diff --git a/src/frontend/panda.config.ts b/src/frontend/panda.config.ts
index 2ab3e8b0..c98804ac 100644
--- a/src/frontend/panda.config.ts
+++ b/src/frontend/panda.config.ts
@@ -278,6 +278,7 @@ const config: Config = {
         'room-side-panel': { value: '360px' },
         'room-side-panel-margin': { value: '1.5rem' },
         'room-control-bar': { value: '80px' },
+        'room-reaction-toolbar-height': { value: '42px' },
       },
       spacing,
     }),
diff --git a/src/frontend/src/features/layout/components/RoomContentArea.tsx b/src/frontend/src/features/layout/components/RoomContentArea.tsx
index bf3f2eff..7ff699e9 100644
--- a/src/frontend/src/features/layout/components/RoomContentArea.tsx
+++ b/src/frontend/src/features/layout/components/RoomContentArea.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { useSubtitles } from '@/features/subtitle/hooks/useSubtitles'
 import { useSidePanel } from '@/features/rooms/livekit/hooks/useSidePanel'
 import { Subtitles } from '@/features/subtitle/component/Subtitles'
 import { MainNotificationToast } from '@/features/notifications/MainNotificationToast'
+import { useReactionsToolbar } from '@/features/reactions/hooks/useReactionsToolbar'
 
 const RoomViewport = styled(
   'div',
@@ -14,15 +15,25 @@ const RoomViewport = styled(
     base: {
       position: 'absolute',
       maxHeight: '100%',
-      transition: 'inset .5s cubic-bezier(0.4,0,0.2,1) 5ms',
+      transition:
+        'inset .5s cubic-bezier(0.4,0,0.2,1) 5ms, padding .5s cubic-bezier(0.4,0,0.2,1) 5ms',
     },
     variants: {
       isSidePanelOpen: {
         true: {
-          inset: `var(--lk-grid-gap) calc(var(--sizes-room-side-panel) + var(--sizes-room-side-panel-margin) * 2) calc(var(--sizes-room-control-bar) + var(--lk-grid-gap)) 16px`,
+          inset: `var(--lk-grid-gap) calc(var(--sizes-room-side-panel) + var(--sizes-room-side-panel-margin) * 2) calc(var(--sizes-room-control-bar)) 16px`,
         },
         false: {
-          inset: `var(--lk-grid-gap) var(--lk-grid-gap) calc(var(--sizes-room-control-bar) + var(--lk-grid-gap))`,
+          inset: `var(--lk-grid-gap) var(--lk-grid-gap) calc(var(--sizes-room-control-bar))`,
+        },
+      },
+      isReactionToolbarOpen: {
+        true: {
+          paddingBottom:
+            'calc(var(--sizes-room-reaction-toolbar-height) + calc(var(--lk-grid-gap) / 2))',
+        },
+        false: {
+          paddingBottom: '0',
         },
       },
     },
@@ -58,9 +69,13 @@ interface RoomContentAreaProps {
 export function RoomContentArea({ children }: RoomContentAreaProps) {
   const { isSidePanelOpen } = useSidePanel()
   const { areSubtitlesOpen } = useSubtitles()
+  const { isOpen: isReactionToolbarOpen } = useReactionsToolbar()
 
   return (
-    <RoomViewport isSidePanelOpen={isSidePanelOpen}>
+    <RoomViewport
+      isSidePanelOpen={isSidePanelOpen}
+      isReactionToolbarOpen={isReactionToolbarOpen}
+    >
       <TrackAreaContainer areSubtitlesOpen={areSubtitlesOpen}>
         {children}
       </TrackAreaContainer>
diff --git a/src/frontend/src/features/reactions/components/ReactionsToggle.tsx b/src/frontend/src/features/reactions/components/ReactionsToggle.tsx
index 24d4abe5..002b7c1b 100644
--- a/src/frontend/src/features/reactions/components/ReactionsToggle.tsx
+++ b/src/frontend/src/features/reactions/components/ReactionsToggle.tsx
@@ -1,102 +1,32 @@
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next'
 import { RiEmotionLine } from '@remixicon/react'
-import { useState } from 'react'
-import { css } from '@/styled-system/css'
-import { ToggleButton, Button } from '@/primitives'
+import { ToggleButton } from '@/primitives'
 
 import { useRegisterKeyboardShortcut } from '@/features/shortcuts/useRegisterKeyboardShortcut'
-import {
-  Popover as RACPopover,
-  Dialog,
-  DialogTrigger,
-} from 'react-aria-components'
-import { FocusScope } from '@react-aria/focus'
-import { useReactions } from '../hooks/useReactions'
-import { Emoji } from '../types'
-import { getEmojiLabel } from '../utils'
+import { useReactionsToolbar } from '../hooks/useReactionsToolbar'
 
 export const ReactionsToggle = () => {
   const { t } = useTranslation('rooms', { keyPrefix: 'controls.reactions' })
-  const [isOpen, setIsOpen] = useState(false)
 
-  const { sendReaction } = useReactions()
+  const { isOpen, toggle } = useReactionsToolbar()
 
   useRegisterKeyboardShortcut({
     id: 'reaction',
-    handler: () => setIsOpen((prev) => !prev),
+    handler: toggle,
   })
 
   return (
-    <>
-      <div className={css({ position: 'relative' })}>
-        <DialogTrigger isOpen={isOpen} onOpenChange={setIsOpen}>
-          <ToggleButton
-            square
-            variant="primaryDark"
-            aria-label={t('button')}
-            tooltip={t('button')}
-            isSelected={isOpen}
-            onChange={setIsOpen}
-          >
-            <RiEmotionLine />
-          </ToggleButton>
-          <RACPopover
-            placement="top"
-            offset={8}
-            isNonModal
-            shouldCloseOnInteractOutside={() => false}
-            className={css({
-              borderRadius: '8px',
-              padding: '0.35rem',
-              backgroundColor: 'primaryDark.50',
-              '&[data-entering]': {
-                animation: 'fade 200ms ease',
-              },
-              '&[data-exiting]': {
-                animation: 'fade 200ms ease-in reverse',
-              },
-            })}
-          >
-            <Dialog className={css({ outline: 'none' })}>
-              {/* eslint-disable-next-line jsx-a11y/no-autofocus -- FocusScope autoFocus is programmatic focus for overlays, not the HTML autofocus attribute */}
-              <FocusScope contain autoFocus restoreFocus>
-                <div
-                  role="toolbar"
-                  aria-orientation="horizontal"
-                  aria-label={t('button')}
-                  className={css({
-                    display: 'flex',
-                    gap: '0.5rem',
-                  })}
-                >
-                  {Object.values(Emoji).map((emoji, index) => (
-                    <Button
-                      key={index}
-                      onPress={() => sendReaction(emoji)}
-                      aria-label={t('send', { emoji: getEmojiLabel(emoji, t) })}
-                      variant="primaryTextDark"
-                      size="sm"
-                      square
-                      data-attr={`send-reaction-${emoji}`}
-                    >
-                      <img
-                        src={`/assets/reactions/${emoji}.png`}
-                        alt=""
-                        className={css({
-                          width: '28px',
-                          height: '28px',
-                          pointerEvents: 'none',
-                          userSelect: 'none',
-                        })}
-                      />
-                    </Button>
-                  ))}
-                </div>
-              </FocusScope>
-            </Dialog>
-          </RACPopover>
-        </DialogTrigger>
-      </div>
-    </>
+    <ToggleButton
+      id="reactions-toggle"
+      data-attr="reactions-toggle"
+      square
+      variant="primaryDark"
+      aria-label={t('button')}
+      tooltip={t('button')}
+      isSelected={isOpen}
+      onChange={toggle}
+    >
+      <RiEmotionLine />
+    </ToggleButton>
   )
 }
diff --git a/src/frontend/src/features/reactions/components/toolbar/ReactionButton.tsx b/src/frontend/src/features/reactions/components/toolbar/ReactionButton.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9664a244
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/frontend/src/features/reactions/components/toolbar/ReactionButton.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next'
+import { css } from '@/styled-system/css'
+import { getEmojiLabel } from '../../utils'
+import { Emoji } from '../../types'
+import { useReactions } from '../../hooks/useReactions'
+import { Button } from '@/primitives'
+
+export const ReactionButton = ({ emoji }: { emoji: Emoji }) => {
+  const { t } = useTranslation('rooms', { keyPrefix: 'controls.reactions' })
+  const { sendReaction } = useReactions()
+  return (
+    <Button
+      onPress={() => sendReaction(emoji)}
+      aria-label={t('send', { emoji: getEmojiLabel(emoji, t) })}
+      variant="primaryTextDark"
+      size="sm"
+      round
+      data-attr={`send-reaction-${emoji}`}
+    >
+      <img
+        src={`/assets/reactions/${emoji}.png`}
+        alt=""
+        className={css({
+          width: '28px',
+          height: '28px',
+          pointerEvents: 'none',
+          userSelect: 'none',
+        })}
+      />
+    </Button>
+  )
+}
diff --git a/src/frontend/src/features/reactions/components/toolbar/ReactionsToolbar.tsx b/src/frontend/src/features/reactions/components/toolbar/ReactionsToolbar.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..21d38153
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/frontend/src/features/reactions/components/toolbar/ReactionsToolbar.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+import { FocusScope, useFocusManager } from '@react-aria/focus'
+import { useReactionsToolbar } from '../../hooks/useReactionsToolbar'
+import { ReactionButton } from './ReactionButton'
+import { Emoji } from '../../types'
+import { styled } from '@/styled-system/jsx'
+import { layoutStore } from '@/stores/layout'
+import { getFirstControlBarFocusable } from '@/utils/dom'
+import { useIsMobile } from '@/utils/useIsMobile'
+import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react'
+import { useDelayUnmount } from '@/hooks/useDelayUnmount'
+
+const Container = styled('div', {
+  base: {
+    display: 'flex',
+    justifyContent: 'center',
+    position: 'absolute',
+    bottom: 'var(--sizes-room-control-bar)',
+    left: 0,
+    right: 0,
+    pointerEvents: 'none',
+  },
+})
+
+const StyledStrip = styled('div', {
+  base: {
+    display: 'flex',
+    gap: '0.2rem',
+    borderRadius: '21px',
+    padding: '0.15rem',
+    backgroundColor: 'primaryDark.100',
+    opacity: 0,
+    transform: 'translateY(3.25rem)',
+    transition: 'opacity, transform',
+    transitionDuration: '0.5s',
+    transitionTimingFunction: 'cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1)',
+    pointerEvents: 'none',
+  },
+  variants: {
+    isVisible: {
+      true: {
+        opacity: 1,
+        transform: 'translateY(0)',
+        pointerEvents: 'auto',
+      },
+    },
+    desktopOffset: {
+      true: {
+        // Ideally this value should be calculated dynamically in JavaScript to keep
+        // the reaction toolbar perfectly centered relative to the reaction toggle.
+        // However, for simplicity and to follow a pragmatic 80/20 approach,
+        // this value is currently hardcoded in CSS.
+        marginRight: '30px',
+      },
+    },
+  },
+})
+
+const Strip = ({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) => {
+  const { isOpen } = useReactionsToolbar()
+  const isMobile = useIsMobile()
+  const ref = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
+
+  const [isVisible, setIsVisible] = useState(false)
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (isOpen) {
+      // defer one frame so the browser paints opacity:0 first
+      const id = requestAnimationFrame(() => setIsVisible(true))
+      return () => cancelAnimationFrame(id)
+    } else {
+      setIsVisible(false)
+    }
+  }, [isOpen])
+
+  return (
+    <StyledStrip
+      ref={ref}
+      aria-hidden={!isOpen}
+      isVisible={isVisible}
+      desktopOffset={!isMobile}
+    >
+      {children}
+    </StyledStrip>
+  )
+}
+
+const KeyboardNavigation = ({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) => {
+  const focusManager = useFocusManager()
+
+  const onFocus = (e: React.FocusEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
+    const comingFromOutside = !e.currentTarget.contains(e.relatedTarget)
+    if (comingFromOutside) {
+      focusManager?.focusFirst()
+    }
+  }
+
+  const onKeyDown = (e: React.KeyboardEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
+    switch (e.key) {
+      case 'ArrowRight':
+        focusManager?.focusNext({ wrap: true })
+        break
+      case 'ArrowLeft':
+        focusManager?.focusPrevious({ wrap: true })
+        break
+      case 'Escape':
+        e.preventDefault()
+        document.getElementById('reactions-toggle')?.focus()
+        layoutStore.showReactionsToolbar = false
+        break
+      case 'Tab':
+        if (!e.shiftKey) {
+          e.preventDefault()
+          getFirstControlBarFocusable('control-bar')?.focus()
+        }
+        break
+    }
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div role="toolbar" onKeyDown={onKeyDown} onFocus={onFocus}>
+      {children}
+    </div>
+  )
+}
+
+export const ReactionsToolbar = () => {
+  const { isOpen } = useReactionsToolbar()
+  const shouldMount = useDelayUnmount(isOpen, 300)
+
+  if (!shouldMount) return null
+
+  return (
+    <Container>
+      {/* eslint-disable-next-line jsx-a11y/no-autofocus*/}
+      <FocusScope autoFocus>
+        <KeyboardNavigation>
+          <Strip>
+            {Object.values(Emoji).map((emoji) => (
+              <ReactionButton key={emoji} emoji={emoji} />
+            ))}
+          </Strip>
+        </KeyboardNavigation>
+      </FocusScope>
+    </Container>
+  )
+}
diff --git a/src/frontend/src/features/reactions/hooks/useReactionsToolbar.ts b/src/frontend/src/features/reactions/hooks/useReactionsToolbar.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2b16f7f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/frontend/src/features/reactions/hooks/useReactionsToolbar.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+import { useSnapshot } from 'valtio'
+import { layoutStore } from '@/stores/layout'
+
+export const useReactionsToolbar = () => {
+  const layoutSnap = useSnapshot(layoutStore)
+
+  return {
+    isOpen: layoutSnap.showReactionsToolbar,
+    toggle: () => {
+      layoutStore.showReactionsToolbar = !layoutSnap.showReactionsToolbar
+    },
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/frontend/src/features/reactions/utils.ts b/src/frontend/src/features/reactions/utils.ts
index 42ff9c09..4098353f 100644
--- a/src/frontend/src/features/reactions/utils.ts
+++ b/src/frontend/src/features/reactions/utils.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next'
+import { Emoji } from './types'
 
 export const getEmojiLabel = (
-  emoji: string,
+  emoji: string | Emoji,
   t: ReturnType<typeof useTranslation>['t']
 ) => {
   const emojiLabels: Record<string, string> = {
diff --git a/src/frontend/src/features/rooms/livekit/components/SidePanel.tsx b/src/frontend/src/features/rooms/livekit/components/SidePanel.tsx
index e2ddb1d4..900ca9f2 100644
--- a/src/frontend/src/features/rooms/livekit/components/SidePanel.tsx
+++ b/src/frontend/src/features/rooms/livekit/components/SidePanel.tsx
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import { Admin } from './Admin'
 import { Tools } from './Tools'
 import { Info } from './Info'
 import { HStack } from '@/styled-system/jsx'
+import { useReactionsToolbar } from '@/features/reactions/hooks/useReactionsToolbar'
 
 type StyledSidePanelProps = {
   title: string
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ type StyledSidePanelProps = {
   isSubmenu: boolean
   onBack: () => void
   backButtonLabel: string
+  isReactionToolbarOpen?: boolean
 }
 
 const StyledSidePanel = ({
@@ -33,6 +35,7 @@ const StyledSidePanel = ({
   children,
   onClose,
   isClosed,
+  isReactionToolbarOpen,
   closeButtonTooltip,
   isSubmenu = false,
   onBack,
@@ -53,11 +56,11 @@ const StyledSidePanel = ({
       flexDirection: 'column',
       margin: 'var(--sizes-room-side-panel-margin)',
       marginLeft: 0,
+      marginBottom: 0,
       padding: 0,
       gap: 0,
       right: 0,
       top: 0,
-      bottom: 'var(--sizes-room-control-bar)',
       width: 'var(--sizes-room-side-panel)',
       transition: '.5s cubic-bezier(.4,0,.2,1) 5ms',
     })}
@@ -65,6 +68,9 @@ const StyledSidePanel = ({
       transform: isClosed
         ? 'translateX(calc(var(--sizes-room-side-panel) + var(--sizes-room-side-panel-margin)))'
         : 'none',
+      bottom: isReactionToolbarOpen
+        ? 'calc( var(--sizes-room-control-bar) + var(--sizes-room-reaction-toolbar-height) + calc(var(--lk-grid-gap) / 2))'
+        : 'var(--sizes-room-control-bar)',
     }}
     aria-hidden={isClosed}
     aria-label={ariaLabel}
@@ -154,6 +160,8 @@ export const SidePanel = () => {
   const { t } = useTranslation('rooms', { keyPrefix: 'sidePanel' })
   const title = t(`heading.${activeSubPanelId || activePanelId}`)
 
+  const { isOpen: isReactionToolbarOpen } = useReactionsToolbar()
+
   return (
     <StyledSidePanel
       title={title}
@@ -167,6 +175,7 @@ export const SidePanel = () => {
       })}
       isClosed={!isSidePanelOpen}
       isSubmenu={isSubPanelOpen}
+      isReactionToolbarOpen={isReactionToolbarOpen}
       backButtonLabel={t('backToTools')}
       onBack={() => (layoutStore.activeSubPanelId = null)}
     >
diff --git a/src/frontend/src/features/rooms/livekit/prefabs/ControlBar/ControlBar.tsx b/src/frontend/src/features/rooms/livekit/prefabs/ControlBar/ControlBar.tsx
index 75ae1f43..b329a238 100644
--- a/src/frontend/src/features/rooms/livekit/prefabs/ControlBar/ControlBar.tsx
+++ b/src/frontend/src/features/rooms/livekit/prefabs/ControlBar/ControlBar.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import * as React from 'react'
 import { MobileControlBar } from './MobileControlBar'
 import { DesktopControlBar } from './DesktopControlBar'
 import { useIsMobile } from '@/utils/useIsMobile'
+import { ReactionsToolbar } from '@/features/reactions/components/toolbar/ReactionsToolbar'
+import { css } from '@/styled-system/css'
 
 export interface ControlBarProps extends React.HTMLAttributes<HTMLDivElement> {
   onDeviceError?: (error: { source: Track.Source; error: Error }) => void
@@ -16,10 +18,32 @@ export interface ControlBarProps extends React.HTMLAttributes<HTMLDivElement> {
 export function ControlBar({ onDeviceError }: ControlBarProps) {
   const isMobile = useIsMobile()
 
-  if (isMobile) {
-    return <MobileControlBar onDeviceError={onDeviceError} />
-  }
-  return <DesktopControlBar onDeviceError={onDeviceError} />
+  return (
+    <div
+      className={css({
+        display: 'flex',
+        flexDirection: 'column',
+        alignItems: 'center',
+        position: 'absolute',
+        bottom: 0,
+        left: 0,
+        right: 0,
+      })}
+    >
+      <ReactionsToolbar />
+      <div
+        id="control-bar"
+        className={css({
+          zIndex: 100,
+        })}
+      >
+        {isMobile ? (
+          <MobileControlBar onDeviceError={onDeviceError} />
+        ) : (
+          <DesktopControlBar onDeviceError={onDeviceError} />
+        )}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  )
 }
-
 export type ControlBarAuxProps = Pick<ControlBarProps, 'onDeviceError'>
diff --git a/src/frontend/src/features/rooms/livekit/prefabs/ControlBar/DesktopControlBar.tsx b/src/frontend/src/features/rooms/livekit/prefabs/ControlBar/DesktopControlBar.tsx
index 67bce97c..846ab49b 100644
--- a/src/frontend/src/features/rooms/livekit/prefabs/ControlBar/DesktopControlBar.tsx
+++ b/src/frontend/src/features/rooms/livekit/prefabs/ControlBar/DesktopControlBar.tsx
@@ -48,11 +48,7 @@ export function DesktopControlBar({
       className={css({
         width: '100vw',
         display: 'flex',
-        position: 'absolute',
         padding: '1.125rem',
-        bottom: 0,
-        left: 0,
-        right: 0,
       })}
     >
       <div
diff --git a/src/frontend/src/features/rooms/livekit/prefabs/ControlBar/MobileControlBar.tsx b/src/frontend/src/features/rooms/livekit/prefabs/ControlBar/MobileControlBar.tsx
index f048c12b..3427230c 100644
--- a/src/frontend/src/features/rooms/livekit/prefabs/ControlBar/MobileControlBar.tsx
+++ b/src/frontend/src/features/rooms/livekit/prefabs/ControlBar/MobileControlBar.tsx
@@ -43,12 +43,8 @@ export function MobileControlBar({
         className={css({
           width: '100vw',
           display: 'flex',
-          position: 'absolute',
           padding: '1.125rem',
           justifyContent: 'center',
-          bottom: 0,
-          left: 0,
-          right: 0,
         })}
       >
         <div
diff --git a/src/frontend/src/hooks/useDelayUnmount.tsx b/src/frontend/src/hooks/useDelayUnmount.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..326e5241
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/frontend/src/hooks/useDelayUnmount.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
+
+export const useDelayUnmount = (isMounted: boolean, delayTime: number) => {
+  const [shouldRender, setShouldRender] = useState(false)
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let timeoutId: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined
+    if (isMounted && !shouldRender) {
+      setShouldRender(true)
+    } else if (!isMounted && shouldRender) {
+      timeoutId = setTimeout(() => setShouldRender(false), delayTime)
+    }
+    return () => {
+      if (timeoutId !== undefined) {
+        clearTimeout(timeoutId)
+      }
+    }
+  }, [isMounted, delayTime, shouldRender])
+  return shouldRender
+}
diff --git a/src/frontend/src/primitives/buttonRecipe.ts b/src/frontend/src/primitives/buttonRecipe.ts
index 43ba5b36..4de58749 100644
--- a/src/frontend/src/primitives/buttonRecipe.ts
+++ b/src/frontend/src/primitives/buttonRecipe.ts
@@ -44,6 +44,13 @@ export const buttonRecipe = cva({
         paddingY: 'var(--square-padding)',
       },
     },
+    round: {
+      true: {
+        borderRadius: '50%',
+        paddingX: 'var(--square-padding)',
+        paddingY: 'var(--square-padding)',
+      },
+    },
     variant: {
       primary: {
         backgroundColor: 'primary.800',
diff --git a/src/frontend/src/stores/layout.ts b/src/frontend/src/stores/layout.ts
index b04a24b6..f69b010a 100644
--- a/src/frontend/src/stores/layout.ts
+++ b/src/frontend/src/stores/layout.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ type State = {
   showSubtitles: boolean
   activePanelId: PanelId | null
   activeSubPanelId: SubPanelId | null
+  showReactionsToolbar: boolean
 }
 
 export const layoutStore = proxy<State>({
@@ -18,4 +19,5 @@ export const layoutStore = proxy<State>({
   showSubtitles: false,
   activePanelId: null,
   activeSubPanelId: null,
+  showReactionsToolbar: false,
 })
diff --git a/src/frontend/src/utils/dom.ts b/src/frontend/src/utils/dom.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c18bccfa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/frontend/src/utils/dom.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+export const getFirstControlBarFocusable = (id: string): HTMLElement | null =>
+  document
+    .getElementById(id)
+    ?.querySelector(
+      'input, select, textarea, button, object, a, area[href], [tabindex]'
+    ) ?? null