 0.4;
-  pointer-events: none;
 }
 
 .mat-mdc-tab-group {
diff --git a/src/material/tabs/tab-group.ts b/src/material/tabs/tab-group.ts
index 110ab96401ff..04b2546cdfa4 100644
--- a/src/material/tabs/tab-group.ts
+++ b/src/material/tabs/tab-group.ts
@@ -477,16 +477,15 @@ export abstract class _MatTabGroupBase
 
   /** Handle click events, setting new selected index if appropriate. */
   _handleClick(tab: MatTab, tabHeader: MatTabGroupBaseHeader, index: number) {
+    tabHeader.focusIndex = index;
+
     if (!tab.disabled) {
-      this.selectedIndex = tabHeader.focusIndex = index;
+      this.selectedIndex = index;
     }
   }
 
   /** Retrieves the tabindex for the tab. */
-  _getTabIndex(tab: MatTab, index: number): number | null {
-    if (tab.disabled) {
-      return null;
-    }
+  _getTabIndex(index: number): number {
     const targetIndex = this._lastFocusedTabIndex ?? this.selectedIndex;
     return index === targetIndex ? 0 : -1;
   }
diff --git a/src/material/tabs/tab-header.spec.ts b/src/material/tabs/tab-header.spec.ts
index 99de304dabe4..e58f96bf9369 100644
--- a/src/material/tabs/tab-header.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material/tabs/tab-header.spec.ts
@@ -68,35 +68,32 @@ describe('MDC-based MatTabHeader', () => {
       expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(2);
     });
 
-    it('should not set focus a disabled tab', () => {
+    it('should be able to focus a disabled tab', () => {
       appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex = 0;
       fixture.detectChanges();
       expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(0);
 
-      // Set focus on the disabled tab, but focus should remain 0
       appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex = appComponent.disabledTabIndex;
       fixture.detectChanges();
-      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(0);
+      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(appComponent.disabledTabIndex);
     });
 
-    it('should move focus right and skip disabled tabs', () => {
+    it('should move focus right including over disabled tabs', () => {
       appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex = 0;
       fixture.detectChanges();
       expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(0);
 
-      // Move focus right, verify that the disabled tab is 1 and should be skipped
       expect(appComponent.disabledTabIndex).toBe(1);
       dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', RIGHT_ARROW);
       fixture.detectChanges();
-      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(2);
+      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(1);
 
-      // Move focus right to index 3
       dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', RIGHT_ARROW);
       fixture.detectChanges();
-      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(3);
+      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(2);
     });
 
-    it('should move focus left and skip disabled tabs', () => {
+    it('should move focus left including over disabled tabs', () => {
       appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex = 3;
       fixture.detectChanges();
       expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(3);
@@ -106,11 +103,10 @@ describe('MDC-based MatTabHeader', () => {
       fixture.detectChanges();
       expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(2);
 
-      // Move focus left, verify that the disabled tab is 1 and should be skipped
       expect(appComponent.disabledTabIndex).toBe(1);
       dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', LEFT_ARROW);
       fixture.detectChanges();
-      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(0);
+      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(1);
     });
 
     it('should support key down events to move and select focus', () => {
@@ -118,19 +114,36 @@ describe('MDC-based MatTabHeader', () => {
       fixture.detectChanges();
       expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(0);
 
+      // Move focus right to 1
+      dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', RIGHT_ARROW);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(1);
+
+      // Try to select 1. Should not work since it's disabled.
+      expect(appComponent.selectedIndex).toBe(0);
+      const firstEnterEvent = dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', ENTER);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      expect(appComponent.selectedIndex).toBe(0);
+      expect(firstEnterEvent.defaultPrevented).toBe(false);
+
       // Move focus right to 2
       dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', RIGHT_ARROW);
       fixture.detectChanges();
       expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(2);
 
-      // Select the focused index 2
+      // Select 2 which is enabled.
       expect(appComponent.selectedIndex).toBe(0);
-      const enterEvent = dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', ENTER);
+      const secondEnterEvent = dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', ENTER);
       fixture.detectChanges();
       expect(appComponent.selectedIndex).toBe(2);
-      expect(enterEvent.defaultPrevented).toBe(true);
+      expect(secondEnterEvent.defaultPrevented).toBe(true);
+
+      // Move focus left to 1
+      dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', LEFT_ARROW);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(1);
 
-      // Move focus right to 0
+      // Move again to 0
       dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', LEFT_ARROW);
       fixture.detectChanges();
       expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(0);
@@ -168,7 +181,7 @@ describe('MDC-based MatTabHeader', () => {
       expect(event.defaultPrevented).toBe(true);
     });
 
-    it('should skip disabled items when moving focus using HOME', () => {
+    it('should focus disabled items when moving focus using HOME', () => {
       appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex = 3;
       appComponent.tabs[0].disabled = true;
       fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -177,8 +190,7 @@ describe('MDC-based MatTabHeader', () => {
       dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', HOME);
       fixture.detectChanges();
 
-      // Note that the second tab is disabled by default already.
-      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(2);
+      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(0);
     });
 
     it('should move focus to the last tab when pressing END', () => {
@@ -193,7 +205,7 @@ describe('MDC-based MatTabHeader', () => {
       expect(event.defaultPrevented).toBe(true);
     });
 
-    it('should skip disabled items when moving focus using END', () => {
+    it('should focus disabled items when moving focus using END', () => {
       appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex = 0;
       appComponent.tabs[3].disabled = true;
       fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -202,7 +214,7 @@ describe('MDC-based MatTabHeader', () => {
       dispatchKeyboardEvent(tabListContainer, 'keydown', END);
       fixture.detectChanges();
 
-      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(2);
+      expect(appComponent.tabHeader.focusIndex).toBe(3);
     });
 
     it('should not do anything if a modifier key is pressed', () => {
diff --git a/tools/public_api_guard/material/tabs.md b/tools/public_api_guard/material/tabs.md
index 1c9c678cbf94..188db58f9afd 100644
--- a/tools/public_api_guard/material/tabs.md
+++ b/tools/public_api_guard/material/tabs.md
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ export abstract class _MatTabGroupBase extends _MatTabGroupMixinBase implements
     _focusChanged(index: number): void;
     focusTab(index: number): void;
     _getTabContentId(i: number): string;
-    _getTabIndex(tab: MatTab, index: number): number | null;
+    _getTabIndex(index: number): number;
     _getTabLabelId(i: number): string;
     _handleClick(tab: MatTab, tabHeader: MatTabGroupBaseHeader, index: number): void;
     headerPosition: MatTabHeaderPosition;