diff --git a/crates/ruma-events/src/lib.rs b/crates/ruma-events/src/lib.rs
index 99bc5f8c..d69560e7 100644
--- a/crates/ruma-events/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ruma-events/src/lib.rs
@@ -363,6 +363,57 @@ pub trait RedactedMessageEventContent: RedactedEventContent {}
 /// Marker trait for the content of a redacted state event.
 pub trait RedactedStateEventContent: RedactedEventContent {}
 
+/// Trait for abstracting over event content structs.
+///
+/// … but *not* enums which don't always have an event type and kind (e.g. message vs state) that's
+/// fixed / known at compile time.
+pub trait StaticEventContent: EventContent {
+    /// The event's "kind".
+    ///
+    /// See the type's documentation.
+    const KIND: EventKind;
+
+    /// The event type.
+    const TYPE: &'static str;
+}
+
+/// The "kind" of an event.
+///
+/// This corresponds directly to the event content marker traits.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash)]
+#[non_exhaustive]
+pub enum EventKind {
+    /// Global account data event kind.
+    GlobalAccountData,
+
+    /// Room account data event kind.
+    RoomAccountData,
+
+    /// Ephemeral room event kind.
+    EphemeralRoomData,
+
+    /// Message event kind.
+    ///
+    /// Since redacted / non-redacted message events are used in the same places bu have different
+    /// sets of fields, these two variations are treated as two closely-related event kinds.
+    Message {
+        /// Redacted variation?
+        redacted: bool,
+    },
+
+    /// State event kind.
+    ///
+    /// Since redacted / non-redacted state events are used in the same places bu have different
+    /// sets of fields, these two variations are treated as two closely-related event kinds.
+    State {
+        /// Redacted variation?
+        redacted: bool,
+    },
+
+    /// To-device event kind.
+    ToDevice,
+}
+
 /// `HasDeserializeFields` is used in the code generated by the `Event` derive
 /// to aid in deserializing redacted events.
 #[doc(hidden)]