diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 254c649a..58cf3d63 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -168,14 +168,14 @@ tempest_workspace: "{{ ansible_facts['env']['HOME'] }}/workspace"
 tempest_includelist_file_path: "{{ tempest_workspace }}/etc/tempest_includelist.txt"
 tempest_excludelist_file_path: "{{ tempest_workspace }}/etc/tempest_excludelist.txt"
 
+# Variable prefixes that will be dynamically gathered to create the include/exclude list
+tempest_test_search_includelist_pattern: 'tempest_test_includelist_'
+tempest_test_search_excludelist_pattern: 'tempest_test_excludelist_'
+
 # Tests to execute:
 # This sets up a list of tests to execute based on what's deployed in the environment.
 # The list gets added to the includelist which tempest executes.
-tempest_test_includelist: "{{ tempest_test_default_includelist }}"
-tempest_test_default_includelist:
-  - "smoke"
-  - "{{ (tempest_service_available_ceilometer | bool) | ternary('tempest.api.telemetry', '') }}"
-  - "{{ (tempest_service_available_heat | bool) | ternary('tempest.api.orchestration.stacks.test_non_empty_stack', '') }}"
+tempest_test_includelist: []
 
 # Extra test to be executed
 tempest_test_extra_test: []
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/gather-include-exclude-lists-91007886c06ebb74.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/gather-include-exclude-lists-91007886c06ebb74.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3edcdfbe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/gather-include-exclude-lists-91007886c06ebb74.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+---
+features:
+  - |
+    It is now possible to use multiple variables with a specific prefix to
+    define the whole contents of the tempest test include/exclude lists.
+    Any variable from host/group or ansible extra-vars whose name is prefixed
+    with the value in the os_tempest role default `tempest_test_search_includelist_pattern`
+    or `tempest_test_search_excludelist_pattern` will be combined with the
+    existing `tempest_test_includelist` or `tempest_test_excludelist` variables
+    into a single include/exclude list.
diff --git a/tasks/tempest_post_install.yml b/tasks/tempest_post_install.yml
index ae994e9e..c7a5c29d 100644
--- a/tasks/tempest_post_install.yml
+++ b/tasks/tempest_post_install.yml
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@
 - name: Generate tempest test include list
   copy:
     content: |
-      {% for item in (tempest_test_includelist + tempest_test_extra_test) | unique | sort %}
+      {% for item in (_tempest_test_includelist + tempest_test_extra_test) | unique | sort %}
       {%   if item %}
       {{ item }}
       {%   endif %}
@@ -166,14 +166,14 @@
     dest: "{{ tempest_includelist_file_path }}"
     mode: "0644"
   when:
-    - tempest_test_includelist | length > 0
+    - _tempest_test_includelist | length > 0
 
 # Tests to NOT execute:
 # This sets up a list of tests to skip, which can even include those included in the includelist.
 - name: Generate tempest test exclude list
   copy:
     content: |
-      {% for item in tempest_test_excludelist %}
+      {% for item in _tempest_test_excludelist %}
       {% if item.test is defined %}
       {{ item.test }}
       {% else %}
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@
     dest: "{{ tempest_excludelist_file_path }}"
     mode: "0644"
   when:
-    - tempest_test_excludelist | length > 0
+    - _tempest_test_excludelist | length > 0
 
 - name: Drop test_accounts_file
   copy:
diff --git a/vars/main.yml b/vars/main.yml
index d5f1a2e5..38a8d144 100644
--- a/vars/main.yml
+++ b/vars/main.yml
@@ -133,3 +133,13 @@ _tempest_plugins:
     repo: "{{ tempest_plugin_zun_git_repo }}"
     branch: "{{ tempest_plugin_zun_git_install_branch }}"
     install: "{{ tempest_service_available_zun | bool }}"
+
+# gather include/exclude lists from any variables starting with the defined search pattern
+# allows many different ansible vars to be combined easily to make a single include/exclude list
+_tempest_test_gathered_includelist: "{{ query('vars', *query('varnames', '^' ~ tempest_test_search_includelist_pattern)) | flatten(levels=1) }}"
+_tempest_test_gathered_excludelist: "{{ query('vars', *query('varnames', '^' ~ tempest_test_search_excludelist_pattern)) | flatten(levels=1) }}"
+
+# maintain backward compatibility by combining the original role default
+# with any dynamically gathered variables
+_tempest_test_includelist: "{{ tempest_test_includelist | union(_tempest_test_gathered_includelist) }}"
+_tempest_test_excludelist: "{{ tempest_test_excludelist | union(_tempest_test_gathered_excludelist) }}"