diff --git a/packages/components/app-switcher/__screenshots__/01-pressed-dark.png b/packages/components/app-switcher/__screenshots__/01-pressed-dark.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1a0fb8c158
Binary files /dev/null and b/packages/components/app-switcher/__screenshots__/01-pressed-dark.png differ
diff --git a/packages/components/app-switcher/__screenshots__/01-pressed-light.png b/packages/components/app-switcher/__screenshots__/01-pressed-light.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c9a6f553ac
Binary files /dev/null and b/packages/components/app-switcher/__screenshots__/01-pressed-light.png differ
diff --git a/packages/components/app-switcher/app-switcher-dropdown-app.scss b/packages/components/app-switcher/app-switcher-dropdown-app.scss
index 65d113fda8..07e4354c4d 100644
--- a/packages/components/app-switcher/app-switcher-dropdown-app.scss
+++ b/packages/components/app-switcher/app-switcher-dropdown-app.scss
@@ -60,7 +60,12 @@
 
         &.kbq-dropdown-item_highlighted,
         &:hover {
-            background: var(--kbq-states-background-transparent-active);
+            background: var(--kbq-list-states-hover-container-background);
+        }
+
+        &:active,
+        &.kbq-active {
+            background: var(--kbq-list-states-active-container-background);
         }
 
         &.cdk-keyboard-focused {
diff --git a/packages/components/app-switcher/app-switcher-dropdown-site.scss b/packages/components/app-switcher/app-switcher-dropdown-site.scss
index fa4b5a1f7e..2052125621 100644
--- a/packages/components/app-switcher/app-switcher-dropdown-site.scss
+++ b/packages/components/app-switcher/app-switcher-dropdown-site.scss
@@ -34,7 +34,12 @@
 
         &.kbq-dropdown-item_highlighted,
         &:hover {
-            background: var(--kbq-states-background-transparent-active);
+            background: var(--kbq-list-states-hover-container-background);
+        }
+
+        &:active,
+        &.kbq-active {
+            background: var(--kbq-list-states-active-container-background);
         }
 
         &.cdk-keyboard-focused {
diff --git a/packages/components/app-switcher/e2e.playwright-spec.ts b/packages/components/app-switcher/e2e.playwright-spec.ts
index 461a2a4af5..dbd4de3093 100644
--- a/packages/components/app-switcher/e2e.playwright-spec.ts
+++ b/packages/components/app-switcher/e2e.playwright-spec.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,23 @@ test.describe('KbqAppSwitcherModule', () => {
             await e2eEnableDarkTheme(page);
             await expect(getScreenshotTarget(locator)).toHaveScreenshot('01-dark.png');
         });
+
+        test('pressed', async ({ page }) => {
+            await page.goto('/E2eAppSwitcherStates');
+            const locator = getComponent(page);
+            const items = page.locator('.kbq-app-switcher-list-item');
+
+            await items.first().waitFor();
+            // App rows are generated from data, so the pressed class is applied from the spec rather than the
+            // fixture template (select/dropdown/tree fake `.kbq-active`/`.kbq-pressed` inline instead).
+            // `.kbq-app-switcher-list-item` has no `.kbq-active` host binding, so the injected class survives.
+            await items.nth(0).evaluate((el) => el.classList.add('kbq-active')); // selected + pressed
+            await items.nth(1).evaluate((el) => el.classList.add('kbq-active')); // pressed
+
+            await expect(getScreenshotTarget(locator)).toHaveScreenshot('01-pressed-light.png');
+            await e2eEnableDarkTheme(page);
+            await expect(getScreenshotTarget(locator)).toHaveScreenshot('01-pressed-dark.png');
+        });
     });
 
     test.describe('E2eAppSwitcherWithSitesStates', () => {
diff --git a/packages/components/app-switcher/kbq-app-switcher-list-item.scss b/packages/components/app-switcher/kbq-app-switcher-list-item.scss
index 65f4f1d7a4..47fe02c0d5 100644
--- a/packages/components/app-switcher/kbq-app-switcher-list-item.scss
+++ b/packages/components/app-switcher/kbq-app-switcher-list-item.scss
@@ -130,29 +130,29 @@
 
         &:hover,
         &.kbq-hover {
-            background: var(--kbq-states-background-transparent-hover);
+            background: var(--kbq-list-states-hover-container-background);
 
             & .kbq-app-switcher-list-item__toggle {
-                background: var(--kbq-states-background-transparent-hover);
+                background: var(--kbq-list-states-hover-container-background);
             }
         }
 
         &:active,
         &.kbq-active {
-            background: var(--kbq-states-background-transparent-active);
+            background: var(--kbq-list-states-active-container-background);
         }
 
         &.kbq-selected {
-            background: var(--kbq-background-theme-less);
+            background: var(--kbq-list-states-selected-container-background);
 
             &:hover,
             &.kbq-hover {
-                background: var(--kbq-states-background-theme-less-hover);
+                background: var(--kbq-list-states-selected-hover-container-background);
             }
 
             &:active,
             &.kbq-active {
-                background: var(--kbq-states-background-theme-less-active);
+                background: var(--kbq-list-states-selected-active-container-background);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/packages/components/core/option/_option-theme.scss b/packages/components/core/option/_option-theme.scss
index ba3b6c137c..1306ed7f80 100644
--- a/packages/components/core/option/_option-theme.scss
+++ b/packages/components/core/option/_option-theme.scss
@@ -24,12 +24,23 @@
             @include kbq-option(states-hover);
         }
 
+        &:active:not(.kbq-disabled),
+        &.kbq-pressed:not(.kbq-disabled) {
+            // the active state defines only a background token; the mixin would emit undefined text/icon/caption color vars
+            background: var(--kbq-list-states-active-container-background);
+        }
+
         &.kbq-selected:not(.kbq-disabled) {
             @include kbq-option(states-selected);
 
             &.kbq-active {
                 @include kbq-option(states-selected-hover);
             }
+
+            &:active,
+            &.kbq-pressed {
+                background: var(--kbq-list-states-selected-active-container-background);
+            }
         }
 
         &.kbq-disabled {
@@ -54,6 +65,11 @@
             &.kbq-active {
                 @include kbq-option(multiple-states-selected-hover);
             }
+
+            &:active,
+            &.kbq-pressed {
+                background: var(--kbq-list-multiple-states-selected-active-container-background);
+            }
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/packages/components/dropdown/__screenshots__/01-dark.png b/packages/components/dropdown/__screenshots__/01-dark.png
index e117b9baf4..1b8d1fbc96 100644
Binary files a/packages/components/dropdown/__screenshots__/01-dark.png and b/packages/components/dropdown/__screenshots__/01-dark.png differ
diff --git a/packages/components/dropdown/__screenshots__/01-light.png b/packages/components/dropdown/__screenshots__/01-light.png
index 522270eff3..5477376f22 100644
Binary files a/packages/components/dropdown/__screenshots__/01-light.png and b/packages/components/dropdown/__screenshots__/01-light.png differ
diff --git a/packages/components/dropdown/_dropdown-theme.scss b/packages/components/dropdown/_dropdown-theme.scss
index bfdcfb944e..ea060c0d86 100644
--- a/packages/components/dropdown/_dropdown-theme.scss
+++ b/packages/components/dropdown/_dropdown-theme.scss
@@ -27,12 +27,23 @@
             @include _kbq-dropdown-item-state(states-hover);
         }
 
+        &:active:not(.kbq-disabled),
+        &.kbq-active:not(.kbq-disabled) {
+            // the active state defines only a background token; the mixin would emit undefined text/icon color vars
+            background: var(--kbq-list-states-active-container-background);
+        }
+
         &.kbq-selected {
             @include _kbq-dropdown-item-state(states-selected);
 
             &.cdk-focused:not(.kbq-disabled) {
                 @include _kbq-dropdown-item-state(states-selected-hover);
             }
+
+            &:active:not(.kbq-disabled),
+            &.kbq-active:not(.kbq-disabled) {
+                background: var(--kbq-list-states-selected-active-container-background);
+            }
         }
 
         &.kbq-disabled {
diff --git a/packages/components/dropdown/e2e.ts b/packages/components/dropdown/e2e.ts
index 2a16041497..1fa88214d7 100644
--- a/packages/components/dropdown/e2e.ts
+++ b/packages/components/dropdown/e2e.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ import { KbqDropdownModule } from './dropdown.module';
         <kbq-dropdown #dropdown="kbqDropdown">
             <button kbq-dropdown-item>Item</button>
 
+            <button kbq-dropdown-item class="kbq-active">Pressed item</button>
+
+            <button kbq-dropdown-item class="kbq-active kbq-selected">Selected pressed item</button>
+
             <button kbq-dropdown-item>
                 <i kbq-icon="kbq-bug_16" [color]="'contrast'"></i>
                 Item with icon
diff --git a/packages/components/list/__screenshots__/01-dark.png b/packages/components/list/__screenshots__/01-dark.png
index c3dbea16f3..b96b914623 100644
Binary files a/packages/components/list/__screenshots__/01-dark.png and b/packages/components/list/__screenshots__/01-dark.png differ
diff --git a/packages/components/list/_list-theme.scss b/packages/components/list/_list-theme.scss
index 4541d07562..e694d7e26a 100644
--- a/packages/components/list/_list-theme.scss
+++ b/packages/components/list/_list-theme.scss
@@ -34,7 +34,10 @@
 
         &.kbq-active:not(.kbq-disabled),
         &:active:not(.kbq-disabled) {
-            @include _kbq-list-item(states-active);
+            // the active state defines only a background token; the mixin would emit undefined text/icon/caption color vars
+            --kbq-option-background: var(--kbq-list-states-active-container-background);
+
+            background: var(--kbq-list-states-active-container-background);
         }
 
         &.kbq-selected:not(.kbq-disabled) {
@@ -47,7 +50,9 @@
 
             &.kbq-active,
             &:active {
-                @include _kbq-list-item(states-selected-active);
+                --kbq-option-background: var(--kbq-list-states-selected-active-container-background);
+
+                background: var(--kbq-list-states-selected-active-container-background);
             }
         }
 
@@ -67,7 +72,9 @@
 
             &.kbq-active,
             &:active {
-                @include _kbq-list-item(multiple-states-selected-active);
+                --kbq-option-background: var(--kbq-list-multiple-states-selected-active-container-background);
+
+                background: var(--kbq-list-multiple-states-selected-active-container-background);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/01-dark.png b/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/01-dark.png
index da3bd70ff6..791b23ca1f 100644
Binary files a/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/01-dark.png and b/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/01-dark.png differ
diff --git a/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/01-light.png b/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/01-light.png
index 16e807cc1f..9866ee9453 100644
Binary files a/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/01-light.png and b/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/01-light.png differ
diff --git a/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/02-dark.png b/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/02-dark.png
index 86ecfc7d1a..bcae05daa0 100644
Binary files a/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/02-dark.png and b/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/02-dark.png differ
diff --git a/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/02-light.png b/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/02-light.png
index c13f0ebdeb..7946cb0194 100644
Binary files a/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/02-light.png and b/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/02-light.png differ
diff --git a/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/03-dark.png b/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/03-dark.png
index a802341cc2..9294f337f2 100644
Binary files a/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/03-dark.png and b/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/03-dark.png differ
diff --git a/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/03-light.png b/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/03-light.png
index 08af4a3976..fecc37ec12 100644
Binary files a/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/03-light.png and b/packages/components/select/__screenshots__/03-light.png differ
diff --git a/packages/components/select/e2e.ts b/packages/components/select/e2e.ts
index 49f06de831..6bbde4df2c 100644
--- a/packages/components/select/e2e.ts
+++ b/packages/components/select/e2e.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import { KbqSelectModule } from './select.module';
                     <kbq-option [value]="'default'">default</kbq-option>
                     <kbq-option [value]="'selected'">selected</kbq-option>
                     <kbq-option class="kbq-active" [value]="'focused'">focused</kbq-option>
+                    <kbq-option class="kbq-pressed" [value]="'pressed'">pressed</kbq-option>
                     <kbq-option [disabled]="true" [value]="'disabled'">disabled</kbq-option>
                 </kbq-optgroup>
             </kbq-select>
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@ export class E2eSelectStates {}
                     <kbq-option [value]="'default1'">default1 long name long name long name</kbq-option>
                     <kbq-option [value]="'selected'">selected</kbq-option>
                     <kbq-option class="kbq-active" [value]="'focused'">focused</kbq-option>
+                    <kbq-option class="kbq-pressed" [value]="'pressed'">pressed</kbq-option>
                     <kbq-option [disabled]="true" [value]="'disabled'">disabled</kbq-option>
                 </kbq-optgroup>
             </kbq-select>
@@ -74,7 +76,7 @@ export class E2eSelectStates {}
             flex-direction: row;
 
             width: 350px;
-            height: 350px;
+            height: 420px;
             gap: 16px;
             padding: 8px;
         }
@@ -105,6 +107,7 @@ export class E2eMultiSelectStates {}
                     <kbq-option [value]="'default1'">default1 long name long name long name</kbq-option>
                     <kbq-option [value]="'selected'">selected</kbq-option>
                     <kbq-option class="kbq-active" [value]="'focused'">focused</kbq-option>
+                    <kbq-option class="kbq-pressed" [value]="'pressed'">pressed</kbq-option>
                     <kbq-option [disabled]="true" [value]="'disabled'">disabled</kbq-option>
                 </kbq-optgroup>
             </kbq-select>
@@ -116,7 +119,7 @@ export class E2eMultiSelectStates {}
             flex-direction: row;
 
             width: 350px;
-            height: 360px;
+            height: 410px;
             gap: 16px;
             padding: 8px;
         }
diff --git a/packages/components/tree-select/__screenshots__/01-pressed-dark.png b/packages/components/tree-select/__screenshots__/01-pressed-dark.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f50ccc94c3
Binary files /dev/null and b/packages/components/tree-select/__screenshots__/01-pressed-dark.png differ
diff --git a/packages/components/tree-select/__screenshots__/01-pressed-light.png b/packages/components/tree-select/__screenshots__/01-pressed-light.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..43ba9c3d4d
Binary files /dev/null and b/packages/components/tree-select/__screenshots__/01-pressed-light.png differ
diff --git a/packages/components/tree-select/__screenshots__/02-pressed-dark.png b/packages/components/tree-select/__screenshots__/02-pressed-dark.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..25ddf69a0f
Binary files /dev/null and b/packages/components/tree-select/__screenshots__/02-pressed-dark.png differ
diff --git a/packages/components/tree-select/__screenshots__/02-pressed-light.png b/packages/components/tree-select/__screenshots__/02-pressed-light.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..22e68d1911
Binary files /dev/null and b/packages/components/tree-select/__screenshots__/02-pressed-light.png differ
diff --git a/packages/components/tree-select/_tree-select-theme.scss b/packages/components/tree-select/_tree-select-theme.scss
index d39354da66..3e5d03aeb8 100644
--- a/packages/components/tree-select/_tree-select-theme.scss
+++ b/packages/components/tree-select/_tree-select-theme.scss
@@ -45,6 +45,14 @@
                 @include tree-theme.kbq-tree-option(states-hover);
             }
 
+            // `:not(.kbq-disabled)` raises specificity so pressed wins over the heavier `:hover:not(.kbq-focused)` rule
+            &:active:not(.kbq-disabled),
+            &.kbq-active:not(.kbq-disabled) {
+                --kbq-option-background: var(--kbq-tree-states-active-container-background);
+
+                background: var(--kbq-tree-states-active-container-background);
+            }
+
             &.kbq-selected {
                 &:hover:not(.kbq-focused),
                 &.kbq-hovered:not(.kbq-focused) {
@@ -54,6 +62,13 @@
                 &.kbq-focused {
                     @include tree-theme.kbq-tree-option(states-selected-hover);
                 }
+
+                &:active:not(.kbq-disabled),
+                &.kbq-active:not(.kbq-disabled) {
+                    --kbq-option-background: var(--kbq-tree-states-selected-active-container-background);
+
+                    background: var(--kbq-tree-states-selected-active-container-background);
+                }
             }
 
             &.kbq-checked:not(.kbq-selected),
@@ -66,6 +81,13 @@
                 &.kbq-focused {
                     background: var(--kbq-tree-multiple-states-selected-hover-container-background);
                 }
+
+                &:active:not(.kbq-disabled),
+                &.kbq-active:not(.kbq-disabled) {
+                    --kbq-option-background: var(--kbq-tree-multiple-states-selected-active-container-background);
+
+                    background: var(--kbq-tree-multiple-states-selected-active-container-background);
+                }
             }
 
             &.kbq-focused:not(.kbq-action-button-focused) {
diff --git a/packages/components/tree-select/e2e.playwright-spec.ts b/packages/components/tree-select/e2e.playwright-spec.ts
index 205c52c130..8e8842e0f9 100644
--- a/packages/components/tree-select/e2e.playwright-spec.ts
+++ b/packages/components/tree-select/e2e.playwright-spec.ts
@@ -91,6 +91,26 @@ test.describe('KbqTreeSelectModule', () => {
             await e2eEnableDarkTheme(page);
             await expect(getComponent(page)).toHaveScreenshot('01-dark.png');
         });
+
+        test('pressed', async ({ page }) => {
+            await page.goto('/E2eTreeSelectStates');
+            const screenshotTarget = getComponent(page);
+            const select = getTreeSelect(screenshotTarget);
+
+            await select.click();
+
+            // Options are data-driven, so the pressed class is applied from the spec. Tree options only bind
+            // `.kbq-focused`/`.kbq-selected` (never `.kbq-active`), so the injected class is not stripped.
+            const options = page.locator('.cdk-overlay-pane kbq-tree-option');
+
+            await options.first().waitFor();
+            await options.nth(0).evaluate((el) => el.classList.add('kbq-active')); // selected + pressed
+            await options.nth(1).evaluate((el) => el.classList.add('kbq-active')); // pressed
+
+            await expect(getComponent(page)).toHaveScreenshot('01-pressed-light.png');
+            await e2eEnableDarkTheme(page);
+            await expect(getComponent(page)).toHaveScreenshot('01-pressed-dark.png');
+        });
     });
 
     test.describe('E2eMultiTreeSelectStates', () => {
@@ -109,6 +129,27 @@ test.describe('KbqTreeSelectModule', () => {
             await e2eEnableDarkTheme(page);
             await expect(getComponent(page)).toHaveScreenshot('02-dark.png');
         });
+
+        test('pressed', async ({ page }) => {
+            await page.goto('/E2eMultiTreeSelectStates');
+            const screenshotTarget = getComponent(page);
+            const select = getTreeSelect(screenshotTarget);
+
+            await select.focus();
+            await page.keyboard.press('Enter');
+
+            // Options are data-driven, so the pressed class is applied from the spec. Tree options only bind
+            // `.kbq-focused`/`.kbq-selected` (never `.kbq-active`), so the injected class is not stripped.
+            const options = page.locator('.cdk-overlay-pane kbq-tree-option');
+
+            await options.first().waitFor();
+            await options.nth(0).evaluate((el) => el.classList.add('kbq-active')); // multiple selected + pressed
+            await options.nth(1).evaluate((el) => el.classList.add('kbq-active')); // pressed
+
+            await expect(getComponent(page)).toHaveScreenshot('02-pressed-light.png');
+            await e2eEnableDarkTheme(page);
+            await expect(getComponent(page)).toHaveScreenshot('02-pressed-dark.png');
+        });
     });
 
     test.describe('E2eMultilineTreeSelectStates', () => {
diff --git a/packages/components/tree/__screenshots__/01-dark.png b/packages/components/tree/__screenshots__/01-dark.png
index d5d83f6a01..6cb42ad231 100644
Binary files a/packages/components/tree/__screenshots__/01-dark.png and b/packages/components/tree/__screenshots__/01-dark.png differ
diff --git a/packages/components/tree/__screenshots__/01-light.png b/packages/components/tree/__screenshots__/01-light.png
index e450645a7a..c5d98895fb 100644
Binary files a/packages/components/tree/__screenshots__/01-light.png and b/packages/components/tree/__screenshots__/01-light.png differ
diff --git a/packages/components/tree/_tree-theme.scss b/packages/components/tree/_tree-theme.scss
index bb6a14f018..c638bad029 100644
--- a/packages/components/tree/_tree-theme.scss
+++ b/packages/components/tree/_tree-theme.scss
@@ -37,6 +37,13 @@
                 @include kbq-tree-option(states-hover);
             }
 
+            &:active,
+            &.kbq-active {
+                --kbq-option-background: var(--kbq-tree-states-active-container-background);
+
+                background: var(--kbq-tree-states-active-container-background);
+            }
+
             &.kbq-selected {
                 @include kbq-tree-option(states-selected);
 
@@ -44,6 +51,13 @@
                 &.kbq-hovered {
                     @include kbq-tree-option(states-selected-hover);
                 }
+
+                &:active,
+                &.kbq-active {
+                    --kbq-option-background: var(--kbq-tree-states-selected-active-container-background);
+
+                    background: var(--kbq-tree-states-selected-active-container-background);
+                }
             }
 
             &.kbq-checked:not(.kbq-selected),
@@ -58,6 +72,13 @@
 
                     background: var(--kbq-tree-multiple-states-selected-hover-container-background);
                 }
+
+                &:active,
+                &.kbq-active {
+                    --kbq-option-background: var(--kbq-tree-multiple-states-selected-active-container-background);
+
+                    background: var(--kbq-tree-multiple-states-selected-active-container-background);
+                }
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/packages/components/tree/e2e.ts b/packages/components/tree/e2e.ts
index f3931ce593..53e24843e0 100644
--- a/packages/components/tree/e2e.ts
+++ b/packages/components/tree/e2e.ts
@@ -31,8 +31,10 @@ const DATA_OBJECT = {
     States: {
         Normal: '',
         Hovered: '',
+        Active: '',
         Selected: '',
         SelectedHovered: '',
+        SelectedActive: '',
         Focused: '',
         Disabled: ''
     },
@@ -98,7 +100,10 @@ function buildFileTree(value: any, level: number): FileNode[] {
                 *kbqTreeNodeDef="let node"
                 kbqTreeNodePadding
                 [class.kbq-hovered]="node.name === 'Hovered' || node.name === 'SelectedHovered'"
-                [class.kbq-selected]="node.name === 'Selected' || node.name === 'SelectedHovered'"
+                [class.kbq-active]="node.name === 'Active' || node.name === 'SelectedActive'"
+                [class.kbq-selected]="
+                    node.name === 'Selected' || node.name === 'SelectedHovered' || node.name === 'SelectedActive'
+                "
                 [class.kbq-focused]="node.name === 'Focused'"
             >
                 <span [innerHTML]="treeControl.getViewValue(node)"></span>
@@ -129,7 +134,10 @@ function buildFileTree(value: any, level: number): FileNode[] {
                 *kbqTreeNodeDef="let node"
                 kbqTreeNodePadding
                 [class.kbq-hovered]="node.name === 'Hovered' || node.name === 'SelectedHovered'"
-                [class.kbq-selected]="node.name === 'Selected' || node.name === 'SelectedHovered'"
+                [class.kbq-active]="node.name === 'Active' || node.name === 'SelectedActive'"
+                [class.kbq-selected]="
+                    node.name === 'Selected' || node.name === 'SelectedHovered' || node.name === 'SelectedActive'
+                "
                 [class.kbq-focused]="node.name === 'Focused'"
             >
                 <span [innerHTML]="treeControl.getViewValue(node)"></span>