diff --git a/panel/tests/widgets/test_tables.py b/panel/tests/widgets/test_tables.py
index bece13fef4..fdd2ae0e6b 100644
--- a/panel/tests/widgets/test_tables.py
+++ b/panel/tests/widgets/test_tables.py
@@ -3047,3 +3047,55 @@ def test_header_filters_categorial_dtype():
 def test_tabulator_aggregators(document, comm, df_agg, aggs):
     tabulator = Tabulator(df_agg, hierarchical=True, aggregators=aggs)
     tabulator.get_root(document, comm)
+
+
+def make_column_order_df():
+    return pd.DataFrame({
+        'col1': [1, 2, 3], 'col2': [4, 5, 6],
+        'col3': [7, 8, 9], 'col4': [10, 11, 12],
+    })
+
+
+def test_tabulator_column_order_default():
+    tab = Tabulator(make_column_order_df())
+    fields = [c.field for c in tab._get_columns()]
+    assert fields == ['index', 'col1', 'col2', 'col3', 'col4']
+
+
+def test_tabulator_column_order_filters_and_reorders():
+    tab = Tabulator(make_column_order_df(), column_order=['col3', 'col1'])
+    fields = [c.field for c in tab._get_columns()]
+    assert fields == ['index', 'col3', 'col1']
+
+
+def test_tabulator_column_order_dynamic_update():
+    tab = Tabulator(make_column_order_df(), column_order=['col3', 'col1'])
+    tab.column_order = ['col2', 'col4', 'col1']
+    assert [c.field for c in tab._get_columns()] == ['index', 'col2', 'col4', 'col1']
+
+    tab.column_order = None
+    assert [c.field for c in tab._get_columns()] == ['index', 'col1', 'col2', 'col3', 'col4']
+
+
+def test_tabulator_column_order_ignores_invalid_columns():
+    df = pd.DataFrame({'col1': [1, 2, 3], 'col2': [4, 5, 6], 'col3': [7, 8, 9]})
+    tab = Tabulator(df, column_order=['col3', 'nonexistent', 'col1'])
+    fields = [c.field for c in tab._get_columns()]
+    assert fields == ['index', 'col3', 'col1']
+
+
+def test_tabulator_column_order_index_not_affected():
+    df = pd.DataFrame(
+        {'col1': [1, 2], 'col2': [3, 4]},
+        index=pd.Index([10, 20], name='my_index')
+    )
+    tab = Tabulator(df, column_order=['col2'])
+    fields = [c.field for c in tab._get_columns()]
+    assert fields == ['my_index', 'col2']
+
+
+def test_tabulator_column_order_model_columns(document, comm):
+    tab = Tabulator(make_column_order_df(), column_order=['col3', 'col1'])
+    model = tab.get_root(document, comm)
+    fields = [c.field for c in model.columns]
+    assert fields == ['index', 'col3', 'col1']
diff --git a/panel/widgets/tables.py b/panel/widgets/tables.py
index 698db5e3c4..1d66a92df3 100644
--- a/panel/widgets/tables.py
+++ b/panel/widgets/tables.py
@@ -1261,6 +1261,14 @@ class Tabulator(BaseTable):
     hidden_columns = param.List(default=[], nested_refs=True, doc="""
         List of columns to hide.""")
 
+    column_order = param.List(default=None, allow_None=True, doc="""
+        An ordered list of columns to display. If None (default), all
+        columns are displayed in the order inherited from the underlying
+        data structure. If a list is provided, only the listed columns
+        will be displayed in the order they appear within the list.
+        Columns may be omitted to hide them. Index columns cannot be
+        reordered or hidden using this parameter.""")
+
     layout = param.Selector(default='fit_data_table', objects=[
         'fit_data', 'fit_data_fill', 'fit_data_stretch', 'fit_data_table',
         'fit_columns'], doc="""
@@ -1356,7 +1364,7 @@ class Tabulator(BaseTable):
 
     _content_params: ClassVar[list[str]] = _data_params + ['expanded', 'row_content', 'embed_content']
 
-    _manual_params: ClassVar[list[str]] = BaseTable._manual_params + _config_params
+    _manual_params: ClassVar[list[str]] = BaseTable._manual_params + _config_params + ['column_order']
 
     _priority_changes: ClassVar[list[str]] = ['data', 'filters']
 
@@ -1364,7 +1372,8 @@ class Tabulator(BaseTable):
         'selection': None, 'row_content': None, 'row_height': None,
         'text_align': None, 'header_align': None, 'header_filters': None,
         'header_tooltips': None, 'styles': 'cell_styles',
-        'title_formatters': None, 'sortable': None, 'initial_page_size': None
+        'title_formatters': None, 'sortable': None, 'initial_page_size': None,
+        'column_order': None,
     }
 
     # Determines the maximum size limits beyond which (local, remote)
@@ -1404,6 +1413,23 @@ def __init__(self, value=None, **params):
             self.style._todo = style._todo
         self.param.selection.callable = self._get_selectable
 
+    def _get_columns(self) -> list:
+        if self.value is None:
+            return []
+        indexes = self.indexes
+        all_fields = self._get_fields()
+
+        if self.column_order is not None:
+            ordered_fields = indexes + [
+                col for col in self.column_order
+                if col in all_fields and col not in indexes
+            ]
+        else:
+            ordered_fields = all_fields
+
+        df = self.value.reset_index() if len(indexes) > 1 else self.value
+        return self._get_column_definitions(ordered_fields, df)
+
     @param.depends('value', watch=True, on_init=True)
     def _apply_max_size(self):
         """