diff --git a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
index e918e5cebe58..c928d2ac2701 100644
--- a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
+++ b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ export class MatAutocompleteTrigger implements ControlValueAccessor, OnDestroy {
 
     if (this._panelOpen) {
       this.autocomplete._isOpen = this._panelOpen = false;
+      this.autocomplete.closed.emit();
 
       if (this._overlayRef && this._overlayRef.hasAttached()) {
         this._overlayRef.detach();
@@ -499,8 +500,16 @@ export class MatAutocompleteTrigger implements ControlValueAccessor, OnDestroy {
       this._closingActionsSubscription = this._subscribeToClosingActions();
     }
 
+    const wasOpen = this.panelOpen;
+
     this.autocomplete._setVisibility();
     this.autocomplete._isOpen = this._panelOpen = true;
+
+    // We need to do an extra `panelOpen` check in here, because the
+    // autocomplete won't be shown if there are no options.
+    if (this.panelOpen && wasOpen !== this.panelOpen) {
+      this.autocomplete.opened.emit();
+    }
   }
 
   private _getOverlayConfig(): OverlayConfig {
diff --git a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
index 3bf1f45483b4..a9d8e974833c 100644
--- a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
@@ -410,6 +410,38 @@ describe('MatAutocomplete', () => {
       expect(fixture.componentInstance.panel.isOpen).toBeTruthy(
         `Expected the panel to be opened on focus.`);
     }));
+
+    it('should emit an event when the panel is opened', () => {
+      fixture.componentInstance.trigger.openPanel();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(fixture.componentInstance.openedSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('should not emit the opened event multiple times while typing', fakeAsync(() => {
+      fixture.componentInstance.trigger.openPanel();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(fixture.componentInstance.openedSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+      typeInElement('Alabam', input);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      tick();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(fixture.componentInstance.openedSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    }));
+
+    it('should emit an event when the panel is closed', () => {
+      fixture.componentInstance.trigger.openPanel();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      fixture.componentInstance.trigger.closePanel();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(fixture.componentInstance.closedSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
   });
 
   it('should have the correct text direction in RTL', () => {
@@ -423,7 +455,6 @@ describe('MatAutocomplete', () => {
 
     const overlayPane = overlayContainerElement.querySelector('.cdk-overlay-pane')!;
     expect(overlayPane.getAttribute('dir')).toEqual('rtl');
-
   });
 
   describe('forms integration', () => {
@@ -1814,7 +1845,7 @@ describe('MatAutocomplete', () => {
     </mat-form-field>
 
     <mat-autocomplete class="class-one class-two" #auto="matAutocomplete" [displayWith]="displayFn"
-      [disableRipple]="disableRipple">
+      [disableRipple]="disableRipple" (opened)="openedSpy()" (closed)="closedSpy()">
       <mat-option *ngFor="let state of filteredStates" [value]="state">
         <span> {{ state.code }}: {{ state.name }}  </span>
       </mat-option>
@@ -1828,6 +1859,8 @@ class SimpleAutocomplete implements OnDestroy {
   floatLabel = 'auto';
   width: number;
   disableRipple = false;
+  openedSpy = jasmine.createSpy('autocomplete opened spy');
+  closedSpy = jasmine.createSpy('autocomplete closed spy');
 
   @ViewChild(MatAutocompleteTrigger) trigger: MatAutocompleteTrigger;
   @ViewChild(MatAutocomplete) panel: MatAutocomplete;
diff --git a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.ts b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.ts
index 580641024373..de85cd5cec68 100644
--- a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.ts
+++ b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.ts
@@ -126,6 +126,12 @@ export class MatAutocomplete extends _MatAutocompleteMixinBase implements AfterC
   @Output() readonly optionSelected: EventEmitter<MatAutocompleteSelectedEvent> =
       new EventEmitter<MatAutocompleteSelectedEvent>();
 
+  /** Event that is emitted when the autocomplete panel is opened. */
+  @Output() readonly opened: EventEmitter<void> = new EventEmitter<void>();
+
+  /** Event that is emitted when the autocomplete panel is closed. */
+  @Output() readonly closed: EventEmitter<void> = new EventEmitter<void>();
+
   /**
    * Takes classes set on the host mat-autocomplete element and applies them to the panel
    * inside the overlay container to allow for easy styling.
@@ -159,7 +165,7 @@ export class MatAutocomplete extends _MatAutocompleteMixinBase implements AfterC
 
   ngAfterContentInit() {
     this._keyManager = new ActiveDescendantKeyManager<MatOption>(this.options).withWrap();
-    // Set the initial visibiity state.
+    // Set the initial visibility state.
     this._setVisibility();
   }
 
@@ -184,7 +190,7 @@ export class MatAutocomplete extends _MatAutocompleteMixinBase implements AfterC
     this._classList['mat-autocomplete-visible'] = this.showPanel;
     this._classList['mat-autocomplete-hidden'] = !this.showPanel;
     this._changeDetectorRef.markForCheck();
-}
+  }
 
   /** Emits the `select` event. */
   _emitSelectEvent(option: MatOption): void {