diff --git a/src/components/Input/DateInput.d.ts b/src/components/Input/DateInput.d.ts
index 2dac7c8c..77da8a03 100644
--- a/src/components/Input/DateInput.d.ts
+++ b/src/components/Input/DateInput.d.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ interface DateInputPropTypes
   dateVisible?: (currentDate: Date) => any[];
   dateFormat?: string;
   defaultValue?: DateOrString;
+  initialCalendarDate?: DateOrString;
   direction?: Direction;
   disabled?: boolean;
   footer?: React.ReactNode;
diff --git a/src/components/Input/DateInput.js b/src/components/Input/DateInput.js
index 597b0635..db5ac70e 100644
--- a/src/components/Input/DateInput.js
+++ b/src/components/Input/DateInput.js
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ export default class DateInput extends React.Component {
     dateVisible: PropTypes.func,
     dateFormat: PropTypes.string,
     defaultValue: PropTypes.oneOfType([PropTypes.string, PropTypes.object]),
+    initialCalendarDate: PropTypes.oneOfType([PropTypes.string, PropTypes.object]),
     direction: PropTypes.string,
     disabled: PropTypes.bool,
     footer: deprecated(PropTypes.node, 'Use renderFooter instead.'),
@@ -197,12 +198,15 @@ export default class DateInput extends React.Component {
     return this.state.value;
   };
 
-  getCurrentDate = () =>
-    parseValue(
-      this.props.value !== undefined ? this.props.value : this.state.value,
-      this.props.dateFormat,
-      this.props.parse
-    );
+  getCurrentDate = () => {
+    // If value prop is provided and not empty, use it
+    // Otherwise, use state.value if available, or fall back to initialCalendarDate
+    const valueToUse =
+      this.props.value !== undefined && this.props.value !== ''
+        ? this.props.value
+        : this.state.value || this.props.initialCalendarDate || '';
+    return parseValue(valueToUse, this.props.dateFormat, this.props.parse);
+  };
 
   parseInput = (value) => {
     const date = this.props.parse(value, this.props.dateFormat);
diff --git a/src/components/Input/DateInput.spec.js b/src/components/Input/DateInput.spec.js
index ab4c1dee..7ee4c9c2 100644
--- a/src/components/Input/DateInput.spec.js
+++ b/src/components/Input/DateInput.spec.js
@@ -46,6 +46,45 @@ describe('<DateInput />', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe('initialCalendarDate', () => {
+    it('should open calendar to initialCalendarDate when value is empty', () => {
+      const initialDate = new Date(2026, 2, 1); // March 1, 2026
+      const component = mount(<DateInput initialCalendarDate={initialDate} />);
+      const input = component.find('input');
+
+      assert.equal(input.getDOMNode().value, '');
+      assert(isSameDay(component.instance().getCurrentDate(), initialDate));
+    });
+
+    it('should use value over initialCalendarDate when both are provided', () => {
+      const value = new Date(2025, 10, 15); // November 15, 2025
+      const initialDate = new Date(2026, 2, 1); // March 1, 2026
+      const component = mount(<DateInput value={value} initialCalendarDate={initialDate} />);
+
+      assert(isSameDay(component.instance().getCurrentDate(), value));
+    });
+
+    it('should use state.value over initialCalendarDate when state has value', () => {
+      const initialDate = new Date(2026, 2, 1); // March 1, 2026
+      const component = mount(<DateInput initialCalendarDate={initialDate} />);
+      const input = component.find('input');
+
+      // Set state value by typing
+      input.simulate('change', { target: { value: '11/15/2025' } });
+      component.update();
+
+      const stateValueDate = new Date(2025, 10, 15); // November 15, 2025
+      assert(isSameDay(component.instance().getCurrentDate(), stateValueDate));
+    });
+
+    it('should format initialCalendarDate string prop', () => {
+      const component = mount(<DateInput initialCalendarDate="3/1/2026" />);
+
+      const expectedDate = new Date(2026, 2, 1); // March 1, 2026
+      assert(isSameDay(component.instance().getCurrentDate(), expectedDate));
+    });
+  });
+
   it('should not tab to the calendar button', () => {
     const component = mount(<DateInput />);