diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/positronNotebook/browser/IPositronNotebookInstance.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/positronNotebook/browser/IPositronNotebookInstance.ts
index 807f2599109..84a0e1adf03 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/positronNotebook/browser/IPositronNotebookInstance.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/positronNotebook/browser/IPositronNotebookInstance.ts
@@ -162,6 +162,15 @@ export interface IPositronNotebookInstance {
 	 */
 	insertCodeCellAndFocusContainer(aboveOrBelow: 'above' | 'below', referenceCell?: IPositronNotebookCell): void;
 
+	/**
+	 * Inserts a new markdown cell either above or below the current selection
+	 * and focuses the container.
+	 *
+	 * @param aboveOrBelow Whether to insert the cell above or below the current selection
+	 * @param referenceCell Optional cell to insert relative to. If not provided, uses the currently selected cell
+	 */
+	insertMarkdownCellAndFocusContainer(aboveOrBelow: 'above' | 'below', referenceCell?: IPositronNotebookCell): void;
+
 	/**
 	 * Removes a cell from the notebook.
 	 *
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/positronNotebook/browser/PositronNotebookCells/IPositronNotebookCell.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/positronNotebook/browser/PositronNotebookCells/IPositronNotebookCell.ts
index 925011458a8..ae860d57461 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/positronNotebook/browser/PositronNotebookCells/IPositronNotebookCell.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/positronNotebook/browser/PositronNotebookCells/IPositronNotebookCell.ts
@@ -98,6 +98,16 @@ export interface IPositronNotebookCell extends Disposable {
 	 */
 	insertCodeCellBelow(): void;
 
+	/**
+	 * Insert a new markdown cell above this cell
+	 */
+	insertMarkdownCellAbove(): void;
+
+	/**
+	 * Insert a new markdown cell below this cell
+	 */
+	insertMarkdownCellBelow(): void;
+
 	/**
 	 * Type guard for checking if cell is a markdown cell
 	 */
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/positronNotebook/browser/PositronNotebookCells/PositronNotebookCell.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/positronNotebook/browser/PositronNotebookCells/PositronNotebookCell.ts
index ce40bc69cc3..569318daf5e 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/positronNotebook/browser/PositronNotebookCells/PositronNotebookCell.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/positronNotebook/browser/PositronNotebookCells/PositronNotebookCell.ts
@@ -222,7 +222,11 @@ export abstract class PositronNotebookCellGeneral extends Disposable implements
 		this._instance.insertCodeCellAndFocusContainer('below', this);
 	}
 
-}
-
-
+	insertMarkdownCellAbove(): void {
+		this._instance.insertMarkdownCellAndFocusContainer('above', this);
+	}
 
+	insertMarkdownCellBelow(): void {
+		this._instance.insertMarkdownCellAndFocusContainer('below', this);
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/positronNotebook/browser/PositronNotebookInstance.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/positronNotebook/browser/PositronNotebookInstance.ts
index 08354d05478..8d39b9e358a 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/positronNotebook/browser/PositronNotebookInstance.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/positronNotebook/browser/PositronNotebookInstance.ts
@@ -523,12 +523,7 @@ export class PositronNotebookInstance extends Disposable implements IPositronNot
 		this._onDidChangeContent.fire();
 	}
 
-	/**
-	 * Inserts a new code cell above or below the reference cell (or selected cell if no reference is provided).
-	 * @param aboveOrBelow Whether to insert the cell above or below the reference
-	 * @param referenceCell Optional reference cell. If not provided, uses the currently selected cell
-	 */
-	insertCodeCellAndFocusContainer(aboveOrBelow: 'above' | 'below', referenceCell?: IPositronNotebookCell): void {
+	private _insertCellAndFocusContainer(type: CellKind, aboveOrBelow: 'above' | 'below', referenceCell?: IPositronNotebookCell): void {
 		let index: number | undefined;
 
 		this._assertTextModel();
@@ -544,7 +539,20 @@ export class PositronNotebookInstance extends Disposable implements IPositronNot
 			return;
 		}
 
-		this.addCell(CellKind.Code, index + (aboveOrBelow === 'above' ? 0 : 1));
+		this.addCell(type, index + (aboveOrBelow === 'above' ? 0 : 1));
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Inserts a new code cell above or below the reference cell (or selected cell if no reference is provided).
+	 * @param aboveOrBelow Whether to insert the cell above or below the reference
+	 * @param referenceCell Optional reference cell. If not provided, uses the currently selected cell
+	 */
+	insertCodeCellAndFocusContainer(aboveOrBelow: 'above' | 'below', referenceCell?: IPositronNotebookCell): void {
+		this._insertCellAndFocusContainer(CellKind.Code, aboveOrBelow, referenceCell);
+	}
+
+	insertMarkdownCellAndFocusContainer(aboveOrBelow: 'above' | 'below', referenceCell?: IPositronNotebookCell): void {
+		this._insertCellAndFocusContainer(CellKind.Markup, aboveOrBelow, referenceCell);
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/positronNotebook/browser/positronNotebook.contribution.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/positronNotebook/browser/positronNotebook.contribution.ts
index 1193d63bd7e..c0c477abc23 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/positronNotebook/browser/positronNotebook.contribution.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/positronNotebook/browser/positronNotebook.contribution.ts
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ registerCellCommand({
 		category: 'Cell'
 	},
 	metadata: {
-		description: localize('positronNotebook.cell.insertAbove', "Insert code cell above")
+		description: localize('positronNotebook.codeCell.insertAbove', "Insert code cell above")
 	}
 });
 
@@ -440,7 +440,35 @@ registerCellCommand({
 		category: 'Cell'
 	},
 	metadata: {
-		description: localize('positronNotebook.cell.insertBelow', "Insert code cell below")
+		description: localize('positronNotebook.codeCell.insertBelow', "Insert code cell below")
+	}
+});
+
+registerCellCommand({
+	commandId: 'positronNotebook.cell.insertMarkdownCellAboveAndFocusContainer',
+	handler: (cell) => cell.insertMarkdownCellAbove(),
+	actionBar: {
+		icon: 'codicon-arrow-up',
+		position: 'menu',
+		order: 100,
+		category: 'Cell'
+	},
+	metadata: {
+		description: localize('positronNotebook.markdownCell.insertAbove', "Insert markdown cell above")
+	}
+});
+
+registerCellCommand({
+	commandId: 'positronNotebook.cell.insertMarkdownCellBelowAndFocusContainer',
+	handler: (cell) => cell.insertMarkdownCellBelow(),
+	actionBar: {
+		icon: 'codicon-arrow-down',
+		position: 'menu',
+		order: 100,
+		category: 'Cell'
+	},
+	metadata: {
+		description: localize('positronNotebook.markdownCell.insertBelow', "Insert markdown cell below")
 	}
 });
 
@@ -462,8 +490,7 @@ registerCellCommand({
 	metadata: {
 		description: localize('positronNotebook.cell.delete.description', "Delete the selected cell(s)"),
 	}
-}
-);
+});
 
 // Make sure the run and stop commands are in the same place so they replace one another.
 const CELL_EXECUTION_POSITION = 10;