diff --git a/include/ipc.h b/include/ipc.h
index ff0117502..fcf1133bd 100644
--- a/include/ipc.h
+++ b/include/ipc.h
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ enum ipc_command_type {
 	// sway-specific event types
 	IPC_EVENT_BAR_STATE_UPDATE = ((1<<31) | 20),
 	IPC_EVENT_INPUT = ((1<<31) | 21),
+	IPC_EVENT_IDLE_INHIBITOR = ((1<<31) | 22),
+	IPC_EVENT_KEYBOARD_SHORTCUTS_INHIBITOR = ((1<<31) | 23),
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/include/sway/desktop/idle_inhibit_v1.h b/include/sway/desktop/idle_inhibit_v1.h
index 84cc666d0..047762450 100644
--- a/include/sway/desktop/idle_inhibit_v1.h
+++ b/include/sway/desktop/idle_inhibit_v1.h
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ struct sway_idle_inhibitor_v1 *sway_idle_inhibit_v1_user_inhibitor_for_view(
 struct sway_idle_inhibitor_v1 *sway_idle_inhibit_v1_application_inhibitor_for_view(
 		struct sway_view *view);
 
+void sway_idle_inhibit_v1_user_inhibitor_update_mode(
+		struct sway_idle_inhibitor_v1 *inhibitor,
+		enum sway_idle_inhibit_mode mode);
+
 void sway_idle_inhibit_v1_user_inhibitor_destroy(
 		struct sway_idle_inhibitor_v1 *inhibitor);
 
diff --git a/include/sway/input/seat.h b/include/sway/input/seat.h
index 428f96796..3e66cbc0e 100644
--- a/include/sway/input/seat.h
+++ b/include/sway/input/seat.h
@@ -369,4 +369,12 @@ keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor_get_for_surface(const struct sway_seat *seat,
 struct sway_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor *
 keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor_get_for_focused_surface(const struct sway_seat *seat);
 
+/**
+ * Returns the keyboard shortcuts inhibitor that applies to the given surface
+ * or NULL if none exists. It looks at inhibitors attached to all seats.
+ */
+struct sway_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor *
+keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor_get_for_surface_on_any_seat(
+		const struct wlr_surface *surface);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/include/sway/ipc-json.h b/include/sway/ipc-json.h
index bc9f49856..2f36c795e 100644
--- a/include/sway/ipc-json.h
+++ b/include/sway/ipc-json.h
@@ -3,7 +3,10 @@
 #include <json.h>
 #include "sway/output.h"
 #include "sway/tree/container.h"
+#include "sway/desktop/idle_inhibit_v1.h"
 #include "sway/input/input-manager.h"
+#include "sway/input/seat.h"
+#include "sway/tree/container.h"
 
 json_object *ipc_json_get_version(void);
 
@@ -16,5 +19,9 @@ json_object *ipc_json_describe_node_recursive(struct sway_node *node);
 json_object *ipc_json_describe_input(struct sway_input_device *device);
 json_object *ipc_json_describe_seat(struct sway_seat *seat);
 json_object *ipc_json_describe_bar_config(struct bar_config *bar);
+json_object *ipc_json_describe_idle_inhibitor(
+		struct sway_idle_inhibitor_v1 *sway_inhibitor);
+json_object *ipc_json_describe_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor(
+		struct sway_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor *sway_inhibitor);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/include/sway/ipc-server.h b/include/sway/ipc-server.h
index d4c009427..4590e0065 100644
--- a/include/sway/ipc-server.h
+++ b/include/sway/ipc-server.h
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@
 #define _SWAY_IPC_SERVER_H
 #include <sys/socket.h>
 #include "sway/config.h"
+#include "sway/desktop/idle_inhibit_v1.h"
 #include "sway/input/input-manager.h"
+#include "sway/input/seat.h"
 #include "sway/tree/container.h"
 #include "ipc.h"
 
@@ -22,5 +24,9 @@ void ipc_event_shutdown(const char *reason);
 void ipc_event_binding(struct sway_binding *binding);
 void ipc_event_input(const char *change, struct sway_input_device *device);
 void ipc_event_output(void);
+void ipc_event_idle_inhibitor(struct sway_idle_inhibitor_v1 *inhibitor, const char *change);
+void ipc_event_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor(
+		struct sway_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor *inhibitor,
+		const char *change);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/sway/commands/inhibit_idle.c b/sway/commands/inhibit_idle.c
index 6125736ac..23cdb7f8d 100644
--- a/sway/commands/inhibit_idle.c
+++ b/sway/commands/inhibit_idle.c
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ struct cmd_results *cmd_inhibit_idle(int argc, char **argv) {
 		if (clear) {
 			sway_idle_inhibit_v1_user_inhibitor_destroy(inhibitor);
 		} else {
-			inhibitor->mode = mode;
+			sway_idle_inhibit_v1_user_inhibitor_update_mode(inhibitor, mode);
 			sway_idle_inhibit_v1_check_active();
 		}
 	} else if (!clear) {
diff --git a/sway/commands/seat/shortcuts_inhibitor.c b/sway/commands/seat/shortcuts_inhibitor.c
index 7c7f99cf0..ce895cde8 100644
--- a/sway/commands/seat/shortcuts_inhibitor.c
+++ b/sway/commands/seat/shortcuts_inhibitor.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include "sway/commands.h"
 #include "sway/input/seat.h"
 #include "sway/input/input-manager.h"
+#include "sway/ipc-server.h"
 #include "util.h"
 
 static struct cmd_results *handle_action(struct seat_config *sc,
@@ -12,6 +13,8 @@ static struct cmd_results *handle_action(struct seat_config *sc,
 
 		wl_list_for_each(sway_inhibitor,
 				&seat->keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitors, link) {
+			ipc_event_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor(
+					sway_inhibitor, "deactivate");
 			wlr_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor_v1_deactivate(
 					sway_inhibitor->inhibitor);
 		}
@@ -39,8 +42,12 @@ static struct cmd_results *handle_action(struct seat_config *sc,
 		}
 
 		if (inhibit) {
+			ipc_event_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor(
+					sway_inhibitor, "activate");
 			wlr_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor_v1_activate(inhibitor);
 		} else {
+			ipc_event_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor(
+					sway_inhibitor, "deactivate");
 			wlr_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor_v1_deactivate(inhibitor);
 		}
 
diff --git a/sway/commands/shortcuts_inhibitor.c b/sway/commands/shortcuts_inhibitor.c
index ffa1a5c99..45eb5d6e6 100644
--- a/sway/commands/shortcuts_inhibitor.c
+++ b/sway/commands/shortcuts_inhibitor.c
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "sway/commands.h"
 #include "sway/config.h"
 #include "sway/input/seat.h"
+#include "sway/ipc-server.h"
 #include "sway/tree/container.h"
 #include "sway/tree/view.h"
 
@@ -33,12 +34,13 @@ struct cmd_results *cmd_shortcuts_inhibitor(int argc, char **argv) {
 				continue;
 			}
 
+			ipc_event_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor(
+					sway_inhibitor, "deactivate");
 			wlr_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor_v1_deactivate(
 					sway_inhibitor->inhibitor);
 			sway_log(SWAY_DEBUG, "Deactivated keyboard shortcuts "
 					"inhibitor for seat %s on view",
 					seat->wlr_seat->name);
-
 		}
 	} else {
 		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID,
diff --git a/sway/desktop/idle_inhibit_v1.c b/sway/desktop/idle_inhibit_v1.c
index f3af7aa1b..2f2306fa9 100644
--- a/sway/desktop/idle_inhibit_v1.c
+++ b/sway/desktop/idle_inhibit_v1.c
@@ -3,12 +3,14 @@
 #include "log.h"
 #include "sway/desktop/idle_inhibit_v1.h"
 #include "sway/input/seat.h"
+#include "sway/ipc-server.h"
 #include "sway/tree/container.h"
 #include "sway/tree/view.h"
 #include "sway/server.h"
 
 
 static void destroy_inhibitor(struct sway_idle_inhibitor_v1 *inhibitor) {
+	ipc_event_idle_inhibitor(inhibitor, "destroy");
 	wl_list_remove(&inhibitor->link);
 	wl_list_remove(&inhibitor->destroy.link);
 	sway_idle_inhibit_v1_check_active();
@@ -36,6 +38,9 @@ void handle_idle_inhibitor_v1(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
 
 	inhibitor->mode = INHIBIT_IDLE_APPLICATION;
 	inhibitor->wlr_inhibitor = wlr_inhibitor;
+
+	ipc_event_idle_inhibitor(inhibitor, "create");
+
 	wl_list_insert(&manager->inhibitors, &inhibitor->link);
 
 	inhibitor->destroy.notify = handle_destroy;
@@ -56,6 +61,9 @@ void sway_idle_inhibit_v1_user_inhibitor_register(struct sway_view *view,
 
 	inhibitor->mode = mode;
 	inhibitor->view = view;
+
+	ipc_event_idle_inhibitor(inhibitor, "create");
+
 	wl_list_insert(&manager->inhibitors, &inhibitor->link);
 
 	inhibitor->destroy.notify = handle_destroy;
@@ -90,6 +98,13 @@ struct sway_idle_inhibitor_v1 *sway_idle_inhibit_v1_application_inhibitor_for_vi
 	return NULL;
 }
 
+void sway_idle_inhibit_v1_user_inhibitor_update_mode(
+		struct sway_idle_inhibitor_v1 *inhibitor,
+		enum sway_idle_inhibit_mode mode) {
+	inhibitor->mode = mode;
+	ipc_event_idle_inhibitor(inhibitor, "mode");
+}
+
 void sway_idle_inhibit_v1_user_inhibitor_destroy(
 		struct sway_idle_inhibitor_v1 *inhibitor) {
 	if (!inhibitor) {
diff --git a/sway/input/input-manager.c b/sway/input/input-manager.c
index 248ca34ee..592694db9 100644
--- a/sway/input/input-manager.c
+++ b/sway/input/input-manager.c
@@ -298,6 +298,8 @@ static void handle_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor_destroy(
 
 	sway_log(SWAY_DEBUG, "Removing keyboard shortcuts inhibitor");
 
+	ipc_event_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor(sway_inhibitor, "destroy");
+
 	// sway_seat::keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitors
 	wl_list_remove(&sway_inhibitor->link);
 	wl_list_remove(&sway_inhibitor->destroy.link);
@@ -321,6 +323,8 @@ static void handle_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibit_new_inhibitor(
 	}
 	sway_inhibitor->inhibitor = inhibitor;
 
+	ipc_event_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor(sway_inhibitor, "create");
+
 	sway_inhibitor->destroy.notify = handle_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor_destroy;
 	wl_signal_add(&inhibitor->events.destroy, &sway_inhibitor->destroy);
 
@@ -361,6 +365,7 @@ static void handle_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibit_new_inhibitor(
 		return;
 	}
 
+	ipc_event_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor(sway_inhibitor, "activate");
 	wlr_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor_v1_activate(inhibitor);
 }
 
diff --git a/sway/input/seat.c b/sway/input/seat.c
index 0c5672bca..077119d05 100644
--- a/sway/input/seat.c
+++ b/sway/input/seat.c
@@ -1723,3 +1723,18 @@ keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor_get_for_focused_surface(
 	return keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor_get_for_surface(seat,
 		seat->wlr_seat->keyboard_state.focused_surface);
 }
+
+struct sway_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor *
+keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor_get_for_surface_on_any_seat(
+		const struct wlr_surface *surface) {
+	struct sway_seat *seat = NULL;
+	wl_list_for_each(seat, &server.input->seats, link) {
+		struct sway_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor *sway_inhibitor =
+			keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor_get_for_surface(seat, surface);
+		if (sway_inhibitor) {
+			return sway_inhibitor;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return NULL;
+}
diff --git a/sway/ipc-json.c b/sway/ipc-json.c
index 81ca34831..ca3df2b0e 100644
--- a/sway/ipc-json.c
+++ b/sway/ipc-json.c
@@ -220,6 +220,19 @@ static const char *ipc_json_content_type_description(enum wp_content_type_v1_typ
 	return NULL;
 }
 
+static const char *ipc_json_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor_description(
+		struct sway_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor *sway_inhibitor) {
+	if (!sway_inhibitor) {
+		return "none";
+	}
+
+	if (!sway_inhibitor->inhibitor->active) {
+		return "inactive";
+	}
+
+	return "active";
+}
+
 json_object *ipc_json_get_version(void) {
 	int major = 0, minor = 0, patch = 0;
 	json_object *version = json_object_new_object();
@@ -633,6 +646,12 @@ static void ipc_json_describe_view(struct sway_container *c, json_object *object
 			json_object_new_string(ipc_json_content_type_description(content_type)));
 	}
 
+	json_object_object_add(object, "keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor",
+		json_object_new_string(
+			ipc_json_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor_description(
+				keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor_get_for_surface_on_any_seat(
+					c->view->surface))));
+
 #if HAVE_XWAYLAND
 	if (c->view->type == SWAY_VIEW_XWAYLAND) {
 		json_object_object_add(object, "window",
@@ -1426,3 +1445,51 @@ json_object *ipc_json_get_binding_mode(void) {
 			json_object_new_string(config->current_mode->name));
 	return current_mode;
 }
+
+json_object *ipc_json_describe_idle_inhibitor(
+		struct sway_idle_inhibitor_v1 *sway_inhibitor) {
+	json_object *object = json_object_new_object();
+
+	json_object_object_add(object, "active",
+		json_object_new_boolean(
+			sway_idle_inhibit_v1_is_active(sway_inhibitor)));
+
+	const char *type = NULL;
+	struct sway_view *view = NULL;
+	if (sway_inhibitor->mode == INHIBIT_IDLE_APPLICATION) {
+		type = "application";
+		view = view_from_wlr_surface(sway_inhibitor->wlr_inhibitor->surface);
+	} else {
+		type = "user";
+		view = sway_inhibitor->view;
+		json_object_object_add(object, "mode",
+			json_object_new_string(
+				ipc_json_user_idle_inhibitor_description(
+					sway_inhibitor->mode)));
+	}
+
+	if (type) {
+		json_object_object_add(object, "type", json_object_new_string(type));
+	}
+
+	if (view && view->container) {
+		json_object_object_add(object, "container",
+			ipc_json_describe_node(&view->container->node));
+	}
+
+	return object;
+}
+
+json_object *ipc_json_describe_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor(
+		struct sway_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor *sway_inhibitor) {
+	json_object *object = json_object_new_object();
+
+	struct sway_view *view = view_from_wlr_surface(
+			sway_inhibitor->inhibitor->surface);
+	if (view && view->container) {
+		json_object_object_add(object, "container",
+			ipc_json_describe_node(&view->container->node));
+	}
+
+	return object;
+}
diff --git a/sway/ipc-server.c b/sway/ipc-server.c
index 7f353c0ec..643ad1520 100644
--- a/sway/ipc-server.c
+++ b/sway/ipc-server.c
@@ -521,6 +521,39 @@ void ipc_event_output(void) {
 	json_object_put(json);
 }
 
+void ipc_event_idle_inhibitor(struct sway_idle_inhibitor_v1 *inhibitor, const char *change) {
+	if (!ipc_has_event_listeners(IPC_EVENT_IDLE_INHIBITOR)) {
+		return;
+	}
+	sway_log(SWAY_DEBUG, "Sending idle inhibitor::%s event", change);
+	json_object *obj = json_object_new_object();
+	json_object_object_add(obj, "change", json_object_new_string(change));
+	json_object_object_add(obj, "idle_inhibitor",
+			ipc_json_describe_idle_inhibitor(inhibitor));
+
+	const char *json_string = json_object_to_json_string(obj);
+	ipc_send_event(json_string, IPC_EVENT_IDLE_INHIBITOR);
+	json_object_put(obj);
+}
+
+void ipc_event_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor(
+		struct sway_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor *inhibitor,
+		const char *change) {
+	if (!ipc_has_event_listeners(IPC_EVENT_KEYBOARD_SHORTCUTS_INHIBITOR)) {
+		return;
+	}
+	sway_log(SWAY_DEBUG, "Sending keyboard shortcuts "
+			"inhibitor::%s event", change);
+	json_object *obj = json_object_new_object();
+	json_object_object_add(obj, "change", json_object_new_string(change));
+	json_object_object_add(obj, "keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor",
+			ipc_json_describe_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor(inhibitor));
+
+	const char *json_string = json_object_to_json_string(obj);
+	ipc_send_event(json_string, IPC_EVENT_KEYBOARD_SHORTCUTS_INHIBITOR);
+	json_object_put(obj);
+}
+
 int ipc_client_handle_writable(int client_fd, uint32_t mask, void *data) {
 	struct ipc_client *client = data;
 
@@ -757,6 +790,11 @@ void ipc_client_handle_command(struct ipc_client *client, uint32_t payload_lengt
 				is_tick = true;
 			} else if (strcmp(event_type, "input") == 0) {
 				client->subscribed_events |= event_mask(IPC_EVENT_INPUT);
+			} else if (strcmp(event_type, "idle_inhibitor") == 0) {
+				client->subscribed_events |= event_mask(IPC_EVENT_IDLE_INHIBITOR);
+			} else if (strcmp(event_type, "keyboard_shortcuts_inhibitor") == 0) {
+				client->subscribed_events |= event_mask(
+						IPC_EVENT_KEYBOARD_SHORTCUTS_INHIBITOR);
 			} else {
 				const char msg[] = "{\"success\": false}";
 				ipc_send_reply(client, payload_type, msg, strlen(msg));