diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/59548-import-playbook-plugin-dirs.yml b/changelogs/fragments/59548-import-playbook-plugin-dirs.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6c6922f0e0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/59548-import-playbook-plugin-dirs.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+bugfixes:
+- plugin loader - Move plugin loader playbook dir additions back to ``Playbook`` instead of ``PlaybookCLI``
+  to solve sub directory playbook relative plugins to be located
+  (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/59548)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/__init__.py
index 74257c061bb..17b5f2fe76f 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/__init__.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ from ansible.errors import AnsibleParserError
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_text, to_native
 from ansible.playbook.play import Play
 from ansible.playbook.playbook_include import PlaybookInclude
+from ansible.plugins.loader import add_all_plugin_dirs
 from ansible.utils.display import Display
 
 display = Display()
@@ -61,6 +62,8 @@ class Playbook:
         cur_basedir = self._loader.get_basedir()
         self._loader.set_basedir(self._basedir)
 
+        add_all_plugin_dirs(self._basedir)
+
         self._file_name = file_name
 
         try:
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/include_import/playbook/sub_playbook/library/helloworld.py b/test/integration/targets/include_import/playbook/sub_playbook/library/helloworld.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..bc0907677ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/include_import/playbook/sub_playbook/library/helloworld.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+# This file is part of Ansible
+#
+# Ansible is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# Ansible is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
+
+
+def main():
+    module = AnsibleModule(argument_spec={})
+
+    module.exit_json(msg='Hello, World!')
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/include_import/playbook/sub_playbook/sub_playbook.yml b/test/integration/targets/include_import/playbook/sub_playbook/sub_playbook.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4399d935ae2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/include_import/playbook/sub_playbook/sub_playbook.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+- hosts: localhost
+  gather_facts: false
+  tasks:
+    - helloworld:
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/include_import/playbook/test_import_playbook.yml b/test/integration/targets/include_import/playbook/test_import_playbook.yml
index ec6e77f10e5..91c6a198801 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/include_import/playbook/test_import_playbook.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/include_import/playbook/test_import_playbook.yml
@@ -18,3 +18,6 @@
 - import_playbook: playbook_needing_vars.yml
   vars:
     import_playbook_role_name: import_playbook_role
+
+# https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/59548
+- import_playbook: sub_playbook/sub_playbook.yml