diff --git a/packages/python/plotly/plotly/express/_core.py b/packages/python/plotly/plotly/express/_core.py
index 3e01f445c2..1c44041f5d 100644
--- a/packages/python/plotly/plotly/express/_core.py
+++ b/packages/python/plotly/plotly/express/_core.py
@@ -374,17 +374,26 @@ def configure_cartesian_marginal_axes(args, fig, orders):
         set_cartesian_axis_opts(args, xaxis, "x", orders)
 
     # Configure axis ticks on marginal subplots
+    # Don't change the marginal grid settings if the template already specifies `showgrid`
+    if (
+        args["template"].layout.xaxis.showgrid is None
+        or args["template"].layout.yaxis.showgrid is None
+    ):
+        grid_set = False
+    else:
+        grid_set = True
+
     if args["marginal_x"]:
-        fig.update_yaxes(
-            showticklabels=False, showgrid=args["marginal_x"] == "histogram", row=nrows
-        )
-        fig.update_xaxes(showgrid=True, row=nrows)
+        fig.update_yaxes(showticklabels=False, showline=False, ticks="", row=nrows)
+        if not grid_set:
+            fig.update_yaxes(showgrid=args["marginal_x"] == "histogram", row=nrows)
+            fig.update_xaxes(showgrid=True, row=nrows)
 
     if args["marginal_y"]:
-        fig.update_xaxes(
-            showticklabels=False, showgrid=args["marginal_y"] == "histogram", col=ncols
-        )
-        fig.update_yaxes(showgrid=True, col=ncols)
+        fig.update_xaxes(showticklabels=False, showline=False, ticks="", col=ncols)
+        if not grid_set:
+            fig.update_xaxes(showgrid=args["marginal_y"] == "histogram", col=ncols)
+            fig.update_yaxes(showgrid=True, col=ncols)
 
     # Add axis titles to non-marginal subplots
     y_title = get_decorated_label(args, args["y"], "y")