diff --git a/packages/core/src/browser/core-preferences.ts b/packages/core/src/browser/core-preferences.ts
index 526e94eba4292..6628a928e8905 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/browser/core-preferences.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/browser/core-preferences.ts
@@ -80,6 +80,11 @@ export const corePreferenceSchema: PreferenceSchema = {
             default: 'code',
             markdownDescription: nls.localizeByDefault('Controls the dispatching logic for key presses to use either `code` (recommended) or `keyCode`.')
         },
+        'window.tabbar.enhancedPreview': {
+            type: 'boolean',
+            default: false,
+            description: nls.localize('theia/core/enhancedPreview', 'Controls whether more information about the tab should be displayed in horizontal tab bars.')
+        },
         'window.menuBarVisibility': {
             type: 'string',
             enum: ['classic', 'visible', 'hidden', 'compact'],
@@ -258,6 +263,7 @@ export interface CoreConfiguration {
     'breadcrumbs.enabled': boolean;
     'files.encoding': string;
     'keyboard.dispatch': 'code' | 'keyCode';
+    'window.tabbar.enhancedPreview': boolean;
     'window.menuBarVisibility': 'classic' | 'visible' | 'hidden' | 'compact';
     'window.title': string;
     'window.titleSeparator': string;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/browser/hover-service.ts b/packages/core/src/browser/hover-service.ts
index 1747dfeadd11f..789a506d4b277 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/browser/hover-service.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/browser/hover-service.ts
@@ -57,6 +57,11 @@ export interface HoverRequest {
      * if the specified content does not fit in the window next to the target element
      */
     position: HoverPosition
+    /**
+     * Additional css classes that should be added to the hover box.
+     * Used to style certain boxes different e.g. for the extended tab preview.
+     */
+    cssClasses?: string []
 }
 
 @injectable()
@@ -101,7 +106,10 @@ export class HoverService {
 
     protected async renderHover(request: HoverRequest): Promise<void> {
         const host = this.hoverHost;
-        const { target, content, position } = request;
+        const { target, content, position, cssClasses } = request;
+        if (cssClasses) {
+            host.classList.add(...cssClasses);
+        }
         this.hoverTarget = target;
         if (content instanceof HTMLElement) {
             host.appendChild(content);
@@ -124,6 +132,9 @@ export class HoverService {
             dispose: () => {
                 this.lastHidHover = Date.now();
                 host.classList.remove(updatedPosition);
+                if (cssClasses) {
+                    host.classList.remove(...cssClasses);
+                }
             }
         });
 
diff --git a/packages/core/src/browser/shell/application-shell.ts b/packages/core/src/browser/shell/application-shell.ts
index 4139e23a842d7..5f33b65657ad2 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/browser/shell/application-shell.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/browser/shell/application-shell.ts
@@ -286,6 +286,14 @@ export class ApplicationShell extends Widget {
                 }
             });
         }
+
+        this.corePreferences.onPreferenceChanged(preference => {
+            if (preference.preferenceName === 'window.tabbar.enhancedPreview') {
+                this.allTabBars.forEach(tabBar => {
+                    tabBar.update();
+                });
+            }
+        });
     }
 
     protected initializeShell(): void {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/browser/shell/tab-bars.ts b/packages/core/src/browser/shell/tab-bars.ts
index 6c5695584c6b2..812b091374640 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/browser/shell/tab-bars.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/browser/shell/tab-bars.ts
@@ -161,9 +161,7 @@ export class TabBarRenderer extends TabBar.Renderer {
             ? nls.localizeByDefault('Unpin')
             : nls.localizeByDefault('Close');
 
-        const hover = this.tabBar && this.tabBar.orientation === 'horizontal' ? {
-            title: title.caption
-        } : {
+        const hover = this.tabBar && (this.tabBar.orientation === 'horizontal' && !this.corePreferences?.['window.tabbar.enhancedPreview']) ? { title: title.caption } : {
             onmouseenter: this.handleMouseEnterEvent
         };
 
@@ -484,16 +482,41 @@ export class TabBarRenderer extends TabBar.Renderer {
         return h.div({ className: baseClassName, style }, data.title.iconLabel);
     }
 
+    protected renderEnhancedPreview = (title: Title<Widget>) => {
+        const hoverBox = document.createElement('div');
+        hoverBox.classList.add('theia-horizontal-tabBar-hover-div');
+        const labelElement = document.createElement('p');
+        labelElement.classList.add('theia-horizontal-tabBar-hover-title');
+        labelElement.textContent = title.label;
+        hoverBox.append(labelElement);
+        if (title.caption) {
+            const captionElement = document.createElement('p');
+            captionElement.classList.add('theia-horizontal-tabBar-hover-caption');
+            captionElement.textContent = title.caption;
+            hoverBox.appendChild(captionElement);
+        }
+        return hoverBox;
+    };
+
     protected handleMouseEnterEvent = (event: MouseEvent) => {
         if (this.tabBar && this.hoverService && event.currentTarget instanceof HTMLElement) {
             const id = event.currentTarget.id;
             const title = this.tabBar.titles.find(t => this.createTabId(t) === id);
             if (title) {
-                this.hoverService.requestHover({
-                    content: title.caption,
-                    target: event.currentTarget,
-                    position: 'right'
-                });
+                if (this.tabBar.orientation === 'horizontal') {
+                    this.hoverService.requestHover({
+                        content: this.renderEnhancedPreview(title),
+                        target: event.currentTarget,
+                        position: 'bottom',
+                        cssClasses: ['extended-tab-preview']
+                    });
+                } else {
+                    this.hoverService.requestHover({
+                        content: title.caption,
+                        target: event.currentTarget,
+                        position: 'right'
+                    });
+                }
             }
         }
     };
diff --git a/packages/core/src/browser/style/hover-service.css b/packages/core/src/browser/style/hover-service.css
index 8ed6a774418e5..86ba955b654b0 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/browser/style/hover-service.css
+++ b/packages/core/src/browser/style/hover-service.css
@@ -93,3 +93,7 @@
     border-top: 5px solid transparent;
     border-bottom: 5px solid transparent;
 }
+
+.theia-hover.extended-tab-preview {
+    border-radius: 10px;
+}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/browser/style/tabs.css b/packages/core/src/browser/style/tabs.css
index deb4d36a61cc0..05569f1cd786b 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/browser/style/tabs.css
+++ b/packages/core/src/browser/style/tabs.css
@@ -419,3 +419,19 @@
 .p-TabBar[data-orientation='horizontal'] .p-TabBar-tab.p-mod-current .theia-tab-icon-label {
   overflow: hidden;
 }
+
+.theia-horizontal-tabBar-hover-div {
+  margin: 0px 4px;
+}
+
+.theia-horizontal-tabBar-hover-title {
+  font-weight: bolder;
+  font-size: medium;
+  margin: 0px 0px;
+}
+
+.theia-horizontal-tabBar-hover-caption {
+  font-size: small;
+  margin: 0px 0px;
+  margin-top: 4px;
+}