diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 4b494624..64481a1a 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ src_libfilter = [
 		'src/filter-trackpoint-flat.c',
 ]
 libfilter = static_library('filter', src_libfilter,
-			   dependencies : [dep_udev, dep_libwacom],
+			   dependencies : [dep_udev, dep_libwacom, dep_libevdev],
 			   include_directories : includes_include)
 dep_libfilter = declare_dependency(link_with : libfilter)
 
@@ -374,6 +374,7 @@ config_h.set10('EVENT_DEBUGGING', get_option('internal-event-debugging'))
 install_headers('src/libinput.h')
 src_libinput = src_libfilter + [
 	'src/libinput.c',
+	'src/libinput-plugin.c',
 	'src/libinput-private-config.c',
 	'src/evdev.c',
 	'src/evdev-debounce.c',
diff --git a/src/evdev.c b/src/evdev.c
index a6d44c38..c86eeeb6 100644
--- a/src/evdev.c
+++ b/src/evdev.c
@@ -1120,19 +1120,25 @@ evdev_device_dispatch_one(struct evdev_device *device,
 }
 
 static inline void
-evdev_device_dispatch_frame(struct evdev_device *device,
+evdev_device_dispatch_frame(struct libinput *libinput,
+			    struct evdev_device *device,
 			    struct evdev_frame *frame)
 {
 	size_t nevents;
 	struct evdev_event *events = evdev_frame_get_events(frame, &nevents);
 
+	libinput_plugin_system_notify_evdev_frame(&libinput->plugin_system,
+						  &device->base,
+						  frame);
+
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < nevents; i++) {
 		evdev_device_dispatch_one(device, &events[i], evdev_frame_get_time(frame));
 	}
 }
 
 static int
-evdev_sync_device(struct evdev_device *device)
+evdev_sync_device(struct libinput *libinput,
+		  struct evdev_device *device)
 {
 	struct input_event ev;
 	int rc;
@@ -1149,7 +1155,7 @@ evdev_sync_device(struct evdev_device *device)
 		evdev_frame_append_input_event(frame, &ev);
 	} while (rc == LIBEVDEV_READ_STATUS_SYNC);
 
-	evdev_device_dispatch_frame(device, frame);
+	evdev_device_dispatch_frame(libinput, device, frame);
 
 	return rc == -EAGAIN ? 0 : rc;
 }
@@ -1211,10 +1217,10 @@ evdev_device_dispatch(void *data)
 				evdev_log_bug_libinput(device,
 						       "event frame overflow, discarding events.\n");
 			}
-			evdev_device_dispatch_frame(device, frame);
+			evdev_device_dispatch_frame(libinput, device, frame);
 			evdev_frame_reset(frame);
 
-			rc = evdev_sync_device(device);
+			rc = evdev_sync_device(libinput, device);
 			if (rc == 0)
 				rc = LIBEVDEV_READ_STATUS_SUCCESS;
 		} else if (rc == LIBEVDEV_READ_STATUS_SUCCESS) {
@@ -1228,7 +1234,7 @@ evdev_device_dispatch(void *data)
 						       "event frame overflow, discarding events.\n");
 			}
 			if (ev.type == EV_SYN && ev.code == SYN_REPORT) {
-				evdev_device_dispatch_frame(device, frame);
+				evdev_device_dispatch_frame(libinput, device, frame);
 				evdev_frame_reset(frame);
 			}
 		} else if (rc == -ENODEV) {
@@ -1240,7 +1246,7 @@ evdev_device_dispatch(void *data)
 	/* This should never happen, the kernel flushes only on SYN_REPORT */
 	if (evdev_frame_get_count(frame) > 1) {
 		evdev_log_bug_kernel(device, "event frame missing SYN_REPORT, forcing frame.\n");
-		evdev_device_dispatch_frame(device, frame);
+		evdev_device_dispatch_frame(libinput, device, frame);
 	}
 
 	if (rc != -EAGAIN && rc != -EINTR) {
@@ -2538,17 +2544,22 @@ evdev_device_create(struct libinput_seat *seat,
 
 	evdev_pre_configure_model_quirks(device);
 
+	libinput_plugin_system_notify_device_new(&libinput->plugin_system,
+						 &device->base,
+						 device->evdev,
+						 device->udev_device);
+
 	device->dispatch = evdev_configure_device(device);
 	if (device->dispatch == NULL || device->seat_caps == EVDEV_DEVICE_NO_CAPABILITIES)
-		goto err;
+		goto err_notify;
 
 	device->source =
 		libinput_add_fd(libinput, fd, evdev_device_dispatch, device);
 	if (!device->source)
-		goto err;
+		goto err_notify;
 
 	if (!evdev_set_device_group(device, udev_device))
-		goto err;
+		goto err_notify;
 
 	list_insert(seat->devices_list.prev, &device->base.link);
 
@@ -2556,6 +2567,10 @@ evdev_device_create(struct libinput_seat *seat,
 
 	return device;
 
+err_notify:
+	libinput_plugin_system_notify_device_ignored(&libinput->plugin_system,
+						     &device->base);
+
 err:
 	if (fd >= 0) {
 		close_restricted(libinput, fd);
diff --git a/src/libinput-plugin-private.h b/src/libinput-plugin-private.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..32d45649
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libinput-plugin-private.h
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright © 2025 Red Hat, Inc.
+ *
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a
+ * copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"),
+ * to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation
+ * the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense,
+ * and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
+ * Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice (including the next
+ * paragraph) shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the
+ * Software.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+ * IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+ * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.  IN NO EVENT SHALL
+ * THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+ * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
+ * FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER
+ * DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include "config.h"
+
+#include "libinput-plugin.h"
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_run(struct libinput_plugin *plugin);
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_notify_device_new(struct libinput_plugin *plugin,
+				  struct libinput_device *device,
+				  struct libevdev *evdev,
+				  struct udev_device *udev_device);
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_notify_device_added(struct libinput_plugin *plugin,
+				    struct libinput_device *device);
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_notify_device_ignored(struct libinput_plugin *plugin,
+				      struct libinput_device *device);
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_notify_device_removed(struct libinput_plugin *plugin,
+				      struct libinput_device *device);
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_notify_evdev_frame(struct libinput_plugin *plugin,
+				   struct libinput_device *device,
+				   struct evdev_frame *frame);
diff --git a/src/libinput-plugin-system.h b/src/libinput-plugin-system.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b4b61d65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libinput-plugin-system.h
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright © 2025 Red Hat, Inc.
+ *
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a
+ * copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"),
+ * to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation
+ * the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense,
+ * and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
+ * Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice (including the next
+ * paragraph) shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the
+ * Software.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+ * IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+ * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.  IN NO EVENT SHALL
+ * THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+ * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
+ * FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER
+ * DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include "config.h"
+
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include <libudev.h>
+#include <libevdev/libevdev.h>
+
+#include "evdev-frame.h"
+#include "util-list.h"
+
+#include "libinput.h"
+
+struct libinput;
+struct libinput_plugin;
+
+struct libinput_plugin_system {
+	char **directories; /* NULL once loaded == true */
+
+	struct list plugins;
+	struct list removed_plugins;
+};
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_system_init(struct libinput_plugin_system *system);
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_system_destroy(struct libinput_plugin_system *system);
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_system_run(struct libinput_plugin_system *system);
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_system_register_plugin(struct libinput_plugin_system *system,
+					 struct libinput_plugin *plugin);
+void
+libinput_plugin_system_unregister_plugin(struct libinput_plugin_system *system,
+					 struct libinput_plugin *plugin);
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_system_notify_device_new(struct libinput_plugin_system *system,
+					 struct libinput_device *device,
+					 struct libevdev *evdev,
+					 struct udev_device *udev);
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_system_notify_device_added(struct libinput_plugin_system *system,
+					   struct libinput_device *device);
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_system_notify_device_removed(struct libinput_plugin_system *system,
+					     struct libinput_device *device);
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_system_notify_device_ignored(struct libinput_plugin_system *system,
+					     struct libinput_device *device);
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_system_notify_evdev_frame(struct libinput_plugin_system *system,
+					  struct libinput_device *device,
+					  struct evdev_frame *frame);
diff --git a/src/libinput-plugin.c b/src/libinput-plugin.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1dec4348
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libinput-plugin.c
@@ -0,0 +1,319 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright © 2025 Red Hat, Inc.
+ *
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a
+ * copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"),
+ * to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation
+ * the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense,
+ * and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
+ * Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice (including the next
+ * paragraph) shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the
+ * Software.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+ * IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+ * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.  IN NO EVENT SHALL
+ * THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+ * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
+ * FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER
+ * DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+
+#include "config.h"
+
+#include <stdbool.h>
+
+#include "util-files.h"
+#include "util-list.h"
+
+#include "libinput-plugin.h"
+#include "libinput-plugin-private.h"
+#include "libinput-plugin-system.h"
+#include "libinput-util.h"
+#include "libinput-private.h"
+
+struct libinput_plugin {
+	struct libinput *libinput;
+	char *name;
+	int refcount;
+	struct list link;
+	void *user_data;
+
+	bool registered;
+
+	const struct libinput_plugin_interface *interface;
+};
+
+LIBINPUT_ATTRIBUTE_PRINTF(3, 4)
+void
+plugin_log_msg(struct libinput_plugin *plugin,
+	       enum libinput_log_priority priority,
+	       const char *format,
+	       ...)
+{
+
+	if (!log_is_logged(plugin->libinput, priority))
+		return;
+
+	_autofree_ char *prefix = strdup_printf("Plugin:%-15s - ", plugin->name);
+	va_list args;
+	va_start(args, format);
+	_autofree_ char *message = strdup_vprintf(format, args);
+	va_end(args);
+
+	log_msg(plugin->libinput, priority, "%s%s", prefix, message);
+}
+
+struct libinput_plugin *
+libinput_plugin_new(struct libinput *libinput,
+		    const char *name,
+		    const struct libinput_plugin_interface *interface,
+		    void *user_data)
+{
+	struct libinput_plugin *plugin = zalloc(sizeof(*plugin));
+
+	plugin->registered = true;
+	plugin->libinput = libinput;
+	plugin->refcount = 1;
+	plugin->interface = interface;
+	plugin->user_data = user_data;
+	plugin->name = strdup(name);
+
+	libinput_plugin_system_register_plugin(&libinput->plugin_system, plugin);
+
+	return plugin;
+}
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_unregister(struct libinput_plugin *plugin)
+{
+	struct libinput *libinput = plugin->libinput;
+	if (!plugin->registered)
+		return;
+
+	plugin->registered = false;
+
+	libinput_plugin_system_unregister_plugin(&libinput->plugin_system,
+						 plugin);
+}
+
+struct libinput_plugin *
+libinput_plugin_ref(struct libinput_plugin *plugin)
+{
+	assert(plugin->refcount > 0);
+	++plugin->refcount;
+	return plugin;
+}
+
+struct libinput_plugin *
+libinput_plugin_unref(struct libinput_plugin *plugin)
+{
+	assert(plugin->refcount > 0);
+	if (--plugin->refcount == 0) {
+		list_remove(&plugin->link);
+		if (plugin->interface->destroy)
+			plugin->interface->destroy(plugin);
+		free(plugin->name);
+		free(plugin);
+	}
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_set_user_data(struct libinput_plugin *plugin,
+			      void *user_data)
+{
+	plugin->user_data = user_data;
+}
+
+void *
+libinput_plugin_get_user_data(struct libinput_plugin *plugin)
+{
+	return plugin->user_data;
+}
+
+const char *
+libinput_plugin_get_name(struct libinput_plugin *plugin)
+{
+	return plugin->name;
+}
+
+struct libinput *
+libinput_plugin_get_context(struct libinput_plugin *plugin)
+{
+	return plugin->libinput;
+}
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_run(struct libinput_plugin *plugin)
+{
+	if (plugin->interface->run)
+		plugin->interface->run(plugin);
+}
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_notify_device_new(struct libinput_plugin *plugin,
+				  struct libinput_device *device,
+				  struct libevdev *evdev,
+				  struct udev_device *udev_device)
+{
+	if (plugin->interface->device_new)
+		plugin->interface->device_new(plugin, device, evdev, udev_device);
+}
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_notify_device_added(struct libinput_plugin *plugin,
+				    struct libinput_device *device)
+{
+	if (plugin->interface->device_added)
+		plugin->interface->device_added(plugin, device);
+}
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_notify_device_ignored(struct libinput_plugin *plugin,
+				      struct libinput_device *device)
+{
+	if (plugin->interface->device_ignored)
+		plugin->interface->device_ignored(plugin, device);
+}
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_notify_device_removed(struct libinput_plugin *plugin,
+				      struct libinput_device *device)
+{
+	if (plugin->interface->device_removed)
+		plugin->interface->device_removed(plugin, device);
+}
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_notify_evdev_frame(struct libinput_plugin *plugin,
+				   struct libinput_device *device,
+				   struct evdev_frame *frame)
+{
+	if (plugin->interface->evdev_frame)
+		plugin->interface->evdev_frame(plugin, device, frame);
+}
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_system_run(struct libinput_plugin_system *system)
+{
+	struct libinput_plugin *plugin;
+	list_for_each_safe(plugin,
+			   &system->plugins,
+			   link) {
+		libinput_plugin_run(plugin);
+	}
+}
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_system_register_plugin(struct libinput_plugin_system *system,
+				       struct libinput_plugin *plugin)
+{
+	libinput_plugin_ref(plugin);
+	list_append(&system->plugins, &plugin->link);
+}
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_system_unregister_plugin(struct libinput_plugin_system *system,
+					 struct libinput_plugin *plugin)
+{
+	struct libinput_plugin *p;
+	list_for_each(p, &system->plugins, link) {
+		if (p == plugin) {
+			list_remove(&plugin->link);
+			list_append(&system->removed_plugins, &plugin->link);
+			return;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+static void
+libinput_plugin_system_drop_unregistered_plugins(struct libinput_plugin_system *system)
+{
+	struct libinput_plugin *plugin;
+	list_for_each_safe(plugin, &system->removed_plugins, link) {
+		list_remove(&plugin->link);
+		list_init(&plugin->link); /* allow list_remove in unref */
+		libinput_plugin_unref(plugin);
+	}
+}
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_system_init(struct libinput_plugin_system *system)
+{
+	list_init(&system->plugins);
+	list_init(&system->removed_plugins);
+}
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_system_destroy(struct libinput_plugin_system *system)
+{
+	struct libinput_plugin *plugin;
+	list_for_each_safe(plugin,  &system->plugins, link) {
+		libinput_plugin_unregister(plugin);
+	}
+
+	libinput_plugin_system_drop_unregistered_plugins(system);
+
+	strv_free(system->directories);
+}
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_system_notify_device_new(struct libinput_plugin_system *system,
+					 struct libinput_device *device,
+					 struct libevdev *evdev,
+					 struct udev_device *udev_device)
+{
+	struct libinput_plugin *plugin;
+	list_for_each_safe(plugin, &system->plugins, link) {
+		libinput_plugin_notify_device_new(plugin, device, evdev, udev_device);
+	}
+	libinput_plugin_system_drop_unregistered_plugins(system);
+}
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_system_notify_device_added(struct libinput_plugin_system *system,
+					   struct libinput_device *device)
+{
+	struct libinput_plugin *plugin;
+	list_for_each_safe(plugin, &system->plugins, link) {
+		libinput_plugin_notify_device_added(plugin, device);
+	}
+	libinput_plugin_system_drop_unregistered_plugins(system);
+}
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_system_notify_device_removed(struct libinput_plugin_system *system,
+					     struct libinput_device *device)
+{
+	struct libinput_plugin *plugin;
+	list_for_each_safe(plugin, &system->plugins, link) {
+		libinput_plugin_notify_device_removed(plugin, device);
+	}
+	libinput_plugin_system_drop_unregistered_plugins(system);
+}
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_system_notify_device_ignored(struct libinput_plugin_system *system,
+					     struct libinput_device *device)
+{
+	struct libinput_plugin *plugin;
+	list_for_each_safe(plugin, &system->plugins, link) {
+		libinput_plugin_notify_device_ignored(plugin, device);
+	}
+	libinput_plugin_system_drop_unregistered_plugins(system);
+}
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_system_notify_evdev_frame(struct libinput_plugin_system *system,
+					  struct libinput_device *device,
+					  struct evdev_frame *frame)
+{
+	struct libinput_plugin *plugin;
+	list_for_each_safe(plugin, &system->plugins, link) {
+		libinput_plugin_notify_evdev_frame(plugin, device, frame);
+	}
+	libinput_plugin_system_drop_unregistered_plugins(system);
+}
diff --git a/src/libinput-plugin.h b/src/libinput-plugin.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..930febf0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libinput-plugin.h
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright © 2025 Red Hat, Inc.
+ *
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a
+ * copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"),
+ * to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation
+ * the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense,
+ * and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
+ * Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice (including the next
+ * paragraph) shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the
+ * Software.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+ * IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+ * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.  IN NO EVENT SHALL
+ * THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+ * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
+ * FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER
+ * DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include "config.h"
+
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include <libudev.h>
+#include <libevdev/libevdev.h>
+
+/* Forward declarations instead of #includes to make
+ * this header self-contained (bindgen, etc.) */
+struct evdev_frame;
+struct libinput;
+struct libinput_device;
+struct libinput_plugin;
+enum libinput_log_priority;
+
+#define plugin_log_debug(p_, ...) plugin_log_msg((p_), LIBINPUT_LOG_PRIORITY_DEBUG, __VA_ARGS__)
+#define plugin_log_info(p_, ...) plugin_log_msg((p_), LIBINPUT_LOG_PRIORITY_INFO, __VA_ARGS__)
+#define plugin_log_error(p_, ...) plugin_log_msg((p_), LIBINPUT_LOG_PRIORITY_ERROR, __VA_ARGS__)
+#define plugin_log_bug_kernel(p_, ...) plugin_log_msg((p_), LIBINPUT_LOG_PRIORITY_ERROR, "kernel bug: " __VA_ARGS__)
+#define plugin_log_bug_libinput(p_, ...) plugin_log_msg((p_), LIBINPUT_LOG_PRIORITY_ERROR, "libinput bug: " __VA_ARGS__)
+#define plugin_log_bug_client(p_, ...) plugin_log_msg((p_), LIBINPUT_LOG_PRIORITY_ERROR, "client bug: " __VA_ARGS__)
+#define plugin_log_bug(p_, ...) plugin_log_msg((p_), LIBINPUT_LOG_PRIORITY_ERROR, "plugin bug: " __VA_ARGS__)
+
+void
+plugin_log_msg(struct libinput_plugin *plugin,
+	       enum libinput_log_priority priority,
+	       const char *format,
+	       ...);
+
+struct libinput_plugin_interface {
+	void (*run)(struct libinput_plugin *plugin);
+	/**
+	 * Notification that the plugin is about to be destroyed.
+	 * When this function is called, the plugin has already
+	 * been unregistered. The plugin should free any
+	 * resources allocated but not the struct libinput_plugin
+	 * itself.
+	 */
+	void (*destroy)(struct libinput_plugin *plugin);
+	/**
+	 * Notification about a newly added device that has **not** yet
+	 * been added by libinput as struct libinput_device.
+	 */
+	void (*device_new)(struct libinput_plugin *plugin,
+			     struct libinput_device *device,
+			     struct libevdev *evdev,
+			     struct udev_device *udev_device);
+        /**
+         * Notification that a device (previously announced with device_new)
+         * was ignored by libinput and was **never** added as struct
+         * libinput_device.
+         *
+         * If a device was added (device_added) then this callback will
+         * not be called for that device.
+         */
+        void (*device_ignored)(struct libinput_plugin *plugin,
+			       struct libinput_device *device);
+        /**
+         * Notification that a device was added to libinput. Called
+         * after the device_new callback if the device matches libinput's
+         * expectations.
+         */
+        void (*device_added)(struct libinput_plugin *plugin,
+			     struct libinput_device *device);
+	/**
+	 * Notification that a previously added device was removed.
+	 */
+	void (*device_removed)(struct libinput_plugin *plugin,
+			       struct libinput_device *device);
+	/**
+	 * Notification that a device submitted a frame event.
+	 */
+	void (*evdev_frame)(struct libinput_plugin *plugin,
+			    struct libinput_device *device,
+			    struct evdev_frame *frame);
+};
+
+/**
+ * Returns a new plugin with the given interface and, optionally,
+ * the user data. The returned plugin has a refcount of at least 1
+ * and must be unref'd by the caller.
+ * Should an error occur, the plugin must be unregistered by
+ * the caller:
+ *
+ * ```
+ * struct libinput_plugin *plugin = libinput_plugin_new(libinput, ...);
+ * if (some_error_condition) {
+ *     libinput_plugin_unregister(plugin);
+ * }
+ * libinput_plugin_unref(plugin);
+ * ```
+ */
+struct libinput_plugin *
+libinput_plugin_new(struct libinput *libinput,
+		    const char *name,
+		    const struct libinput_plugin_interface *interface,
+		    void *user_data);
+
+const char *
+libinput_plugin_get_name(struct libinput_plugin *plugin);
+
+struct libinput *
+libinput_plugin_get_context(struct libinput_plugin *plugin);
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_unregister(struct libinput_plugin *plugin);
+
+void
+libinput_plugin_set_user_data(struct libinput_plugin *plugin,
+			      void *user_data);
+void *
+libinput_plugin_get_user_data(struct libinput_plugin *plugin);
+
+struct libinput_plugin *
+libinput_plugin_ref(struct libinput_plugin *plugin);
+
+struct libinput_plugin *
+libinput_plugin_unref(struct libinput_plugin *plugin);
+
+#ifdef DEFINE_UNREF_CLEANUP_FUNC
+DEFINE_UNREF_CLEANUP_FUNC(libinput_plugin);
+#endif
diff --git a/src/libinput-private.h b/src/libinput-private.h
index 0a15f9ec..11c5440d 100644
--- a/src/libinput-private.h
+++ b/src/libinput-private.h
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 
 #include "libinput.h"
 #include "libinput-log.h"
+#include "libinput-plugin-system.h"
 #include "libinput-private-config.h"
 #include "libinput-util.h"
 #include "libinput-version.h"
@@ -221,6 +222,8 @@ struct libinput {
 	bool quirks_initialized;
 	struct quirks_context *quirks;
 
+	struct libinput_plugin_system plugin_system;
+
 #if HAVE_LIBWACOM
 	struct {
 		WacomDeviceDatabase *db;
diff --git a/src/libinput.c b/src/libinput.c
index ca487954..75afc544 100644
--- a/src/libinput.c
+++ b/src/libinput.c
@@ -1879,6 +1879,8 @@ libinput_init(struct libinput *libinput,
 	list_init(&libinput->device_group_list);
 	list_init(&libinput->tool_list);
 
+	libinput_plugin_system_init(&libinput->plugin_system);
+
 	if (libinput_timer_subsys_init(libinput) != 0) {
 		free(libinput->events);
 		close(libinput->epoll_fd);
@@ -1977,6 +1979,8 @@ libinput_unref(struct libinput *libinput)
 
 	free(libinput->events);
 
+	libinput_plugin_system_destroy(&libinput->plugin_system);
+
 	list_for_each_safe(seat, &libinput->seat_list, link) {
 		list_for_each_safe(device,
 				   &seat->devices_list,
@@ -2345,6 +2349,9 @@ post_device_event(struct libinput_device *device,
 void
 notify_added_device(struct libinput_device *device)
 {
+	struct libinput *libinput = device->seat->libinput;
+	libinput_plugin_system_notify_device_added(&libinput->plugin_system, device);
+
 	struct libinput_event_device_notify *added_device_event;
 
 	added_device_event = zalloc(sizeof *added_device_event);
@@ -2363,6 +2370,9 @@ notify_added_device(struct libinput_device *device)
 void
 notify_removed_device(struct libinput_device *device)
 {
+	struct libinput *libinput = device->seat->libinput;
+	libinput_plugin_system_notify_device_removed(&libinput->plugin_system, device);
+
 	struct libinput_event_device_notify *removed_device_event;
 
 	removed_device_event = zalloc(sizeof *removed_device_event);