diff --git a/packages/react/__tests__/__snapshots__/PublicAPI-test.js.snap b/packages/react/__tests__/__snapshots__/PublicAPI-test.js.snap
index 9e9c284c5f89..0099518920bd 100644
--- a/packages/react/__tests__/__snapshots__/PublicAPI-test.js.snap
+++ b/packages/react/__tests__/__snapshots__/PublicAPI-test.js.snap
@@ -2000,7 +2000,8 @@ Map {
       },
     },
     "TableCell": Object {
-      "displayName": "TableCell",
+      "$$typeof": Symbol(react.forward_ref),
+      "render": [Function],
     },
     "TableContainer": Object {
       "propTypes": Object {
@@ -8016,7 +8017,8 @@ Map {
     },
   },
   "TableCell" => Object {
-    "displayName": "TableCell",
+    "$$typeof": Symbol(react.forward_ref),
+    "render": [Function],
   },
   "TableContainer" => Object {
     "propTypes": Object {
diff --git a/packages/react/src/components/DataTable/TableCell.tsx b/packages/react/src/components/DataTable/TableCell.tsx
index 426e928f542e..1046bd770d2d 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/components/DataTable/TableCell.tsx
+++ b/packages/react/src/components/DataTable/TableCell.tsx
@@ -37,27 +37,24 @@ interface TableCellProps extends ReactAttr<HTMLTableCellElement> {
   headers?: string;
 }
 
-const TableCell = ({
-  children,
-  className,
-  hasSlugHeader,
-  colSpan,
-  ...rest
-}: TableCellProps) => {
-  const prefix = usePrefix();
-
-  const tableCellClassNames = classNames(className, {
-    [`${prefix}--table-cell--column-slug`]: hasSlugHeader,
-  });
-  return (
-    <td
-      className={tableCellClassNames ? tableCellClassNames : undefined}
-      colSpan={colSpan}
-      {...rest}>
-      {children}
-    </td>
-  );
-};
+const TableCell = React.forwardRef<HTMLTableCellElement, TableCellProps>(
+  ({ children, className, hasSlugHeader, colSpan, ...rest }, ref) => {
+    const prefix = usePrefix();
+
+    const tableCellClassNames = classNames(className, {
+      [`${prefix}--table-cell--column-slug`]: hasSlugHeader,
+    });
+    return (
+      <td
+        className={tableCellClassNames ? tableCellClassNames : undefined}
+        ref={ref}
+        colSpan={colSpan}
+        {...rest}>
+        {children}
+      </td>
+    );
+  }
+);
 
 TableCell.displayName = 'TableCell';
 export default TableCell;
diff --git a/packages/react/src/components/DataTable/__tests__/TableCell-test.js b/packages/react/src/components/DataTable/__tests__/TableCell-test.js
index bbf1faee5422..bb812181be9d 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/components/DataTable/__tests__/TableCell-test.js
+++ b/packages/react/src/components/DataTable/__tests__/TableCell-test.js
@@ -38,4 +38,24 @@ describe('TableCell', () => {
       'test'
     );
   });
+
+  it('should forward refs to the rendered cell element', () => {
+    let td = null;
+    const ref = jest.fn((node) => {
+      td = node;
+    });
+    const { container } = render(
+      <Table>
+        <TableBody>
+          <TableRow data-testid="tr">
+            <TableCell ref={ref} className="custom-class" />
+          </TableRow>
+        </TableBody>
+      </Table>
+    );
+    expect(ref).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(td).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(td).toEqual(container.querySelector('td'));
+    expect(td).toHaveClass('custom-class');
+  });
 });