diff --git a/packages/ui/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/ui/CHANGELOG.md
index 1e5bea6e67afa8..7af6d21a72e450 100644
--- a/packages/ui/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/ui/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 -   `Notice`: Improve narrow layout by letting description and actions span the icon column when a title is present ([#76202](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/pull/76202)).
 -   `Notice`: Use `Text` component for `Title` and `Description` typography ([#75870](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/pull/75870)).
 -   `Card`, `CollapsibleCard`: update padding to match legacy `Card` component ([#76368](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/pull/76368)).
+-   `CollapsibleCard`: move trigger to the header ([#76265](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/pull/76265)).
 
 ## 0.8.0 (2026-03-04)
 
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/collapsible-card/header.tsx b/packages/ui/src/collapsible-card/header.tsx
index cf4c880bb5aabe..a1dbb0add52878 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/collapsible-card/header.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/collapsible-card/header.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 import clsx from 'clsx';
-import type { MouseEvent } from 'react';
-import { forwardRef, useCallback, useRef } from '@wordpress/element';
-import { __ } from '@wordpress/i18n';
-import { chevronDown, chevronUp } from '@wordpress/icons';
+import { forwardRef } from '@wordpress/element';
+import { chevronDown } from '@wordpress/icons';
 import * as Card from '../card';
 import * as Collapsible from '../collapsible';
-import { IconButton } from '../icon-button';
+import { Icon } from '../icon';
 import styles from './style.module.css';
+import focusStyles from '../utils/css/focus.module.css';
 import type { HeaderProps } from './types';
 
 /**
@@ -20,62 +19,35 @@ import type { HeaderProps } from './types';
  */
 export const Header = forwardRef< HTMLDivElement, HeaderProps >(
 	function CollapsibleCardHeader(
-		{ children, className, onClick, ...restProps },
+		{ children, className, render, ...restProps },
 		ref
 	) {
-		const triggerRef = useRef< HTMLButtonElement >( null );
-
-		const handleHeaderClick = useCallback(
-			( event: MouseEvent< HTMLDivElement > ) => {
-				const trigger = triggerRef.current;
-				if (
-					trigger &&
-					event.target instanceof Node &&
-					! trigger.contains( event.target )
-				) {
-					trigger.click();
-				}
-
-				onClick?.( event );
-			},
-			[ onClick ]
-		);
-
 		return (
-			<Card.Header
-				ref={ ref }
+			<Collapsible.Trigger
 				className={ clsx( styles.header, className ) }
-				onClick={ handleHeaderClick }
-				{ ...restProps }
+				render={
+					<Card.Header
+						ref={ ref }
+						render={ render }
+						{ ...restProps }
+					/>
+				}
+				nativeButton={ false }
 			>
 				<div className={ styles[ 'header-content' ] }>{ children }</div>
 				<div className={ styles[ 'header-trigger-wrapper' ] }>
-					<Collapsible.Trigger
-						ref={ triggerRef }
-						render={ ( props ) => (
-							<IconButton
-								{ ...props }
-								label={ __( 'Expand or collapse card' ) }
-								// The Collapsible wrapper's `render` prop
-								// uses a single-argument callback (via the
-								// ComponentProps utility), so Base UI's
-								// second `state` argument isn't available
-								// here. We derive the open state from
-								// `aria-expanded` instead of `state.open`.
-								icon={
-									props[ 'aria-expanded' ] === true
-										? chevronUp
-										: chevronDown
-								}
-								variant="minimal"
-								tone="neutral"
-								size="compact"
-							/>
+					<Icon
+						icon={ chevronDown }
+						className={ clsx(
+							styles[ 'header-trigger' ],
+							// While the interactive trigger element is the whole header,
+							// the focus ring will be displayed only on the icon to visually
+							// emulate it being the button.
+							focusStyles[ 'outset-ring--focus-parent-visible' ]
 						) }
-						className={ styles[ 'header-trigger' ] }
 					/>
 				</div>
-			</Card.Header>
+			</Collapsible.Trigger>
 		);
 	}
 );
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/collapsible-card/style.module.css b/packages/ui/src/collapsible-card/style.module.css
index cc1f8659afc1d5..55b0744ebb6532 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/collapsible-card/style.module.css
+++ b/packages/ui/src/collapsible-card/style.module.css
@@ -19,7 +19,19 @@
 		/* Offset by half the button's own height so it visually centers
 		   at the wrapper's midpoint (which `align-self: center` places at
 		   the vertical center of the header). */
-		transform: translateY(-50%);
+		translate: 0 -50%;
+
+		/* For an outline that looks like `IconButton`'s */
+		border-radius: var(--wpds-border-radius-sm);
+	}
+
+	.header[data-panel-open] .header-trigger {
+		rotate: 180deg;
+	}
+
+	/* Simulate disabled button styles */
+	.header[data-disabled] .header-trigger {
+		color: var(--wpds-color-fg-interactive-neutral-disabled);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -29,8 +41,9 @@
 		flex-direction: row;
 		align-items: stretch;
 		gap: var(--wpds-dimension-gap-sm);
+		outline: none;
 
-		&:has(.header-trigger:not([data-disabled])) {
+		&:not([data-disabled]) {
 			cursor: var(--wpds-cursor-control);
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/collapsible-card/test/index.test.tsx b/packages/ui/src/collapsible-card/test/index.test.tsx
index 6c2004807c4229..445f7e2da5da6e 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/collapsible-card/test/index.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/collapsible-card/test/index.test.tsx
@@ -93,7 +93,8 @@ describe( 'CollapsibleCard', () => {
 
 			await user.click(
 				screen.getByRole( 'button', {
-					name: 'Expand or collapse card',
+					name: 'Title',
+					expanded: false,
 				} )
 			);
 
@@ -101,7 +102,8 @@ describe( 'CollapsibleCard', () => {
 
 			await user.click(
 				screen.getByRole( 'button', {
-					name: 'Expand or collapse card',
+					name: 'Title',
+					expanded: true,
 				} )
 			);
 
@@ -110,31 +112,6 @@ describe( 'CollapsibleCard', () => {
 			).not.toBeInTheDocument();
 		} );
 
-		it( 'toggles content when clicking the header area', async () => {
-			const user = userEvent.setup();
-
-			render(
-				<CollapsibleCard.Root>
-					<CollapsibleCard.Header>
-						<Card.Title>Header click test</Card.Title>
-					</CollapsibleCard.Header>
-					<CollapsibleCard.Content>
-						<p>Header toggled content</p>
-					</CollapsibleCard.Content>
-				</CollapsibleCard.Root>
-			);
-
-			expect(
-				screen.queryByText( 'Header toggled content' )
-			).not.toBeInTheDocument();
-
-			await user.click( screen.getByText( 'Header click test' ) );
-
-			expect(
-				screen.getByText( 'Header toggled content' )
-			).toBeVisible();
-		} );
-
 		it( 'calls onOpenChange when toggled', async () => {
 			const onOpenChange = jest.fn();
 			const user = userEvent.setup();
@@ -152,7 +129,8 @@ describe( 'CollapsibleCard', () => {
 
 			await user.click(
 				screen.getByRole( 'button', {
-					name: 'Expand or collapse card',
+					name: 'Title',
+					expanded: false,
 				} )
 			);
 
@@ -179,7 +157,8 @@ describe( 'CollapsibleCard', () => {
 
 			await user.click(
 				screen.getByRole( 'button', {
-					name: 'Expand or collapse card',
+					name: 'Title',
+					expanded: true,
 				} )
 			);
 
@@ -188,7 +167,7 @@ describe( 'CollapsibleCard', () => {
 	} );
 
 	describe( 'trigger', () => {
-		it( 'renders a toggle button', () => {
+		it( 'renders the header as a toggle button', () => {
 			render(
 				<CollapsibleCard.Root>
 					<CollapsibleCard.Header>
@@ -199,7 +178,8 @@ describe( 'CollapsibleCard', () => {
 
 			expect(
 				screen.getByRole( 'button', {
-					name: 'Expand or collapse card',
+					name: 'Title',
+					expanded: false,
 				} )
 			).toBeVisible();
 		} );
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/utils/css/focus.module.css b/packages/ui/src/utils/css/focus.module.css
index 9a48e96826a460..d11f440305dca8 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/utils/css/focus.module.css
+++ b/packages/ui/src/utils/css/focus.module.css
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@
 	.outset-ring--focus-visible,
 	.outset-ring--focus-within,
 	.outset-ring--focus-within-except-active,
-	.outset-ring--focus-within-visible {
+	.outset-ring--focus-within-visible,
+	.outset-ring--focus-parent-visible {
 		@media not ( prefers-reduced-motion ) {
 			transition: outline 0.1s ease-out;
 		}
@@ -24,7 +25,8 @@
 	.outset-ring--focus-visible:focus-visible,
 	.outset-ring--focus-within:focus-within,
 	.outset-ring--focus-within-except-active:focus-within:not(:has(:active)),
-	.outset-ring--focus-within-visible:focus-within:has(:focus-visible) {
+	.outset-ring--focus-within-visible:focus-within:has(:focus-visible),
+	:focus-visible .outset-ring--focus-parent-visible {
 		outline-width: var(--wpds-border-width-focus);
 		outline-color: var(--wpds-color-stroke-focus-brand);
 	}