diff --git a/lib/cli/run-helpers.js b/lib/cli/run-helpers.js
index 72823c48f6..6ed57a7797 100644
--- a/lib/cli/run-helpers.js
+++ b/lib/cli/run-helpers.js
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ const path = require('path');
 const debug = require('debug')('mocha:cli:run:helpers');
 const watchRun = require('./watch-run');
 const collectFiles = require('./collect-files');
-
-const cwd = (exports.cwd = process.cwd());
+const {type} = require('../utils');
+const {createUnsupportedError} = require('../errors');
 
 /**
  * Exits Mocha when tests + code under test has finished execution (default)
@@ -73,20 +73,60 @@ exports.list = str =>
   Array.isArray(str) ? exports.list(str.join(',')) : str.split(/ *, */);
 
 /**
- * `require()` the modules as required by `--require <require>`
+ * `require()` the modules as required by `--require <require>`.
+ *
+ * Returns array of `mochaHooks` exports, if any.
  * @param {string[]} requires - Modules to require
+ * @returns {Promise<MochaRootHookObject|MochaRootHookFunction>} Any root hooks
  * @private
  */
-exports.handleRequires = (requires = []) => {
-  requires.forEach(mod => {
+exports.handleRequires = async (requires = []) =>
+  requires.reduce((acc, mod) => {
     let modpath = mod;
-    if (fs.existsSync(mod, {cwd}) || fs.existsSync(`${mod}.js`, {cwd})) {
+    // this is relative to cwd
+    if (fs.existsSync(mod) || fs.existsSync(`${mod}.js`)) {
       modpath = path.resolve(mod);
-      debug(`resolved ${mod} to ${modpath}`);
+      debug('resolved required file %s to %s', mod, modpath);
     }
-    require(modpath);
-    debug(`loaded require "${mod}"`);
-  });
+    const requiredModule = require(modpath);
+    if (type(requiredModule) === 'object' && requiredModule.mochaHooks) {
+      const mochaHooksType = type(requiredModule.mochaHooks);
+      if (/function$/.test(mochaHooksType) || mochaHooksType === 'object') {
+        debug('found root hooks in required file %s', mod);
+        acc.push(requiredModule.mochaHooks);
+      } else {
+        throw createUnsupportedError(
+          'mochaHooks must be an object or a function returning (or fulfilling with) an object'
+        );
+      }
+    }
+    debug('loaded required file %s', mod);
+    return acc;
+  }, []);
+
+/**
+ * Loads root hooks as exported via `mochaHooks` from required files.
+ * These can be sync/async functions returning objects, or just objects.
+ * Flattens to a single object.
+ * @param {Array<MochaRootHookObject|MochaRootHookFunction>} rootHooks - Array of root hooks
+ * @private
+ * @returns {MochaRootHookObject}
+ */
+exports.loadRootHooks = async rootHooks => {
+  const rootHookObjects = await Promise.all(
+    rootHooks.map(async hook => (/function$/.test(type(hook)) ? hook() : hook))
+  );
+
+  return rootHookObjects.reduce(
+    (acc, hook) => {
+      acc.beforeAll = acc.beforeAll.concat(hook.beforeAll || []);
+      acc.beforeEach = acc.beforeEach.concat(hook.beforeEach || []);
+      acc.afterAll = acc.afterAll.concat(hook.afterAll || []);
+      acc.afterEach = acc.afterEach.concat(hook.afterEach || []);
+      return acc;
+    },
+    {beforeAll: [], beforeEach: [], afterAll: [], afterEach: []}
+  );
 };
 
 /**
@@ -104,6 +144,7 @@ const singleRun = async (mocha, {exit}, fileCollectParams) => {
   debug('running tests with files', files);
   mocha.files = files;
 
+  // handles ESM modules
   await mocha.loadFilesAsync();
   return mocha.run(exit ? exitMocha : exitMochaLater);
 };
diff --git a/lib/cli/run.js b/lib/cli/run.js
index d024cbb0f2..36463a4b6f 100644
--- a/lib/cli/run.js
+++ b/lib/cli/run.js
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ const {
   list,
   handleRequires,
   validatePlugin,
+  loadRootHooks,
   runMocha
 } = require('./run-helpers');
 const {ONE_AND_DONES, ONE_AND_DONE_ARGS} = require('./one-and-dones');
@@ -285,12 +286,17 @@ exports.builder = yargs =>
         );
       }
 
+      return true;
+    })
+    .middleware(async argv => {
       // load requires first, because it can impact "plugin" validation
-      handleRequires(argv.require);
+      const rawRootHooks = await handleRequires(argv.require);
       validatePlugin(argv, 'reporter', Mocha.reporters);
       validatePlugin(argv, 'ui', Mocha.interfaces);
 
-      return true;
+      if (rawRootHooks.length) {
+        argv.rootHooks = await loadRootHooks(argv.rawRootHooks);
+      }
     })
     .array(types.array)
     .boolean(types.boolean)
diff --git a/lib/mocha.js b/lib/mocha.js
index 017daa1e2c..56992ddf1d 100644
--- a/lib/mocha.js
+++ b/lib/mocha.js
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ exports.Test = require('./test');
  * @param {number} [options.slow] - Slow threshold value.
  * @param {number|string} [options.timeout] - Timeout threshold value.
  * @param {string} [options.ui] - Interface name.
+ * @param {MochaRootHookObject} [options.rootHooks] - Hooks to bootstrap the root
+ * suite with
  */
 function Mocha(options) {
   options = utils.assign({}, mocharc, options || {});
@@ -136,6 +138,10 @@ function Mocha(options) {
       this[opt]();
     }
   }, this);
+
+  if (options.rootHooks) {
+    this.rootHooks(options.rootHooks);
+  }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -866,3 +872,46 @@ Mocha.prototype.run = function(fn) {
 
   return runner.run(done);
 };
+
+/**
+ * Assigns hooks to the root suite
+ * @param {MochaRootHookObject} [hooks] - Hooks to assign to root suite
+ * @chainable
+ */
+Mocha.prototype.rootHooks = function rootHooks(hooks) {
+  if (utils.type(hooks) === 'object') {
+    var beforeAll = [].concat(hooks.beforeAll || []);
+    var beforeEach = [].concat(hooks.beforeEach || []);
+    var afterAll = [].concat(hooks.afterAll || []);
+    var afterEach = [].concat(hooks.afterEach || []);
+    var rootSuite = this.suite;
+    beforeAll.forEach(function(hook) {
+      rootSuite.beforeAll(hook);
+    });
+    beforeEach.forEach(function(hook) {
+      rootSuite.beforeEach(hook);
+    });
+    afterAll.forEach(function(hook) {
+      rootSuite.afterAll(hook);
+    });
+    afterEach.forEach(function(hook) {
+      rootSuite.afterEach(hook);
+    });
+  }
+  return this;
+};
+
+/**
+ * An alternative way to define root hooks that works with parallel runs.
+ * @typedef {Object} MochaRootHookObject
+ * @property {Function|Function[]} [beforeAll] - "Before all" hook(s)
+ * @property {Function|Function[]} [beforeEach] - "Before each" hook(s)
+ * @property {Function|Function[]} [afterAll] - "After all" hook(s)
+ * @property {Function|Function[]} [afterEach] - "After each" hook(s)
+ */
+
+/**
+ * An function that returns a {@link MochaRootHookObject}, either sync or async.
+ * @callback MochaRootHookFunction
+ * @returns {MochaRootHookObject|Promise<MochaRootHookObject>}
+ */
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-a.fixture.js b/test/integration/fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-a.fixture.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8938816eee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-a.fixture.js
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+'use strict';
+
+exports.mochaHooks = {
+  beforeAll() {
+    console.log('beforeAll');
+  },
+  beforeEach() {
+    console.log('beforeEach');
+  },
+  afterAll() {
+    console.log('afterAll');
+  },
+  afterEach() {
+    console.log('afterEach');
+  }
+};
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-b.fixture.js b/test/integration/fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-b.fixture.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6aa0ed3342
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-b.fixture.js
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+'use strict';
+
+exports.mochaHooks = {
+  beforeAll: [
+    function() {
+      console.log('beforeAll array 1');
+    },
+    function() {
+      console.log('beforeAll array 2');
+    }
+  ],
+  beforeEach: [
+    function() {
+      console.log('beforeEach array 1');
+    },
+    function() {
+      console.log('beforeEach array 2');
+    }
+  ],
+  afterAll: [
+    function() {
+      console.log('afterAll array 1');
+    },
+    function() {
+      console.log('afterAll array 2');
+    }
+  ],
+  afterEach: [
+    function() {
+      console.log('afterEach array 1');
+    },
+    function() {
+      console.log('afterEach array 2');
+    }
+  ]
+};
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-c.fixture.js b/test/integration/fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-c.fixture.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..624973de75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-c.fixture.js
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+'use strict';
+
+exports.mochaHooks = async () => ({
+  beforeAll() {
+    console.log('beforeAll');
+  },
+  beforeEach() {
+    console.log('beforeEach');
+  },
+  afterAll() {
+    console.log('afterAll');
+  },
+  afterEach() {
+    console.log('afterEach');
+  }
+});
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-d.fixture.js b/test/integration/fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-d.fixture.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d073a35fcf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-d.fixture.js
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+'use strict';
+
+exports.mochaHooks = async() => ({
+  beforeAll: [
+    function() {
+      console.log('beforeAll array 1');
+    },
+    function() {
+      console.log('beforeAll array 2');
+    }
+  ],
+  beforeEach: [
+    function() {
+      console.log('beforeEach array 1');
+    },
+    function() {
+      console.log('beforeEach array 2');
+    }
+  ],
+  afterAll: [
+    function() {
+      console.log('afterAll array 1');
+    },
+    function() {
+      console.log('afterAll array 2');
+    }
+  ],
+  afterEach: [
+    function() {
+      console.log('afterEach array 1');
+    },
+    function() {
+      console.log('afterEach array 2');
+    }
+  ]
+});
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/options/require/root-hook-test-2.fixture.js b/test/integration/fixtures/options/require/root-hook-test-2.fixture.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4d00018d2c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/options/require/root-hook-test-2.fixture.js
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+// run with --require root-hook-defs-a.fixture.js --require
+// root-hook-defs-b.fixture.js
+
+it('should also have some root hooks', function() {
+  // test
+});
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/options/require/root-hook-test.fixture.js b/test/integration/fixtures/options/require/root-hook-test.fixture.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..412895c87c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/options/require/root-hook-test.fixture.js
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+// run with --require root-hook-defs-a.fixture.js --require
+// root-hook-defs-b.fixture.js
+
+it('should have some root hooks', function() {
+  // test
+});
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/integration/options/require.spec.js b/test/integration/options/require.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7e3204143e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/options/require.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+'use strict';
+
+var invokeMochaAsync = require('../helpers').invokeMochaAsync;
+
+describe('--require', function() {
+  describe('when mocha run in serial mode', function() {
+    it('should run root hooks when provided via mochaHooks object export', function() {
+      return expect(
+        invokeMochaAsync([
+          '--require=' +
+            require.resolve(
+              '../fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-a.fixture.js'
+            ),
+          '--require=' +
+            require.resolve(
+              '../fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-b.fixture.js'
+            ),
+          require.resolve(
+            '../fixtures/options/require/root-hook-test.fixture.js'
+          )
+        ])[1],
+        'when fulfilled',
+        'to contain output',
+        /beforeAll[\s\S]+?beforeAll array 1[\s\S]+?beforeAll array 2[\s\S]+?beforeEach[\s\S]+?beforeEach array 1[\s\S]+?beforeEach array 2[\s\S]+?afterEach[\s\S]+?afterEach array 1[\s\S]+?afterEach array 2[\s\S]+?afterAll[\s\S]+?afterAll array 1[\s\S]+?afterAll array 2/
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('should run root hooks when provided via mochaHooks function export', function() {
+      return expect(
+        invokeMochaAsync([
+          '--require=' +
+            require.resolve(
+              '../fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-c.fixture.js'
+            ),
+          '--require=' +
+            require.resolve(
+              '../fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-d.fixture.js'
+            ),
+          require.resolve(
+            '../fixtures/options/require/root-hook-test.fixture.js'
+          )
+        ])[1],
+        'when fulfilled',
+        'to contain output',
+        /beforeAll[\s\S]+?beforeAll array 1[\s\S]+?beforeAll array 2[\s\S]+?beforeEach[\s\S]+?beforeEach array 1[\s\S]+?beforeEach array 2[\s\S]+?afterEach[\s\S]+?afterEach array 1[\s\S]+?afterEach array 2[\s\S]+?afterAll[\s\S]+?afterAll array 1[\s\S]+?afterAll array 2/
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('when mocha in parallel mode', function() {
+    it('should run root hooks when provided via mochaHooks object exports', function() {
+      return expect(
+        invokeMochaAsync([
+          '--require=' +
+            require.resolve(
+              '../fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-a.fixture.js'
+            ),
+          '--require=' +
+            require.resolve(
+              '../fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-b.fixture.js'
+            ),
+          '--parallel',
+          require.resolve(
+            '../fixtures/options/require/root-hook-test.fixture.js'
+          )
+        ])[1],
+        'when fulfilled',
+        'to contain output',
+        /beforeAll[\s\S]+?beforeAll array 1[\s\S]+?beforeAll array 2[\s\S]+?beforeEach[\s\S]+?beforeEach array 1[\s\S]+?beforeEach array 2[\s\S]+?afterEach[\s\S]+?afterEach array 1[\s\S]+?afterEach array 2[\s\S]+?afterAll[\s\S]+?afterAll array 1[\s\S]+?afterAll array 2/
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('should run root hooks when provided via mochaHooks function export', function() {
+      return expect(
+        invokeMochaAsync([
+          '--require=' +
+            require.resolve(
+              '../fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-c.fixture.js'
+            ),
+          '--require=' +
+            require.resolve(
+              '../fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-d.fixture.js'
+            ),
+          '--parallel',
+          require.resolve(
+            '../fixtures/options/require/root-hook-test.fixture.js'
+          )
+        ])[1],
+        'when fulfilled',
+        'to contain output',
+        /beforeAll[\s\S]+?beforeAll array 1[\s\S]+?beforeAll array 2[\s\S]+?beforeEach[\s\S]+?beforeEach array 1[\s\S]+?beforeEach array 2[\s\S]+?afterEach[\s\S]+?afterEach array 1[\s\S]+?afterEach array 2[\s\S]+?afterAll[\s\S]+?afterAll array 1[\s\S]+?afterAll array 2/
+      );
+    });
+
+    describe('when running multiple jobs', function() {
+      it('should run root hooks when provided via mochaHooks object exports for each job', function() {
+        return expect(
+          invokeMochaAsync([
+            '--require=' +
+              require.resolve(
+                '../fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-a.fixture.js'
+              ),
+            '--require=' +
+              require.resolve(
+                '../fixtures/options/require/root-hook-defs-b.fixture.js'
+              ),
+            '--parallel',
+            require.resolve(
+              '../fixtures/options/require/root-hook-test.fixture.js'
+            ),
+            require.resolve(
+              '../fixtures/options/require/root-hook-test-2.fixture.js'
+            )
+          ])[1],
+          'when fulfilled',
+          'to contain output',
+          /(?:beforeAll[\s\S]+?beforeAll array 1[\s\S]+?beforeAll array 2[\s\S]+?beforeEach[\s\S]+?beforeEach array 1[\s\S]+?beforeEach array 2[\s\S]+?afterEach[\s\S]+?afterEach array 1[\s\S]+?afterEach array 2[\s\S]+?afterAll[\s\S]+?afterAll array 1[\s\S]+?afterAll array 2[\s\S]+?){2}/
+        );
+      });
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/node-unit/cli/run-helpers.spec.js b/test/node-unit/cli/run-helpers.spec.js
index a2a63335f5..55ffc3fc73 100644
--- a/test/node-unit/cli/run-helpers.spec.js
+++ b/test/node-unit/cli/run-helpers.spec.js
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 'use strict';
 
-const {validatePlugin, list} = require('../../../lib/cli/run-helpers');
+const {
+  validatePlugin,
+  list,
+  loadRootHooks
+} = require('../../../lib/cli/run-helpers');
 const {createSandbox} = require('sinon');
 
 describe('cli "run" command', function() {
@@ -15,8 +19,69 @@ describe('cli "run" command', function() {
   });
 
   describe('helpers', function() {
-    describe('validatePlugin()', function() {
-      it('should disallow an array of module names', function() {
+    describe('loadRootHooks()', function() {
+      describe('when passed nothing', function() {
+        it('should reject', async function() {
+          return expect(loadRootHooks(), 'to be rejected');
+        });
+      });
+
+      describe('when passed empty array of hooks', function() {
+        it('should return an empty MochaRootHooks object', async function() {
+          return expect(loadRootHooks([]), 'to be fulfilled with', {
+            beforeAll: [],
+            beforeEach: [],
+            afterAll: [],
+            afterEach: []
+          });
+        });
+      });
+
+      describe('when passed an array containing hook objects and sync functions and async functions', function() {
+        it('should flatten them into a single object', async function() {
+          function a() {}
+          function b() {}
+          function d() {}
+          function g() {}
+          function f() {}
+          function c() {
+            return {
+              beforeAll: d,
+              beforeEach: g
+            };
+          }
+          async function e() {
+            return {
+              afterEach: f
+            };
+          }
+          return expect(
+            loadRootHooks([
+              {
+                beforeEach: a
+              },
+              {
+                afterAll: b
+              },
+              c,
+              e
+            ]),
+            'to be fulfilled with',
+            {
+              beforeAll: [d],
+              beforeEach: [a, g],
+              afterAll: [b],
+              afterEach: [f]
+            }
+          );
+        });
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('validatePlugin()', function() {
+    describe('when used with "reporter" key', function() {
+      it('should disallow an array of names', function() {
         expect(
           () => validatePlugin({foo: ['bar']}, 'foo'),
           'to throw a',
diff --git a/test/node-unit/utils.spec.js b/test/node-unit/utils.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..489052cba4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/node-unit/utils.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const utils = require('../../lib/utils');
+
+describe('utils', function() {
+  describe('function', function() {
+    describe('type', function() {
+      it('should return "asyncfunction" if the parameter is an async function', function() {
+        expect(
+          utils.type(async () => {}),
+          'to be',
+          'asyncfunction'
+        );
+      });
+    });
+  });
+});