diff --git a/public/app/core/components/TimelineChart/TimelineChart.tsx b/public/app/core/components/TimelineChart/TimelineChart.tsx
index 4b677c72282..306e7ded976 100644
--- a/public/app/core/components/TimelineChart/TimelineChart.tsx
+++ b/public/app/core/components/TimelineChart/TimelineChart.tsx
@@ -35,6 +35,82 @@ const propsToDiff = [
   'annotationLanes',
 ];
 
+const FEATURE_TOGGLE_ENABLED = true;
+
+/**
+ * Hashes a string to generate a consistent, visually distinct color.
+ * Optimized for at least 32 distinct colors with varying hue and brightness.
+ *
+ * @param str - The string to hash into a color
+ * @returns A hex color string (e.g., "#3498db")
+ */
+function hashStringToColor(str: string): string {
+  // Simple hash function to convert string to a number
+  let hash = 0;
+  for (let i = 0; i < str.length; i++) {
+    hash = str.charCodeAt(i) + ((hash << 5) - hash);
+    hash = hash & hash; // Convert to 32-bit integer
+  }
+
+  // Use the hash to generate distinct hue values
+  // Distribute across the full 360° color wheel for maximum distinction
+  const hue = Math.abs(hash % 360);
+
+  // Create two alternating brightness levels for better distinction
+  // This effectively doubles our color space
+  const lightnessVariant = Math.abs(Math.floor(hash / 360) % 2);
+  const lightness = lightnessVariant === 0 ? 45 : 65; // Darker or lighter variant
+
+  // Use moderate saturation for good visibility
+  // Vary saturation slightly based on hash for additional distinction
+  const saturationVariant = Math.abs(Math.floor(hash / 720) % 3);
+  const saturation = 65 + saturationVariant * 10; // 65%, 75%, or 85%
+
+  // Convert HSL to RGB
+  const h = hue / 360;
+  const s = saturation / 100;
+  const l = lightness / 100;
+
+  let r, g, b;
+
+  if (s === 0) {
+    r = g = b = l; // Achromatic
+  } else {
+    const hue2rgb = (p: number, q: number, t: number) => {
+      if (t < 0) {
+        t += 1;
+      }
+      if (t > 1) {
+        t -= 1;
+      }
+      if (t < 1 / 6) {
+        return p + (q - p) * 6 * t;
+      }
+      if (t < 1 / 2) {
+        return q;
+      }
+      if (t < 2 / 3) {
+        return p + (q - p) * (2 / 3 - t) * 6;
+      }
+      return p;
+    };
+
+    const q = l < 0.5 ? l * (1 + s) : l + s - l * s;
+    const p = 2 * l - q;
+    r = hue2rgb(p, q, h + 1 / 3);
+    g = hue2rgb(p, q, h);
+    b = hue2rgb(p, q, h - 1 / 3);
+  }
+
+  // Convert to hex
+  const toHex = (x: number) => {
+    const hex = Math.round(x * 255).toString(16);
+    return hex.length === 1 ? '0' + hex : hex;
+  };
+
+  return `#${toHex(r)}${toHex(g)}${toHex(b)}`;
+}
+
 export const TimelineChart = (props: TimelineProps) => {
   const { frames, timeZone, rowHeight, tooltip, legend, legendItems } = props;
 
@@ -42,6 +118,12 @@ export const TimelineChart = (props: TimelineProps) => {
     (frameIdx: number, fieldIdx: number, value: unknown) => {
       const field = frames[frameIdx]?.fields[fieldIdx];
 
+      if (FEATURE_TOGGLE_ENABLED && field?.config?.color?.mode === 'palette-classic') {
+        const valueAsString = typeof value === 'string' ? value : String(value);
+        const hashedColor = hashStringToColor(valueAsString);
+        return hashedColor;
+      }
+
       if (field?.display) {
         const disp = field.display(value); // will apply color modes
         if (disp.color) {