diff --git a/packages/widgets/src/tabbar.ts b/packages/widgets/src/tabbar.ts
index 3580e7157..323bd7f42 100644
--- a/packages/widgets/src/tabbar.ts
+++ b/packages/widgets/src/tabbar.ts
@@ -601,7 +601,9 @@ export class TabBar<T> extends Widget {
         this._evtDblClick(event as MouseEvent);
         break;
       case 'keydown':
-        this._evtKeyDown(event as KeyboardEvent);
+        event.eventPhase === Event.CAPTURING_PHASE
+          ? this._evtKeyDownCapturing(event as KeyboardEvent)
+          : this._evtKeyDown(event as KeyboardEvent);
         break;
       case 'contextmenu':
         event.preventDefault();
@@ -616,6 +618,7 @@ export class TabBar<T> extends Widget {
   protected onBeforeAttach(msg: Message): void {
     this.node.addEventListener('pointerdown', this);
     this.node.addEventListener('dblclick', this);
+    this.node.addEventListener('keydown', this);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -624,6 +627,7 @@ export class TabBar<T> extends Widget {
   protected onAfterDetach(msg: Message): void {
     this.node.removeEventListener('pointerdown', this);
     this.node.removeEventListener('dblclick', this);
+    this.node.removeEventListener('keydown', this);
     this._releaseMouse();
   }
 
@@ -708,9 +712,13 @@ export class TabBar<T> extends Widget {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Handle the `'keydown'` event for the tab bar.
+   * Handle the `'keydown'` event for the tab bar at capturing phase.
    */
-  private _evtKeyDown(event: KeyboardEvent): void {
+  private _evtKeyDownCapturing(event: KeyboardEvent): void {
+    if (event.eventPhase !== Event.CAPTURING_PHASE) {
+      return;
+    }
+
     // Stop all input events during drag.
     event.preventDefault();
     event.stopPropagation();
@@ -721,6 +729,45 @@ export class TabBar<T> extends Widget {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Handle the `'keydown'` event for the tab bar at target phase.
+   */
+  private _evtKeyDown(event: KeyboardEvent): void {
+    // Allow for navigation using tab key
+    if (event.key === 'Tab' || event.eventPhase === Event.CAPTURING_PHASE) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // Check if Enter or Spacebar key has been pressed and open that tab
+    if (
+      event.key === 'Enter' ||
+      event.key === 'Spacebar' ||
+      event.key === ' '
+    ) {
+      // Get focus element that is in focus by the tab key
+      const focusedElement = document.activeElement;
+
+      // Test first if the focus is on the add button node
+      if (
+        this.addButtonEnabled &&
+        this.addButtonNode.contains(focusedElement)
+      ) {
+        event.preventDefault();
+        event.stopPropagation();
+        this._addRequested.emit();
+      } else {
+        const index = ArrayExt.findFirstIndex(this.contentNode.children, tab =>
+          tab.contains(focusedElement)
+        );
+        if (index >= 0) {
+          event.preventDefault();
+          event.stopPropagation();
+          this.currentIndex = index;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Handle the `'pointerdown'` event for the tab bar.
    */
@@ -1863,6 +1910,7 @@ namespace Private {
 
     let add = document.createElement('div');
     add.className = 'lm-TabBar-addButton lm-mod-hidden';
+    add.setAttribute('tabindex', '0');
     node.appendChild(add);
     return node;
   }
diff --git a/packages/widgets/tests/src/tabbar.spec.ts b/packages/widgets/tests/src/tabbar.spec.ts
index 2d4c9d287..40bd3cea2 100644
--- a/packages/widgets/tests/src/tabbar.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/widgets/tests/src/tabbar.spec.ts
@@ -1522,6 +1522,76 @@ describe('@lumino/widgets', () => {
           simulateOnNode(tab, 'pointerdown');
           expect(bar.events.indexOf('pointermove')).to.equal(-1);
         });
+
+        it('should activate the focused title on Enter', () => {
+          // Focus 3rd tab
+          (bar.contentNode.children[2] as HTMLElement).focus();
+
+          bar.node.dispatchEvent(
+            new KeyboardEvent('keydown', {
+              key: 'Enter',
+              cancelable: true,
+              bubbles: true
+            })
+          );
+
+          expect(bar.currentIndex).to.equal(2);
+        });
+
+        it('should activate the focused title on Space', () => {
+          // Focus 2nd tab
+          (bar.contentNode.children[1] as HTMLElement).focus();
+
+          bar.node.dispatchEvent(
+            new KeyboardEvent('keydown', {
+              key: ' ',
+              cancelable: true,
+              bubbles: true
+            })
+          );
+
+          expect(bar.currentIndex).to.equal(1);
+        });
+
+        it('should add a tab when Enter is pressed with focus on add button', () => {
+          let addRequested = false;
+          bar.addButtonEnabled = true;
+          bar.addButtonNode.focus();
+
+          bar.addRequested.connect(() => {
+            addRequested = true;
+          });
+
+          bar.node.dispatchEvent(
+            new KeyboardEvent('keydown', {
+              key: 'Enter',
+              cancelable: true,
+              bubbles: true
+            })
+          );
+
+          expect(addRequested).to.be.true;
+        });
+
+        it('should add a tab when Space is pressed with focus on add button', () => {
+          let addRequested = false;
+          bar.addButtonEnabled = true;
+          bar.addButtonNode.focus();
+
+          bar.addRequested.connect(() => {
+            addRequested = true;
+          });
+
+          bar.node.dispatchEvent(
+            new KeyboardEvent('keydown', {
+              key: ' ',
+              cancelable: true,
+              bubbles: true
+            })
+          );
+
+          expect(addRequested).to.be.true;
+        });
       });
 
       context('contextmenu', () => {