diff --git a/lib/ansible/cli/galaxy.py b/lib/ansible/cli/galaxy.py
index 6ea3f708eec..c935ec5238b 100755
--- a/lib/ansible/cli/galaxy.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/cli/galaxy.py
@@ -708,6 +708,15 @@ class GalaxyCLI(CLI):
         return self.lazy_role_api.api
 
     def _get_default_collection_path(self):
+
+        if isinstance(C.GALAXY_COLLECTIONS_INSTALL_PATH, list) and \
+            len(C.GALAXY_COLLECTIONS_INSTALL_PATH) > 0 :
+            path_candidates = C.GALAXY_COLLECTIONS_INSTALL_PATH
+            for _path in path_candidates:
+                if os.path.isdir(_path):
+                    return _path
+            return path_candidates[0]
+
         return C.COLLECTIONS_PATHS[0]
 
     def _parse_requirements_file(self, requirements_file, allow_old_format=True, artifacts_manager=None, validate_signature_options=True):
diff --git a/lib/ansible/config/base.yml b/lib/ansible/config/base.yml
index 445fd4540a1..80976b04cba 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/config/base.yml
+++ b/lib/ansible/config/base.yml
@@ -227,6 +227,22 @@ COLLECTIONS_PATHS:
   - key: collections_path
     section: defaults
     version_added: '2.10'
+GALAXY_COLLECTIONS_INSTALL_PATH:
+  name: preferred collection install path
+  description: >
+    Preferred install path for collection. If empty or not set, fallback on first ``COLLECTIONS_PATHS`` path.
+    If one or more paths are provided, the first existing directory is selected. If no directory exists, it
+    will use the last one of the list. If the selected path is not in the ``COLLECTIONS_PATHS`` list, then
+    a warning is raised, unless ``GALAXY_COLLECTIONS_PATH_WARNING`` is set to ``false``.
+  default: null
+  type: pathspec
+  env:
+  - name: ANSIBLE_GALAXY_COLLECTIONS_INSTALL_PATH
+    version_added: '2.16'
+  ini:
+  - key: collections_install_path
+    section: defaults
+    version_added: '2.10'
 COLLECTIONS_ON_ANSIBLE_VERSION_MISMATCH:
   name: Defines behavior when loading a collection that does not support the current Ansible version
   description: