diff --git a/changelogs/client_server/newsfragments/2175.feature b/changelogs/client_server/newsfragments/2175.feature
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ddd71d27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/client_server/newsfragments/2175.feature
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Add `format` query parameter to `GET /state/{eventType}/{stateKey}` to allow fetching metadata of a specific state event.
diff --git a/data/api/client-server/rooms.yaml b/data/api/client-server/rooms.yaml
index a2197f34..a5c9977e 100644
--- a/data/api/client-server/rooms.yaml
+++ b/data/api/client-server/rooms.yaml
@@ -105,13 +105,31 @@ paths:
           example: ""
           schema:
             type: string
+        - in: query
+          name: format
+          x-addedInMatrixVersion: "1.16"
+          description: |-
+            The format to use for the returned data. `content` (the default) will
+            return only the content of the state event. `event` will return the entire
+            event in the usual format suitable for clients, including fields like event
+            ID, sender and timestamp.
+          example: event
+          schema:
+            type: string
+            enum:
+            - content
+            - event
       responses:
         "200":
-          description: The content of the state event.
+          description: |-
+            The content of the state event, or the entire client-formatted event
+            if `?format=event` was used.
           content:
             application/json:
               schema:
-                type: object
+                oneOf:
+                  - type: object
+                  - $ref: "../../event-schemas/schema/core-event-schema/state_event.yaml"
               examples:
                 response:
                   value: {