diff --git a/src/_pytest/config/__init__.py b/src/_pytest/config/__init__.py
index ca2bebabc..4ed9deac4 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/config/__init__.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/config/__init__.py
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ default_plugins = (
     "stepwise",
     "warnings",
     "logging",
+    "reports",
 )
 
 
diff --git a/src/_pytest/hookspec.py b/src/_pytest/hookspec.py
index 0641e3bc5..a465923f9 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/hookspec.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/hookspec.py
@@ -375,6 +375,41 @@ def pytest_runtest_logreport(report):
     the respective phase of executing a test. """
 
 
+@hookspec(firstresult=True)
+def pytest_report_serialize(config, report):
+    """
+    .. warning::
+        This hook is experimental and subject to change between pytest releases, even
+        bug fixes.
+
+        The intent is for this to be used by plugins maintained by the core-devs, such
+        as ``pytest-xdist``, ``pytest-subtests``, and as a replacement for the internal
+        'resultlog' plugin.
+
+        In the future it might become part of the public hook API.
+
+    Serializes the given report object into a data structure suitable for sending
+    over the wire, or converted to JSON.
+    """
+
+
+@hookspec(firstresult=True)
+def pytest_report_unserialize(config, data):
+    """
+    .. warning::
+        This hook is experimental and subject to change between pytest releases, even
+        bug fixes.
+
+        The intent is for this to be used by plugins maintained by the core-devs, such
+        as ``pytest-xdist``, ``pytest-subtests``, and as a replacement for the internal
+        'resultlog' plugin.
+
+        In the future it might become part of the public hook API.
+
+    Restores a report object previously serialized with pytest_report_serialize().;
+    """
+
+
 # -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Fixture related hooks
 # -------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/_pytest/reports.py b/src/_pytest/reports.py
index 5f0777375..b4160eb96 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/reports.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/reports.py
@@ -404,3 +404,19 @@ class CollectErrorRepr(TerminalRepr):
 
     def toterminal(self, out):
         out.line(self.longrepr, red=True)
+
+
+def pytest_report_serialize(report):
+    if isinstance(report, (TestReport, CollectReport)):
+        data = report._to_json()
+        data["_report_type"] = report.__class__.__name__
+        return data
+
+
+def pytest_report_unserialize(data):
+    if "_report_type" in data:
+        if data["_report_type"] == "TestReport":
+            return TestReport._from_json(data)
+        elif data["_report_type"] == "CollectReport":
+            return CollectReport._from_json(data)
+        assert "Unknown report_type unserialize data: {}".format(data["_report_type"])
diff --git a/testing/test_reports.py b/testing/test_reports.py
index 322995326..3413a805b 100644
--- a/testing/test_reports.py
+++ b/testing/test_reports.py
@@ -181,3 +181,53 @@ class TestReportSerialization(object):
             assert newrep.skipped == rep.skipped
             if rep.failed:
                 assert newrep.longrepr == str(rep.longrepr)
+
+
+class TestHooks:
+    """Test that the hooks are working correctly for plugins"""
+
+    def test_test_report(self, testdir, pytestconfig):
+        testdir.makepyfile(
+            """
+            import os
+            def test_a(): assert False
+            def test_b(): pass
+        """
+        )
+        reprec = testdir.inline_run()
+        reports = reprec.getreports("pytest_runtest_logreport")
+        assert len(reports) == 6
+        for rep in reports:
+            data = pytestconfig.hook.pytest_report_serialize(
+                config=pytestconfig, report=rep
+            )
+            assert data["_report_type"] == "TestReport"
+            new_rep = pytestconfig.hook.pytest_report_unserialize(
+                config=pytestconfig, data=data
+            )
+            assert new_rep.nodeid == rep.nodeid
+            assert new_rep.when == rep.when
+            assert new_rep.outcome == rep.outcome
+
+    def test_collect_report(self, testdir, pytestconfig):
+        testdir.makepyfile(
+            """
+            import os
+            def test_a(): assert False
+            def test_b(): pass
+        """
+        )
+        reprec = testdir.inline_run()
+        reports = reprec.getreports("pytest_collectreport")
+        assert len(reports) == 2
+        for rep in reports:
+            data = pytestconfig.hook.pytest_report_serialize(
+                config=pytestconfig, report=rep
+            )
+            assert data["_report_type"] == "CollectReport"
+            new_rep = pytestconfig.hook.pytest_report_unserialize(
+                config=pytestconfig, data=data
+            )
+            assert new_rep.nodeid == rep.nodeid
+            assert new_rep.when == "collect"
+            assert new_rep.outcome == rep.outcome