diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-snack-bar/snack-bar-container.html b/src/material-experimental/mdc-snack-bar/snack-bar-container.html
index 4172dd285f5a..eb5fdb1b7f61 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-snack-bar/snack-bar-container.html
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-snack-bar/snack-bar-container.html
@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@
     the attached template/component does not contain it.
   -->
   <div class="mat-mdc-snack-bar-label" #label>
-    <ng-template cdkPortalOutlet></ng-template>
+    <!-- Initialy holds the snack bar content, will be empty after announcing to screen readers. -->
+    <div aria-hidden="true">
+      <ng-template cdkPortalOutlet></ng-template>
+    </div>
+
+    <!-- Will receive the snack bar content from the non-live div, move will happen a short delay after opening -->
+    <div [attr.aria-live]="_live"></div>
   </div>
 </div>
diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-snack-bar/snack-bar-container.ts b/src/material-experimental/mdc-snack-bar/snack-bar-container.ts
index 6ed19cf3eac8..38cfea15926f 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-snack-bar/snack-bar-container.ts
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-snack-bar/snack-bar-container.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
 
+import {AriaLivePoliteness} from '@angular/cdk/a11y';
 import {
   BasePortalOutlet,
   CdkPortalOutlet,
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ import {
   ComponentRef,
   ElementRef,
   EmbeddedViewRef,
+  NgZone,
   OnDestroy,
   ViewChild,
   ViewEncapsulation
@@ -49,7 +51,6 @@ const MDC_SNACKBAR_LABEL_CLASS = 'mdc-snackbar__label';
   changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.Default,
   encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
   host: {
-    '[attr.role]': '_role',
     'class': 'mdc-snackbar mat-mdc-snack-bar-container',
     '[class.mat-snack-bar-container]': 'false',
     // Mark this element with a 'mat-exit' attribute to indicate that the snackbar has
@@ -60,14 +61,23 @@ const MDC_SNACKBAR_LABEL_CLASS = 'mdc-snackbar__label';
 })
 export class MatSnackBarContainer extends BasePortalOutlet
     implements _SnackBarContainer, AfterViewChecked, OnDestroy {
+  /** The number of milliseconds to wait before announcing the snack bar's content. */
+  private readonly _announceDelay: number = 150;
+
+  /** The timeout for announcing the snack bar's content. */
+  private _announceTimeoutId: number;
+
+  /** Subject for notifying that the snack bar has announced to screen readers. */
+  readonly _onAnnounce: Subject<void> = new Subject();
+
   /** Subject for notifying that the snack bar has exited from view. */
   readonly _onExit: Subject<void> = new Subject();
 
   /** Subject for notifying that the snack bar has finished entering the view. */
   readonly _onEnter: Subject<void> = new Subject();
 
-  /** ARIA role for the snack bar container. */
-  _role: 'alert' | 'status' | null;
+  /** aria-live value for the live region. */
+  _live: AriaLivePoliteness;
 
   /** Whether the snack bar is currently exiting. */
   _exiting = false;
@@ -103,17 +113,18 @@ export class MatSnackBarContainer extends BasePortalOutlet
   constructor(
       private _elementRef: ElementRef<HTMLElement>,
       public snackBarConfig: MatSnackBarConfig,
-      private _platform: Platform) {
+      private _platform: Platform,
+      private _ngZone: NgZone) {
     super();
 
-    // Based on the ARIA spec, `alert` and `status` roles have an
-    // implicit `assertive` and `polite` politeness respectively.
+    // Use aria-live rather than a live role like 'alert' or 'status'
+    // because NVDA and JAWS have show inconsistent behavior with live roles.
     if (snackBarConfig.politeness === 'assertive' && !snackBarConfig.announcementMessage) {
-      this._role = 'alert';
+      this._live = 'assertive';
     } else if (snackBarConfig.politeness === 'off') {
-      this._role = null;
+      this._live = 'off';
     } else {
-      this._role = 'status';
+      this._live = 'polite';
     }
 
     // `MatSnackBar` will use the config's timeout to determine when the snack bar should be closed.
@@ -141,12 +152,18 @@ export class MatSnackBarContainer extends BasePortalOutlet
     // MDC uses some browser APIs that will throw during server-side rendering.
     if (this._platform.isBrowser) {
       this._mdcFoundation.open();
+      this._screenReaderAnnounce();
     }
   }
 
   exit(): Observable<void> {
     this._exiting = true;
     this._mdcFoundation.close();
+
+    // If the snack bar hasn't been announced by the time it exits it wouldn't have been open
+    // long enough to visually read it either, so clear the timeout for announcing.
+    clearTimeout(this._announceTimeoutId);
+
     return this._onExit;
   }
 
@@ -188,4 +205,36 @@ export class MatSnackBarContainer extends BasePortalOutlet
       throw Error('Attempting to attach snack bar content after content is already attached');
     }
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Starts a timeout to move the snack bar content to the live region so screen readers will
+   * announce it.
+   */
+  private _screenReaderAnnounce() {
+    if (!this._announceTimeoutId) {
+      this._ngZone.runOutsideAngular(() => {
+        this._announceTimeoutId = setTimeout(() => {
+          const inertElement = this._elementRef.nativeElement.querySelector('[aria-hidden]');
+          const liveElement = this._elementRef.nativeElement.querySelector('[aria-live]');
+
+          if (inertElement && liveElement) {
+            // If an element in the snack bar content is focused before being moved
+            // track it and restore focus after moving to the live region.
+            let focusedElement: HTMLElement | null = null;
+            if (document.activeElement instanceof HTMLElement &&
+                inertElement.contains(document.activeElement)) {
+              focusedElement = document.activeElement;
+            }
+
+            inertElement.removeAttribute('aria-hidden');
+            liveElement.appendChild(inertElement);
+            focusedElement?.focus();
+
+            this._onAnnounce.next();
+            this._onAnnounce.complete();
+          }
+        }, this._announceDelay);
+      });
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-snack-bar/snack-bar.spec.ts b/src/material-experimental/mdc-snack-bar/snack-bar.spec.ts
index 1eddc9b3f1ce..3f9bc05977d9 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-snack-bar/snack-bar.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-snack-bar/snack-bar.spec.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ describe('MatSnackBar', () => {
   let simpleMessage = 'Burritos are here!';
   let simpleActionLabel = 'pickup';
 
+  const announceDelay = 150;
+  const animationFrameDelay = 16;
+
   beforeEach(fakeAsync(() => {
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
       imports: [MatSnackBarModule, SnackBarTestModule, NoopAnimationsModule],
@@ -60,36 +63,91 @@ describe('MatSnackBar', () => {
     testViewContainerRef = viewContainerFixture.componentInstance.childViewContainer;
   });
 
-  it('should have the role of `alert` with an `assertive` politeness if no announcement message ' +
-      'is provided', () => {
+  it('should open with content first in the inert region', () => {
+    snackBar.open('Snack time!', 'Chew');
+    viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
+
+    const containerElement = overlayContainerElement.querySelector('mat-mdc-snack-bar-container')!;
+    const inertElement = containerElement.querySelector('[aria-hidden]')!;
+
+    expect(inertElement.getAttribute('aria-hidden'))
+      .toBe('true', 'Expected the non-live region to be aria-hidden');
+    expect(inertElement.textContent).toContain('Snack time!',
+        'Expected non-live region to contain the snack bar content');
+
+    const liveElement = containerElement.querySelector('[aria-live]')!;
+    expect(liveElement.childNodes.length)
+        .toBe(0, 'Expected live region to not contain any content');
+  });
+
+  it('should move content to the live region after 150ms', fakeAsync(() => {
+    snackBar.open('Snack time!', 'Chew');
+    viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
+
+    const containerElement = overlayContainerElement.querySelector('mat-mdc-snack-bar-container')!;
+    const liveElement = containerElement.querySelector('[aria-live]')!;
+    tick(announceDelay);
+
+    expect(liveElement.textContent).toContain('Snack time!',
+        'Expected live region to contain the snack bar content');
+
+    const inertElement = containerElement.querySelector('[aria-hidden]')!;
+    expect(inertElement).toBeFalsy('Expected non-live region to not contain any content');
+    flush();
+  }));
+
+  it('should preserve focus when moving content to the live region', fakeAsync(() => {
+    snackBar.open('Snack time!', 'Chew');
+    viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
+    tick(animationFrameDelay);
+
+    const actionButton = overlayContainerElement
+        .querySelector('.mat-mdc-simple-snack-bar .mat-mdc-snack-bar-action')! as HTMLElement;
+    actionButton.focus();
+    expect(document.activeElement)
+        .toBe(actionButton, 'Expected the focus to move to the action button');
+
+    flush();
+    expect(document.activeElement)
+        .toBe(actionButton, 'Expected the focus to remain on the action button');
+  }));
+
+  it('should have aria-live of `assertive` with an `assertive` politeness if no announcement ' +
+      'message is provided', () => {
     snackBar.openFromComponent(BurritosNotification,
         {announcementMessage: '', politeness: 'assertive'});
 
     viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
 
     const containerElement = overlayContainerElement.querySelector('mat-mdc-snack-bar-container')!;
-    expect(containerElement.getAttribute('role'))
-        .toBe('alert', 'Expected snack bar container to have role="alert"');
+    const liveElement = containerElement.querySelector('[aria-live]')!;
+
+    expect(liveElement.getAttribute('aria-live')).toBe('assertive',
+        'Expected snack bar container live region to have aria-live="assertive"');
   });
 
-  it('should have the role of `status` with an `assertive` politeness if an announcement message ' +
-      'is provided', () => {
+  it('should have aria-live of `polite` with an `assertive` politeness if an announcement ' +
+      'message is provided', () => {
     snackBar.openFromComponent(BurritosNotification,
         {announcementMessage: 'Yay Burritos', politeness: 'assertive'});
     viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
 
     const containerElement = overlayContainerElement.querySelector('mat-mdc-snack-bar-container')!;
-    expect(containerElement.getAttribute('role'))
-        .toBe('status', 'Expected snack bar container to have role="status"');
+    const liveElement = containerElement.querySelector('[aria-live]')!;
+
+    expect(liveElement.getAttribute('aria-live'))
+        .toBe('polite', 'Expected snack bar container live region to have aria-live="polite"');
   });
 
-  it('should have the role of `status` with a `polite` politeness', () => {
+  it('should have aria-live of `polite` with a `polite` politeness', () => {
     snackBar.openFromComponent(BurritosNotification, {politeness: 'polite'});
     viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
 
     const containerElement = overlayContainerElement.querySelector('mat-mdc-snack-bar-container')!;
-    expect(containerElement.getAttribute('role'))
-        .toBe('status', 'Expected snack bar container to have role="status"');
+    const liveElement = containerElement.querySelector('[aria-live]')!;
+
+    expect(liveElement.getAttribute('aria-live'))
+        .toBe('polite', 'Expected snack bar container live region to have aria-live="polite"');
   });
 
   it('should remove the role if the politeness is turned off', () => {
@@ -97,7 +155,10 @@ describe('MatSnackBar', () => {
     viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
 
     const containerElement = overlayContainerElement.querySelector('mat-mdc-snack-bar-container')!;
-    expect(containerElement.getAttribute('role')).toBeFalsy('Expected role to be removed');
+    const liveElement = containerElement.querySelector('[aria-live]')!;
+
+    expect(liveElement.getAttribute('aria-live'))
+        .toBe('off', 'Expected snack bar container live region to have aria-live="off"');
   });
 
   it('should have exactly one MDC label element when opened through simple snack bar', () => {
@@ -197,6 +258,7 @@ describe('MatSnackBar', () => {
 
     snackBar.open(simpleMessage, undefined, {announcementMessage: simpleMessage});
     viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
+    flush();
 
     expect(overlayContainerElement.childElementCount)
         .toBe(1, 'Expected the overlay with the default announcement message to be added');
@@ -212,6 +274,7 @@ describe('MatSnackBar', () => {
       politeness: 'assertive'
     });
     viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
+    flush();
 
     expect(overlayContainerElement.childElementCount)
         .toBe(1, 'Expected the overlay with a custom `announcementMessage` to be added');
diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-snack-bar/testing/BUILD.bazel b/src/material-experimental/mdc-snack-bar/testing/BUILD.bazel
index 1b1520d343ee..4041652842a1 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-snack-bar/testing/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-snack-bar/testing/BUILD.bazel
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ ts_library(
     ),
     module_name = "@angular/material-experimental/mdc-snack-bar/testing",
     deps = [
+        "//src/cdk/a11y",
         "//src/cdk/testing",
     ],
 )
diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-snack-bar/testing/snack-bar-harness.ts b/src/material-experimental/mdc-snack-bar/testing/snack-bar-harness.ts
index 334a1d3385a8..c65b4c6df41a 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-snack-bar/testing/snack-bar-harness.ts
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-snack-bar/testing/snack-bar-harness.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
 
+import {AriaLivePoliteness} from '@angular/cdk/a11y';
 import {ComponentHarness, HarnessPredicate} from '@angular/cdk/testing';
 import {SnackBarHarnessFilters} from './snack-bar-harness-filters';
 
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ export class MatSnackBarHarness extends ComponentHarness {
   static hostSelector = '.mat-mdc-snack-bar-container:not([mat-exit])';
 
   private _simpleSnackBar = this.locatorForOptional('.mat-mdc-simple-snack-bar');
+  private _simpleSnackBarLiveRegion = this.locatorFor('[aria-live]');
   private _simpleSnackBarMessage =
       this.locatorFor('.mat-mdc-simple-snack-bar .mat-mdc-snack-bar-label');
   private _simpleSnackBarActionButton =
@@ -38,11 +40,21 @@ export class MatSnackBarHarness extends ComponentHarness {
   /**
    * Gets the role of the snack-bar. The role of a snack-bar is determined based
    * on the ARIA politeness specified in the snack-bar config.
+   * @deprecated @breaking-change 13.0.0 Use `getAriaLive` instead.
    */
   async getRole(): Promise<'alert'|'status'|null> {
     return (await this.host()).getAttribute('role') as Promise<'alert'|'status'|null>;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the aria-live of the snack-bar's live region. The aria-live of a snack-bar is
+   * determined based on the ARIA politeness specified in the snack-bar config.
+   */
+  async getAriaLive(): Promise<AriaLivePoliteness> {
+    return (await this._simpleSnackBarLiveRegion())
+        .getAttribute('aria-live') as Promise<AriaLivePoliteness>;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Whether the snack-bar has an action. Method cannot be used for snack-bar's with custom content.
    */
diff --git a/src/material/snack-bar/snack-bar-container.html b/src/material/snack-bar/snack-bar-container.html
index 215f0d9c55b3..32a293bba0c7 100644
--- a/src/material/snack-bar/snack-bar-container.html
+++ b/src/material/snack-bar/snack-bar-container.html
@@ -1 +1,7 @@
-<ng-template cdkPortalOutlet></ng-template>
+<!-- Initialy holds the snack bar content, will be empty after announcing to screen readers. -->
+<div aria-hidden="true">
+  <ng-template cdkPortalOutlet></ng-template>
+</div>
+
+<!-- Will receive the snack bar content from the non-live div, move will happen a short delay after opening -->
+<div [attr.aria-live]="_live"></div>
diff --git a/src/material/snack-bar/snack-bar-container.ts b/src/material/snack-bar/snack-bar-container.ts
index d5f8cf707d11..9116587a7b37 100644
--- a/src/material/snack-bar/snack-bar-container.ts
+++ b/src/material/snack-bar/snack-bar-container.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
  */
 
 import {AnimationEvent} from '@angular/animations';
+import {AriaLivePoliteness} from '@angular/cdk/a11y';
+import {Platform} from '@angular/cdk/platform';
 import {
   BasePortalOutlet,
   CdkPortalOutlet,
@@ -37,6 +39,7 @@ import {MatSnackBarConfig} from './snack-bar-config';
  */
 export interface _SnackBarContainer {
   snackBarConfig: MatSnackBarConfig;
+  _onAnnounce: Subject<any>;
   _onExit: Subject<any>;
   _onEnter: Subject<any>;
   enter: () => void;
@@ -61,7 +64,6 @@ export interface _SnackBarContainer {
   encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
   animations: [matSnackBarAnimations.snackBarState],
   host: {
-    '[attr.role]': '_role',
     'class': 'mat-snack-bar-container',
     '[@state]': '_animationState',
     '(@state.done)': 'onAnimationEnd($event)'
@@ -69,12 +71,21 @@ export interface _SnackBarContainer {
 })
 export class MatSnackBarContainer extends BasePortalOutlet
     implements OnDestroy, _SnackBarContainer {
+  /** The number of milliseconds to wait before announcing the snack bar's content. */
+  private readonly _announceDelay: number = 150;
+
+  /** The timeout for announcing the snack bar's content. */
+  private _announceTimeoutId: number;
+
   /** Whether the component has been destroyed. */
   private _destroyed = false;
 
   /** The portal outlet inside of this container into which the snack bar content will be loaded. */
   @ViewChild(CdkPortalOutlet, {static: true}) _portalOutlet: CdkPortalOutlet;
 
+  /** Subject for notifying that the snack bar has announced to screen readers. */
+  readonly _onAnnounce: Subject<void> = new Subject();
+
   /** Subject for notifying that the snack bar has exited from view. */
   readonly _onExit: Subject<void> = new Subject();
 
@@ -84,26 +95,27 @@ export class MatSnackBarContainer extends BasePortalOutlet
   /** The state of the snack bar animations. */
   _animationState = 'void';
 
-  /** ARIA role for the snack bar container. */
-  _role: 'alert' | 'status' | null;
+  /** aria-live value for the live region. */
+  _live: AriaLivePoliteness;
 
   constructor(
     private _ngZone: NgZone,
     private _elementRef: ElementRef<HTMLElement>,
     private _changeDetectorRef: ChangeDetectorRef,
+    private _platform: Platform,
     /** The snack bar configuration. */
     public snackBarConfig: MatSnackBarConfig) {
 
     super();
 
-    // Based on the ARIA spec, `alert` and `status` roles have an
-    // implicit `assertive` and `polite` politeness respectively.
+    // Use aria-live rather than a live role like 'alert' or 'status'
+    // because NVDA and JAWS have show inconsistent behavior with live roles.
     if (snackBarConfig.politeness === 'assertive' && !snackBarConfig.announcementMessage) {
-      this._role = 'alert';
+      this._live = 'assertive';
     } else if (snackBarConfig.politeness === 'off') {
-      this._role = null;
+      this._live = 'off';
     } else {
-      this._role = 'status';
+      this._live = 'polite';
     }
   }
 
@@ -157,6 +169,7 @@ export class MatSnackBarContainer extends BasePortalOutlet
     if (!this._destroyed) {
       this._animationState = 'visible';
       this._changeDetectorRef.detectChanges();
+      this._screenReaderAnnounce();
     }
   }
 
@@ -172,6 +185,10 @@ export class MatSnackBarContainer extends BasePortalOutlet
     // test harness.
     this._elementRef.nativeElement.setAttribute('mat-exit', '');
 
+    // If the snack bar hasn't been announced by the time it exits it wouldn't have been open
+    // long enough to visually read it either, so clear the timeout for announcing.
+    clearTimeout(this._announceTimeoutId);
+
     return this._onExit;
   }
 
@@ -221,4 +238,37 @@ export class MatSnackBarContainer extends BasePortalOutlet
       throw Error('Attempting to attach snack bar content after content is already attached');
     }
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Starts a timeout to move the snack bar content to the live region so screen readers will
+   * announce it.
+   */
+  private _screenReaderAnnounce() {
+    if (!this._announceTimeoutId) {
+      this._ngZone.runOutsideAngular(() => {
+        this._announceTimeoutId = setTimeout(() => {
+          const inertElement = this._elementRef.nativeElement.querySelector('[aria-hidden]');
+          const liveElement = this._elementRef.nativeElement.querySelector('[aria-live]');
+
+          if (inertElement && liveElement) {
+            // If an element in the snack bar content is focused before being moved
+            // track it and restore focus after moving to the live region.
+            let focusedElement: HTMLElement | null = null;
+            if (this._platform.isBrowser &&
+                document.activeElement instanceof HTMLElement &&
+                inertElement.contains(document.activeElement)) {
+              focusedElement = document.activeElement;
+            }
+
+            inertElement.removeAttribute('aria-hidden');
+            liveElement.appendChild(inertElement);
+            focusedElement?.focus();
+
+            this._onAnnounce.next();
+            this._onAnnounce.complete();
+          }
+        }, this._announceDelay);
+      });
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/material/snack-bar/snack-bar.spec.ts b/src/material/snack-bar/snack-bar.spec.ts
index 00fd83ddec6a..bb59a7728584 100644
--- a/src/material/snack-bar/snack-bar.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material/snack-bar/snack-bar.spec.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ describe('MatSnackBar', () => {
   let simpleMessage = 'Burritos are here!';
   let simpleActionLabel = 'pickup';
 
+  const announceDelay = 150;
+
   beforeEach(fakeAsync(() => {
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
       imports: [MatSnackBarModule, SnackBarTestModule, NoopAnimationsModule],
@@ -61,44 +63,100 @@ describe('MatSnackBar', () => {
     testViewContainerRef = viewContainerFixture.componentInstance.childViewContainer;
   });
 
-  it('should have the role of `alert` with an `assertive` politeness if no announcement message ' +
-     'is provided', () => {
+  it('should open with content first in the inert region', () => {
+    snackBar.open('Snack time!', 'Chew');
+    viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
+
+    const containerElement = overlayContainerElement.querySelector('snack-bar-container')!;
+    const inertElement = containerElement.querySelector('[aria-hidden]')!;
+
+    expect(inertElement.getAttribute('aria-hidden'))
+      .toBe('true', 'Expected the non-live region to be aria-hidden');
+    expect(inertElement.textContent).toContain('Snack time!',
+        'Expected non-live region to contain the snack bar content');
+
+    const liveElement = containerElement.querySelector('[aria-live]')!;
+    expect(liveElement.childNodes.length)
+        .toBe(0, 'Expected live region to not contain any content');
+  });
+
+  it('should move content to the live region after 150ms', fakeAsync(() => {
+    snackBar.open('Snack time!', 'Chew');
+    viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
+
+    const containerElement = overlayContainerElement.querySelector('snack-bar-container')!;
+    const liveElement = containerElement.querySelector('[aria-live]')!;
+    tick(announceDelay);
+
+    expect(liveElement.textContent).toContain('Snack time!',
+        'Expected live region to contain the snack bar content');
+
+    const inertElement = containerElement.querySelector('[aria-hidden]')!;
+    expect(inertElement).toBeFalsy('Expected non-live region to not contain any content');
+  }));
+
+  it('should preserve focus when moving content to the live region', fakeAsync(() => {
+    snackBar.open('Snack time!', 'Chew');
+    viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
+
+    const actionButton = overlayContainerElement
+        .querySelector('.mat-simple-snackbar-action > button')! as HTMLElement;
+    actionButton.focus();
+    expect(document.activeElement)
+        .toBe(actionButton, 'Expected the focus to move to the action button');
+
+    flush();
+    expect(document.activeElement)
+        .toBe(actionButton, 'Expected the focus to remain on the action button');
+  }));
+
+  it('should have aria-live of `assertive` with an `assertive` politeness if no announcement ' +
+     'message is provided', () => {
     snackBar.openFromComponent(BurritosNotification,
       {announcementMessage: '', politeness: 'assertive'});
 
     viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
 
     const containerElement = overlayContainerElement.querySelector('snack-bar-container')!;
-    expect(containerElement.getAttribute('role'))
-        .toBe('alert', 'Expected snack bar container to have role="alert"');
+    const liveElement = containerElement.querySelector('[aria-live]')!;
+
+    expect(liveElement.getAttribute('aria-live')).toBe('assertive',
+        'Expected snack bar container live region to have aria-live="assertive"');
   });
 
-  it('should have the role of `status` with an `assertive` politeness if an announcement message ' +
-     'is provided', () => {
+  it('should have aria-live of `polite` with an `assertive` politeness if an announcement ' +
+     'message is provided', () => {
       snackBar.openFromComponent(BurritosNotification,
         {announcementMessage: 'Yay Burritos', politeness: 'assertive'});
     viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
 
     const containerElement = overlayContainerElement.querySelector('snack-bar-container')!;
-    expect(containerElement.getAttribute('role'))
-        .toBe('status', 'Expected snack bar container to have role="status"');
+    const liveElement = containerElement.querySelector('[aria-live]')!;
+
+    expect(liveElement.getAttribute('aria-live'))
+        .toBe('polite', 'Expected snack bar container live region to have aria-live="polite"');
   });
 
-  it('should have the role of `status` with a `polite` politeness', () => {
+  it('should have aria-live of `polite` with a `polite` politeness', () => {
     snackBar.openFromComponent(BurritosNotification, {politeness: 'polite'});
     viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
 
     const containerElement = overlayContainerElement.querySelector('snack-bar-container')!;
-    expect(containerElement.getAttribute('role'))
-        .toBe('status', 'Expected snack bar container to have role="status"');
+    const liveElement = containerElement.querySelector('[aria-live]')!;
+
+    expect(liveElement.getAttribute('aria-live'))
+        .toBe('polite', 'Expected snack bar container live region to have aria-live="polite"');
   });
 
-  it('should remove the role if the politeness is turned off', () => {
+  it('should have aria-live of `off` if the politeness is turned off', () => {
     snackBar.openFromComponent(BurritosNotification, {politeness: 'off'});
     viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
 
     const containerElement = overlayContainerElement.querySelector('snack-bar-container')!;
-    expect(containerElement.getAttribute('role')).toBeFalsy('Expected role to be removed');
+    const liveElement = containerElement.querySelector('[aria-live]')!;
+
+    expect(liveElement.getAttribute('aria-live'))
+        .toBe('off', 'Expected snack bar container live region to have aria-live="off"');
   });
 
   it('should open and close a snackbar without a ViewContainerRef', fakeAsync(() => {
@@ -189,6 +247,7 @@ describe('MatSnackBar', () => {
 
     snackBar.open(simpleMessage, undefined, {announcementMessage: simpleMessage});
     viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
+    flush();
 
     expect(overlayContainerElement.childElementCount)
       .toBe(1, 'Expected the overlay with the default announcement message to be added');
@@ -204,6 +263,7 @@ describe('MatSnackBar', () => {
       politeness: 'assertive'
     });
     viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
+    flush();
 
     expect(overlayContainerElement.childElementCount)
       .toBe(1, 'Expected the overlay with a custom `announcementMessage` to be added');
diff --git a/src/material/snack-bar/snack-bar.ts b/src/material/snack-bar/snack-bar.ts
index b56729475908..dde2d8dbafe5 100644
--- a/src/material/snack-bar/snack-bar.ts
+++ b/src/material/snack-bar/snack-bar.ts
@@ -205,6 +205,13 @@ export class MatSnackBar implements OnDestroy {
       state.matches ? classList.add(this.handsetCssClass) : classList.remove(this.handsetCssClass);
     });
 
+    if (config.announcementMessage) {
+      // Wait until the snack bar contents have been announced then deliver this message.
+      container._onAnnounce.subscribe(() => {
+        this._live.announce(config.announcementMessage!, config.politeness);
+      });
+    }
+
     this._animateSnackBar(snackBarRef, config);
     this._openedSnackBarRef = snackBarRef;
     return this._openedSnackBarRef;
@@ -240,10 +247,6 @@ export class MatSnackBar implements OnDestroy {
     if (config.duration && config.duration > 0) {
       snackBarRef.afterOpened().subscribe(() => snackBarRef._dismissAfter(config.duration!));
     }
-
-    if (config.announcementMessage) {
-      this._live.announce(config.announcementMessage, config.politeness);
-    }
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/material/snack-bar/testing/BUILD.bazel b/src/material/snack-bar/testing/BUILD.bazel
index 9bb1a3b81706..2656756520b0 100644
--- a/src/material/snack-bar/testing/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/src/material/snack-bar/testing/BUILD.bazel
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ ts_library(
     ),
     module_name = "@angular/material/snack-bar/testing",
     deps = [
+        "//src/cdk/a11y",
         "//src/cdk/testing",
     ],
 )
diff --git a/src/material/snack-bar/testing/shared.spec.ts b/src/material/snack-bar/testing/shared.spec.ts
index bd63cba3c059..626a951e6926 100644
--- a/src/material/snack-bar/testing/shared.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material/snack-bar/testing/shared.spec.ts
@@ -70,19 +70,34 @@ export function runHarnessTests(
   });
 
   it('should be able to get role of snack-bar', async () => {
+    // Get role is now deprecated, so it should always return null.
     fixture.componentInstance.openCustom();
     let snackBar = await loader.getHarness(snackBarHarness);
-    expect(await snackBar.getRole()).toBe('alert');
+    expect(await snackBar.getRole()).toBe(null);
 
     fixture.componentInstance.openCustom({politeness: 'polite'});
     snackBar = await loader.getHarness(snackBarHarness);
-    expect(await snackBar.getRole()).toBe('status');
+    expect(await snackBar.getRole()).toBe(null);
 
     fixture.componentInstance.openCustom({politeness: 'off'});
     snackBar = await loader.getHarness(snackBarHarness);
     expect(await snackBar.getRole()).toBe(null);
   });
 
+  it('should be able to get aria-live of snack-bar', async () => {
+    fixture.componentInstance.openCustom();
+    let snackBar = await loader.getHarness(snackBarHarness);
+    expect(await snackBar.getAriaLive()).toBe('assertive');
+
+    fixture.componentInstance.openCustom({politeness: 'polite'});
+    snackBar = await loader.getHarness(snackBarHarness);
+    expect(await snackBar.getAriaLive()).toBe('polite');
+
+    fixture.componentInstance.openCustom({politeness: 'off'});
+    snackBar = await loader.getHarness(snackBarHarness);
+    expect(await snackBar.getAriaLive()).toBe('off');
+  });
+
   it('should be able to get message of simple snack-bar', async () => {
     fixture.componentInstance.openSimple('Subscribed to newsletter.');
     let snackBar = await loader.getHarness(snackBarHarness);
diff --git a/src/material/snack-bar/testing/snack-bar-harness.ts b/src/material/snack-bar/testing/snack-bar-harness.ts
index d80dff543210..c6bb01e8e8e0 100644
--- a/src/material/snack-bar/testing/snack-bar-harness.ts
+++ b/src/material/snack-bar/testing/snack-bar-harness.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
 
+import {AriaLivePoliteness} from '@angular/cdk/a11y';
 import {ContentContainerComponentHarness, HarnessPredicate} from '@angular/cdk/testing';
 import {SnackBarHarnessFilters} from './snack-bar-harness-filters';
 
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ export class MatSnackBarHarness extends ContentContainerComponentHarness<string>
   static hostSelector = '.mat-snack-bar-container';
 
   private _simpleSnackBar = this.locatorForOptional('.mat-simple-snackbar');
+  private _simpleSnackBarLiveRegion = this.locatorFor('[aria-live]');
   private _simpleSnackBarMessage = this.locatorFor('.mat-simple-snackbar > span');
   private _simpleSnackBarActionButton =
       this.locatorForOptional('.mat-simple-snackbar-action > button');
@@ -34,11 +36,21 @@ export class MatSnackBarHarness extends ContentContainerComponentHarness<string>
   /**
    * Gets the role of the snack-bar. The role of a snack-bar is determined based
    * on the ARIA politeness specified in the snack-bar config.
+   * @deprecated @breaking-change 13.0.0 Use `getAriaLive` instead.
    */
   async getRole(): Promise<'alert'|'status'|null> {
     return (await this.host()).getAttribute('role') as Promise<'alert'|'status'|null>;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the aria-live of the snack-bar's live region. The aria-live of a snack-bar is
+   * determined based on the ARIA politeness specified in the snack-bar config.
+   */
+  async getAriaLive(): Promise<AriaLivePoliteness> {
+    return (await this._simpleSnackBarLiveRegion())
+        .getAttribute('aria-live') as Promise<AriaLivePoliteness>;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Whether the snack-bar has an action. Method cannot be used for snack-bar's with custom content.
    */
diff --git a/tools/public_api_guard/material/snack-bar.d.ts b/tools/public_api_guard/material/snack-bar.d.ts
index 2985627cf3ce..d878072916a8 100644
--- a/tools/public_api_guard/material/snack-bar.d.ts
+++ b/tools/public_api_guard/material/snack-bar.d.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 export interface _SnackBarContainer {
+    _onAnnounce: Subject<any>;
     _onEnter: Subject<any>;
     _onExit: Subject<any>;
     attachComponentPortal: <T>(portal: ComponentPortal<T>) => ComponentRef<T>;
@@ -48,13 +49,14 @@ export declare class MatSnackBarConfig<D = any> {
 
 export declare class MatSnackBarContainer extends BasePortalOutlet implements OnDestroy, _SnackBarContainer {
     _animationState: string;
+    _live: AriaLivePoliteness;
+    readonly _onAnnounce: Subject<void>;
     readonly _onEnter: Subject<void>;
     readonly _onExit: Subject<void>;
     _portalOutlet: CdkPortalOutlet;
-    _role: 'alert' | 'status' | null;
     attachDomPortal: (portal: DomPortal) => void;
     snackBarConfig: MatSnackBarConfig;
-    constructor(_ngZone: NgZone, _elementRef: ElementRef<HTMLElement>, _changeDetectorRef: ChangeDetectorRef,
+    constructor(_ngZone: NgZone, _elementRef: ElementRef<HTMLElement>, _changeDetectorRef: ChangeDetectorRef, _platform: Platform,
     snackBarConfig: MatSnackBarConfig);
     attachComponentPortal<T>(portal: ComponentPortal<T>): ComponentRef<T>;
     attachTemplatePortal<C>(portal: TemplatePortal<C>): EmbeddedViewRef<C>;
diff --git a/tools/public_api_guard/material/snack-bar/testing.d.ts b/tools/public_api_guard/material/snack-bar/testing.d.ts
index 8eb9869acda7..ec99d46dda34 100644
--- a/tools/public_api_guard/material/snack-bar/testing.d.ts
+++ b/tools/public_api_guard/material/snack-bar/testing.d.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 export declare class MatSnackBarHarness extends ContentContainerComponentHarness<string> {
     dismissWithAction(): Promise<void>;
     getActionDescription(): Promise<string>;
+    getAriaLive(): Promise<AriaLivePoliteness>;
     getMessage(): Promise<string>;
     getRole(): Promise<'alert' | 'status' | null>;
     hasAction(): Promise<boolean>;