diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/navigation/block.json b/packages/block-library/src/navigation/block.json
index 2e116821ba996..54f2862d7233f 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/navigation/block.json
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/navigation/block.json
@@ -71,6 +71,13 @@
 		"templateLock": {
 			"type": [ "string", "boolean" ],
 			"enum": [ "all", "insert", "contentOnly", false ]
+		},
+		"defaultBlock": {
+			"type": "object",
+			"default": {
+				"name": "core/navigation-link",
+				"attributes": {}
+			}
 		}
 	},
 	"providesContext": {
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/navigation/edit/index.js b/packages/block-library/src/navigation/edit/index.js
index 6f629c20c0cfd..8108643b49fc3 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/navigation/edit/index.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/navigation/edit/index.js
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ function Navigation( {
 		overlayMenu,
 		showSubmenuIcon,
 		templateLock,
+		defaultBlock,
 		layout: {
 			justifyContent,
 			orientation = 'horizontal',
@@ -858,6 +859,7 @@ function Navigation( {
 									}
 									templateLock={ templateLock }
 									orientation={ orientation }
+									defaultBlock={ defaultBlock }
 								/>
 							) }
 						</ResponsiveWrapper>
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/navigation/edit/inner-blocks.js b/packages/block-library/src/navigation/edit/inner-blocks.js
index 373acd1f52dfa..8537917397eee 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/navigation/edit/inner-blocks.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/navigation/edit/inner-blocks.js
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ export default function NavigationInnerBlocks( {
 	hasCustomPlaceholder,
 	orientation,
 	templateLock,
+	defaultBlock,
 } ) {
 	const {
 		isImmediateParentOfSelectedBlock,
@@ -88,6 +89,11 @@ export default function NavigationInnerBlocks( {
 	const showPlaceholder =
 		! hasCustomPlaceholder && ! hasMenuItems && ! isSelected;
 
+	// If the `defaultBlock` attribute is set and itself has an attributes object with values then use it
+	// otherwise fallback to the DEFAULT_BLOCK constant.
+	// This allows site owners to set the default `core/navigation-link` variation to use.
+	const navDefaultBlock = defaultBlock?.attributes && Object.keys(defaultBlock.attributes).length > 0 ? defaultBlock : DEFAULT_BLOCK;	
+
 	const innerBlocksProps = useInnerBlocksProps(
 		{
 			className: 'wp-block-navigation__container',
@@ -98,7 +104,7 @@ export default function NavigationInnerBlocks( {
 			onChange,
 			allowedBlocks: ALLOWED_BLOCKS,
 			prioritizedInserterBlocks: PRIORITIZED_INSERTER_BLOCKS,
-			defaultBlock: DEFAULT_BLOCK,
+			defaultBlock: navDefaultBlock,
 			directInsert: shouldDirectInsert,
 			orientation,
 			templateLock,