diff --git a/packages/calcite-components/src/components/link/link.e2e.ts b/packages/calcite-components/src/components/link/link.e2e.ts
index 32b8252b38a..fd46149220a 100644
--- a/packages/calcite-components/src/components/link/link.e2e.ts
+++ b/packages/calcite-components/src/components/link/link.e2e.ts
@@ -65,19 +65,19 @@ describe("calcite-link", () => {
     expect(elementAsLink).not.toHaveAttribute("download");
   });
 
-  it("renders as a span with default props", async () => {
+  it("renders as a button with default props", async () => {
     const page = await newE2EPage();
     await page.setContent(`<calcite-link>Continue</calcite-link>`);
 
     const element = await page.find("calcite-link");
-    const elementAsSpan = await page.find("calcite-link >>> span");
+    const elementAsButton = await page.find("calcite-link >>> button");
     const elementAsLink = await page.find("calcite-link >>> a");
     const iconStart = await page.find("calcite-link >>> .calcite-link--icon.icon-start");
     const iconEnd = await page.find("calcite-link >>> .calcite-link--icon.icon-end");
 
     expect(element).not.toHaveAttribute("icon-flip-rtl");
     expect(elementAsLink).toBeNull();
-    expect(elementAsSpan).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(elementAsButton).not.toBeNull();
     expect(iconStart).toBeNull();
     expect(iconEnd).toBeNull();
   });
@@ -86,19 +86,19 @@ describe("calcite-link", () => {
     const page = await newE2EPage({ html: `<calcite-link>Continue</calcite-link>` });
     const link = await page.find("calcite-link");
     let elementAsLink: E2EElement;
-    let elementAsSpan: E2EElement;
+    let elementAsButton: E2EElement;
 
-    elementAsSpan = await page.find("calcite-link >>> span");
+    elementAsButton = await page.find("calcite-link >>> button");
     elementAsLink = await page.find("calcite-link >>> a");
-    expect(elementAsSpan).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(elementAsButton).not.toBeNull();
     expect(elementAsLink).toBeNull();
 
     link.setProperty("href", "/");
     await page.waitForChanges();
 
-    elementAsSpan = await page.find("calcite-link >>> span");
+    elementAsButton = await page.find("calcite-link >>> button");
     elementAsLink = await page.find("calcite-link >>> a");
-    expect(elementAsSpan).toBeNull();
+    expect(elementAsButton).toBeNull();
     expect(elementAsLink).not.toBeNull();
   });
 
@@ -106,28 +106,28 @@ describe("calcite-link", () => {
     const page = await newE2EPage();
     await page.setContent(`<calcite-link href="/">Continue</calcite-link>`);
     const element = await page.find("calcite-link");
-    const elementAsSpan = await page.find("calcite-link >>> span");
+    const elementAsButton = await page.find("calcite-link >>> button");
     const elementAsLink = await page.find("calcite-link >>> a");
     const iconStart = await page.find("calcite-link >>> .calcite-link--icon.icon-start");
     const iconEnd = await page.find("calcite-link >>> .calcite-link--icon.icon-end");
 
     expect(element).not.toHaveAttribute("icon-flip-rtl");
     expect(elementAsLink).not.toBeNull();
-    expect(elementAsSpan).toBeNull();
+    expect(elementAsButton).toBeNull();
     expect(iconStart).toBeNull();
     expect(iconEnd).toBeNull();
   });
 
-  it("renders as a span with requested props", async () => {
+  it("renders as a button with requested props", async () => {
     const page = await newE2EPage();
     await page.setContent(`<calcite-link>Continue</calcite-link>`);
-    const elementAsSpan = await page.find("calcite-link >>> span");
+    const elementAsButton = await page.find("calcite-link >>> button");
     const elementAsLink = await page.find("calcite-link >>> a");
     const iconStart = await page.find("calcite-link >>> .calcite-link--icon.icon-start");
     const iconEnd = await page.find("calcite-link >>> .calcite-link--icon.icon-end");
 
     expect(elementAsLink).toBeNull();
-    expect(elementAsSpan).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(elementAsButton).not.toBeNull();
     expect(iconStart).toBeNull();
     expect(iconEnd).toBeNull();
   });
@@ -135,13 +135,13 @@ describe("calcite-link", () => {
   it("renders as a link with requested props", async () => {
     const page = await newE2EPage();
     await page.setContent(`<calcite-link href="/">Continue</calcite-link>`);
-    const elementAsSpan = await page.find("calcite-link >>> span");
+    const elementAsButton = await page.find("calcite-link >>> button");
     const elementAsLink = await page.find("calcite-link >>> a");
     const iconStart = await page.find("calcite-link >>> .calcite-link--icon.icon-start");
     const iconEnd = await page.find("calcite-link >>> .calcite-link--icon.icon-end");
 
     expect(elementAsLink).not.toBeNull();
-    expect(elementAsSpan).toBeNull();
+    expect(elementAsButton).toBeNull();
     expect(iconStart).toBeNull();
     expect(iconEnd).toBeNull();
   });
@@ -151,13 +151,13 @@ describe("calcite-link", () => {
     await page.setContent(
       `<calcite-link rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="my-custom-class" href="google.com">Continue</calcite-link>`,
     );
-    const elementAsSpan = await page.find("calcite-link >>> span");
+    const elementAsButton = await page.find("calcite-link >>> button");
     const elementAsLink = await page.find("calcite-link >>> a");
     const iconStart = await page.find("calcite-link >>> .calcite-link--icon.icon-start");
     const iconEnd = await page.find("calcite-link >>> .calcite-link--icon.icon-end");
 
     expect(elementAsLink).not.toBeNull();
-    expect(elementAsSpan).toBeNull();
+    expect(elementAsButton).toBeNull();
     expect(elementAsLink).not.toHaveClass("my-custom-class");
     expect(elementAsLink).toEqualAttribute("href", "google.com");
     expect(elementAsLink).toEqualAttribute("rel", "noopener noreferrer");
@@ -169,12 +169,12 @@ describe("calcite-link", () => {
   it("renders with an icon-start", async () => {
     const page = await newE2EPage();
     await page.setContent(`<calcite-link icon-start='plus'>Continue</calcite-link>`);
-    const elementAsSpan = await page.find("calcite-link >>> span");
+    const elementAsButton = await page.find("calcite-link >>> button");
     const elementAsLink = await page.find("calcite-link >>> a");
     const iconStart = await page.find("calcite-link >>> .calcite-link--icon.icon-start");
     const iconEnd = await page.find("calcite-link >>> .calcite-link--icon.icon-end");
     expect(elementAsLink).toBeNull();
-    expect(elementAsSpan).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(elementAsButton).not.toBeNull();
     expect(iconStart).not.toBeNull();
     expect(iconEnd).toBeNull();
   });
@@ -182,12 +182,12 @@ describe("calcite-link", () => {
   it("renders with an icon-end", async () => {
     const page = await newE2EPage();
     await page.setContent(`<calcite-link icon-end='plus'>Continue</calcite-link>`);
-    const elementAsSpan = await page.find("calcite-link >>> span");
+    const elementAsButton = await page.find("calcite-link >>> button");
     const elementAsLink = await page.find("calcite-link >>> a");
     const iconStart = await page.find("calcite-link >>> .calcite-link--icon.icon-start");
     const iconEnd = await page.find("calcite-link >>> .calcite-link--icon.icon-end");
     expect(elementAsLink).toBeNull();
-    expect(elementAsSpan).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(elementAsButton).not.toBeNull();
     expect(iconStart).toBeNull();
     expect(iconEnd).not.toBeNull();
   });
@@ -195,12 +195,12 @@ describe("calcite-link", () => {
   it("renders with an icon-start and icon-end", async () => {
     const page = await newE2EPage();
     await page.setContent(`<calcite-link icon-start='plus' icon-end='plus'>Continue</calcite-link>`);
-    const elementAsSpan = await page.find("calcite-link >>> span");
+    const elementAsButton = await page.find("calcite-link >>> button");
     const elementAsLink = await page.find("calcite-link >>> a");
     const iconStart = await page.find("calcite-link >>> .calcite-link--icon.icon-start");
     const iconEnd = await page.find("calcite-link >>> .calcite-link--icon.icon-end");
     expect(elementAsLink).toBeNull();
-    expect(elementAsSpan).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(elementAsButton).not.toBeNull();
     expect(iconStart).not.toBeNull();
     expect(iconEnd).not.toBeNull();
   });
@@ -231,6 +231,18 @@ describe("calcite-link", () => {
       expect(page.url()).toBe(targetUrl);
     });
 
+    it("keyboard without href", async () => {
+      const element = await page.find("calcite-link");
+      element.setProperty("href", undefined);
+      const clickEvent = await element.spyOnEvent("click");
+
+      await element.callMethod("setFocus");
+      await page.waitForChanges();
+      await page.keyboard.press("Enter");
+      await page.waitForChanges();
+      expect(clickEvent).toHaveReceivedEventTimes(1);
+    });
+
     it("mouse", async () => {
       // workaround for https://github.com/puppeteer/puppeteer/issues/2977
       await page.$eval("calcite-link", (link: HTMLElement): void => {
diff --git a/packages/calcite-components/src/components/link/link.scss b/packages/calcite-components/src/components/link/link.scss
index 1506886179f..16093a0efdd 100644
--- a/packages/calcite-components/src/components/link/link.scss
+++ b/packages/calcite-components/src/components/link/link.scss
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
 // link base
 :host a,
-:host span {
+:host button {
   @apply font-inherit
     relative
     flex
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 
 // focus styles
 :host a,
-:host span {
+:host button {
   @apply focus-base;
   &:focus {
     @apply focus-outset;
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ calcite-icon {
 }
 
 :host {
-  span,
+  button,
   a {
     @apply relative
       inline
@@ -73,7 +73,8 @@ calcite-icon {
     color: var(--calcite-link-text-color, var(--calcite-color-text-link));
     line-height: inherit;
     white-space: initial;
-    background-image: linear-gradient(currentColor, currentColor),
+    background-image:
+      linear-gradient(currentColor, currentColor),
       linear-gradient(var(--calcite-color-brand-underline), var(--calcite-color-brand-underline));
     background-position-x: 0%, 100%;
     background-position-y: min(1.5em, 100%);
diff --git a/packages/calcite-components/src/components/link/link.tsx b/packages/calcite-components/src/components/link/link.tsx
index 5089b373e91..4e55e66d4d5 100644
--- a/packages/calcite-components/src/components/link/link.tsx
+++ b/packages/calcite-components/src/components/link/link.tsx
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ declare global {
 /**
  * Any attributes placed on <calcite-link> component will propagate to the rendered child
  *
- * Passing a 'href' will render an anchor link, instead of a span. Role will be set to link, or link, depending on this.
+ * Passing a 'href' will render an anchor link, instead of a button.
  *
  * It is the consumers responsibility to add aria information, rel, target, for links, and any link attributes for form submission
  *
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ export class Link extends LitElement implements InteractiveComponent {
   // #region Private Properties
 
   /** the rendered child element */
-  private childEl: HTMLAnchorElement | HTMLSpanElement;
+  private childEl: HTMLAnchorElement | HTMLButtonElement;
 
   // #endregion
 
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ export class Link extends LitElement implements InteractiveComponent {
   override render(): JsxNode {
     const { download, el } = this;
     const dir = getElementDir(el);
-    const childElType = this.href ? "a" : "span";
+    const childElType = this.href ? "a" : "button";
     const iconStartEl = (
       <calcite-icon
         class="calcite-link--icon icon-start"
@@ -151,11 +151,10 @@ export class Link extends LitElement implements InteractiveComponent {
     );
 
     const DynamicHtmlTag =
-      childElType === "span"
-        ? (literal`span` as unknown as "span")
+      childElType === "button"
+        ? (literal`button` as unknown as "button")
         : (literal`a` as unknown as "a");
-    const role = childElType === "span" ? "link" : null;
-    const tabIndex = childElType === "span" ? 0 : null;
+    const tabIndex = childElType === "button" ? 0 : null;
     /* TODO: [MIGRATION] This used <Host> before. In Stencil, <Host> props overwrite user-provided props. If you don't wish to overwrite user-values, replace "=" here with "??=" */
     this.el.role = "presentation";
 
@@ -178,7 +177,6 @@ export class Link extends LitElement implements InteractiveComponent {
           onClick={this.childElClickHandler}
           ref={this.storeTagRef}
           rel={childElType === "a" && this.rel}
-          role={role}
           tabIndex={tabIndex}
           target={childElType === "a" && this.target}
         >