diff --git a/haystack/components/converters/markdown.py b/haystack/components/converters/markdown.py
index 7b0320293e..c633225890 100644
--- a/haystack/components/converters/markdown.py
+++ b/haystack/components/converters/markdown.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 from haystack.components.converters.utils import get_bytestream_from_source, normalize_metadata
 from haystack.dataclasses import ByteStream
 from haystack.lazy_imports import LazyImport
+from haystack.utils import get_progress_bar_setting
 
 with LazyImport("Run 'pip install markdown-it-py mdit_plain'") as markdown_conversion_imports:
     from markdown_it import MarkdownIt
@@ -54,7 +55,8 @@ def __init__(self, table_to_single_line: bool = False, progress_bar: bool = True
         markdown_conversion_imports.check()
 
         self.table_to_single_line = table_to_single_line
-        self.progress_bar = progress_bar
+        self._progress_bar_param = progress_bar
+        self.progress_bar = get_progress_bar_setting(progress_bar)
         self.store_full_path = store_full_path
 
     @component.output_types(documents=list[Document])
diff --git a/haystack/components/embedders/azure_document_embedder.py b/haystack/components/embedders/azure_document_embedder.py
index cc4471bd7a..d873d5f4e5 100644
--- a/haystack/components/embedders/azure_document_embedder.py
+++ b/haystack/components/embedders/azure_document_embedder.py
@@ -9,7 +9,13 @@
 
 from haystack import component, default_from_dict, default_to_dict, logging
 from haystack.components.embedders import OpenAIDocumentEmbedder
-from haystack.utils import Secret, deserialize_callable, deserialize_secrets_inplace, serialize_callable
+from haystack.utils import (
+    Secret,
+    deserialize_callable,
+    deserialize_secrets_inplace,
+    get_progress_bar_setting,
+    serialize_callable,
+)
 from haystack.utils.http_client import init_http_client
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -136,7 +142,8 @@ def __init__(  # noqa: PLR0913 (too-many-arguments) # pylint: disable=too-many-p
         self.prefix = prefix
         self.suffix = suffix
         self.batch_size = batch_size
-        self.progress_bar = progress_bar
+        self._progress_bar_param = progress_bar
+        self.progress_bar = get_progress_bar_setting(progress_bar)
         self.meta_fields_to_embed = meta_fields_to_embed or []
         self.embedding_separator = embedding_separator
         self.timeout = timeout if timeout is not None else float(os.environ.get("OPENAI_TIMEOUT", "30.0"))
@@ -186,7 +193,7 @@ def to_dict(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
             prefix=self.prefix,
             suffix=self.suffix,
             batch_size=self.batch_size,
-            progress_bar=self.progress_bar,
+            progress_bar=self._progress_bar_param,
             meta_fields_to_embed=self.meta_fields_to_embed,
             embedding_separator=self.embedding_separator,
             api_key=self.api_key.to_dict() if self.api_key is not None else None,
diff --git a/haystack/components/embedders/hugging_face_api_document_embedder.py b/haystack/components/embedders/hugging_face_api_document_embedder.py
index 9ad4727829..7c9e8ab4f4 100644
--- a/haystack/components/embedders/hugging_face_api_document_embedder.py
+++ b/haystack/components/embedders/hugging_face_api_document_embedder.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 from haystack import component, default_from_dict, default_to_dict, logging
 from haystack.dataclasses import Document
 from haystack.lazy_imports import LazyImport
-from haystack.utils import Secret, deserialize_secrets_inplace
+from haystack.utils import Secret, deserialize_secrets_inplace, get_progress_bar_setting
 from haystack.utils.hf import HFEmbeddingAPIType, HFModelType, check_valid_model
 from haystack.utils.url_validation import is_valid_http_url
 
@@ -179,7 +179,8 @@ def __init__(
         self.truncate = truncate
         self.normalize = normalize
         self.batch_size = batch_size
-        self.progress_bar = progress_bar
+        self._progress_bar_param = progress_bar
+        self.progress_bar = get_progress_bar_setting(progress_bar)
         self.meta_fields_to_embed = meta_fields_to_embed or []
         self.embedding_separator = embedding_separator
         self._client = InferenceClient(**client_args)
@@ -202,7 +203,7 @@ def to_dict(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
             truncate=self.truncate,
             normalize=self.normalize,
             batch_size=self.batch_size,
-            progress_bar=self.progress_bar,
+            progress_bar=self._progress_bar_param,
             meta_fields_to_embed=self.meta_fields_to_embed,
             embedding_separator=self.embedding_separator,
         )
diff --git a/haystack/components/embedders/image/sentence_transformers_doc_image_embedder.py b/haystack/components/embedders/image/sentence_transformers_doc_image_embedder.py
index cadf09e155..f8cabab318 100644
--- a/haystack/components/embedders/image/sentence_transformers_doc_image_embedder.py
+++ b/haystack/components/embedders/image/sentence_transformers_doc_image_embedder.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
     _SentenceTransformersEmbeddingBackendFactory,
 )
 from haystack.lazy_imports import LazyImport
+from haystack.utils import get_progress_bar_setting
 from haystack.utils.auth import Secret, deserialize_secrets_inplace
 from haystack.utils.device import ComponentDevice
 from haystack.utils.hf import deserialize_hf_model_kwargs, serialize_hf_model_kwargs
@@ -140,7 +141,8 @@ def __init__(  # noqa: PLR0913
         self.device = ComponentDevice.resolve_device(device)
         self.token = token
         self.batch_size = batch_size
-        self.progress_bar = progress_bar
+        self._progress_bar_param = progress_bar
+        self.progress_bar = get_progress_bar_setting(progress_bar)
         self.normalize_embeddings = normalize_embeddings
         self.trust_remote_code = trust_remote_code
         self.local_files_only = local_files_only
@@ -167,7 +169,7 @@ def to_dict(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
             device=self.device.to_dict(),
             token=self.token.to_dict() if self.token else None,
             batch_size=self.batch_size,
-            progress_bar=self.progress_bar,
+            progress_bar=self._progress_bar_param,
             normalize_embeddings=self.normalize_embeddings,
             trust_remote_code=self.trust_remote_code,
             local_files_only=self.local_files_only,
diff --git a/haystack/components/embedders/openai_document_embedder.py b/haystack/components/embedders/openai_document_embedder.py
index 99eaa19353..6c296dfe8f 100644
--- a/haystack/components/embedders/openai_document_embedder.py
+++ b/haystack/components/embedders/openai_document_embedder.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 from tqdm.asyncio import tqdm as async_tqdm
 
 from haystack import Document, component, default_from_dict, default_to_dict, logging
-from haystack.utils import Secret, deserialize_secrets_inplace
+from haystack.utils import Secret, deserialize_secrets_inplace, get_progress_bar_setting
 from haystack.utils.http_client import init_http_client
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -115,7 +115,8 @@ def __init__(  # noqa: PLR0913 (too-many-arguments) # pylint: disable=too-many-p
         self.prefix = prefix
         self.suffix = suffix
         self.batch_size = batch_size
-        self.progress_bar = progress_bar
+        self._progress_bar_param = progress_bar
+        self.progress_bar = get_progress_bar_setting(progress_bar)
         self.meta_fields_to_embed = meta_fields_to_embed or []
         self.embedding_separator = embedding_separator
         self.timeout = timeout
@@ -164,7 +165,7 @@ def to_dict(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
             prefix=self.prefix,
             suffix=self.suffix,
             batch_size=self.batch_size,
-            progress_bar=self.progress_bar,
+            progress_bar=self._progress_bar_param,
             meta_fields_to_embed=self.meta_fields_to_embed,
             embedding_separator=self.embedding_separator,
             timeout=self.timeout,
diff --git a/haystack/components/embedders/sentence_transformers_document_embedder.py b/haystack/components/embedders/sentence_transformers_document_embedder.py
index b902537fa0..29cdee6649 100644
--- a/haystack/components/embedders/sentence_transformers_document_embedder.py
+++ b/haystack/components/embedders/sentence_transformers_document_embedder.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
     _SentenceTransformersEmbeddingBackend,
     _SentenceTransformersEmbeddingBackendFactory,
 )
-from haystack.utils import ComponentDevice, Secret, deserialize_secrets_inplace
+from haystack.utils import ComponentDevice, Secret, deserialize_secrets_inplace, get_progress_bar_setting
 from haystack.utils.hf import deserialize_hf_model_kwargs, serialize_hf_model_kwargs
 
 
@@ -131,7 +131,8 @@ def __init__(  # noqa: PLR0913 # pylint: disable=too-many-positional-arguments,t
         self.prefix = prefix
         self.suffix = suffix
         self.batch_size = batch_size
-        self.progress_bar = progress_bar
+        self._progress_bar_param = progress_bar
+        self.progress_bar = get_progress_bar_setting(progress_bar)
         self.normalize_embeddings = normalize_embeddings
         self.meta_fields_to_embed = meta_fields_to_embed or []
         self.embedding_separator = embedding_separator
@@ -168,7 +169,7 @@ def to_dict(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
             prefix=self.prefix,
             suffix=self.suffix,
             batch_size=self.batch_size,
-            progress_bar=self.progress_bar,
+            progress_bar=self._progress_bar_param,
             normalize_embeddings=self.normalize_embeddings,
             meta_fields_to_embed=self.meta_fields_to_embed,
             embedding_separator=self.embedding_separator,
diff --git a/haystack/components/embedders/sentence_transformers_sparse_document_embedder.py b/haystack/components/embedders/sentence_transformers_sparse_document_embedder.py
index 965dde9042..43030723e5 100644
--- a/haystack/components/embedders/sentence_transformers_sparse_document_embedder.py
+++ b/haystack/components/embedders/sentence_transformers_sparse_document_embedder.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
     _SentenceTransformersSparseEmbeddingBackendFactory,
     _SentenceTransformersSparseEncoderEmbeddingBackend,
 )
-from haystack.utils import ComponentDevice, Secret, deserialize_secrets_inplace
+from haystack.utils import ComponentDevice, Secret, deserialize_secrets_inplace, get_progress_bar_setting
 from haystack.utils.hf import deserialize_hf_model_kwargs, serialize_hf_model_kwargs
 
 
@@ -112,7 +112,8 @@ def __init__(  # noqa: PLR0913
         self.prefix = prefix
         self.suffix = suffix
         self.batch_size = batch_size
-        self.progress_bar = progress_bar
+        self._progress_bar_param = progress_bar
+        self.progress_bar = get_progress_bar_setting(progress_bar)
         self.meta_fields_to_embed = meta_fields_to_embed or []
         self.embedding_separator = embedding_separator
         self.trust_remote_code = trust_remote_code
@@ -145,7 +146,7 @@ def to_dict(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
             prefix=self.prefix,
             suffix=self.suffix,
             batch_size=self.batch_size,
-            progress_bar=self.progress_bar,
+            progress_bar=self._progress_bar_param,
             meta_fields_to_embed=self.meta_fields_to_embed,
             embedding_separator=self.embedding_separator,
             trust_remote_code=self.trust_remote_code,
diff --git a/haystack/components/embedders/sentence_transformers_text_embedder.py b/haystack/components/embedders/sentence_transformers_text_embedder.py
index c2c9f5b695..d3f42f8f0e 100644
--- a/haystack/components/embedders/sentence_transformers_text_embedder.py
+++ b/haystack/components/embedders/sentence_transformers_text_embedder.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
     _SentenceTransformersEmbeddingBackend,
     _SentenceTransformersEmbeddingBackendFactory,
 )
-from haystack.utils import ComponentDevice, Secret, deserialize_secrets_inplace
+from haystack.utils import ComponentDevice, Secret, deserialize_secrets_inplace, get_progress_bar_setting
 from haystack.utils.hf import deserialize_hf_model_kwargs, serialize_hf_model_kwargs
 
 
@@ -120,7 +120,8 @@ def __init__(  # noqa: PLR0913 # pylint: disable=too-many-positional-arguments
         self.prefix = prefix
         self.suffix = suffix
         self.batch_size = batch_size
-        self.progress_bar = progress_bar
+        self._progress_bar_param = progress_bar
+        self.progress_bar = get_progress_bar_setting(progress_bar)
         self.normalize_embeddings = normalize_embeddings
         self.trust_remote_code = trust_remote_code
         self.revision = revision
@@ -155,7 +156,7 @@ def to_dict(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
             prefix=self.prefix,
             suffix=self.suffix,
             batch_size=self.batch_size,
-            progress_bar=self.progress_bar,
+            progress_bar=self._progress_bar_param,
             normalize_embeddings=self.normalize_embeddings,
             trust_remote_code=self.trust_remote_code,
             revision=self.revision,
diff --git a/haystack/components/evaluators/context_relevance.py b/haystack/components/evaluators/context_relevance.py
index b08d005579..bd8c9378f7 100644
--- a/haystack/components/evaluators/context_relevance.py
+++ b/haystack/components/evaluators/context_relevance.py
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ def to_dict(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
             self,
             chat_generator=component_to_dict(obj=self._chat_generator, name="chat_generator"),
             examples=self.examples,
-            progress_bar=self.progress_bar,
+            progress_bar=self._progress_bar_param,
             raise_on_failure=self.raise_on_failure,
         )
 
diff --git a/haystack/components/evaluators/faithfulness.py b/haystack/components/evaluators/faithfulness.py
index 3b722cc98f..dd4dd7dd59 100644
--- a/haystack/components/evaluators/faithfulness.py
+++ b/haystack/components/evaluators/faithfulness.py
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ def to_dict(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
             self,
             chat_generator=component_to_dict(obj=self._chat_generator, name="chat_generator"),
             examples=self.examples,
-            progress_bar=self.progress_bar,
+            progress_bar=self._progress_bar_param,
             raise_on_failure=self.raise_on_failure,
         )
 
diff --git a/haystack/components/evaluators/llm_evaluator.py b/haystack/components/evaluators/llm_evaluator.py
index ec7477bb68..b56359b741 100644
--- a/haystack/components/evaluators/llm_evaluator.py
+++ b/haystack/components/evaluators/llm_evaluator.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 from haystack.components.generators.chat.types import ChatGenerator
 from haystack.core.serialization import component_to_dict
 from haystack.dataclasses.chat_message import ChatMessage
-from haystack.utils import deserialize_chatgenerator_inplace, deserialize_type, serialize_type
+from haystack.utils import deserialize_chatgenerator_inplace, deserialize_type, get_progress_bar_setting, serialize_type
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -97,7 +97,8 @@ def __init__(  # pylint: disable=too-many-positional-arguments
         self.inputs = inputs
         self.outputs = outputs
         self.examples = examples
-        self.progress_bar = progress_bar
+        self._progress_bar_param = progress_bar
+        self.progress_bar = get_progress_bar_setting(progress_bar)
 
         template = self.prepare_template()
         self.builder = PromptBuilder(template=template)
@@ -298,7 +299,7 @@ def to_dict(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
             outputs=self.outputs,
             examples=self.examples,
             chat_generator=component_to_dict(obj=self._chat_generator, name="chat_generator"),
-            progress_bar=self.progress_bar,
+            progress_bar=self._progress_bar_param,
         )
 
     @classmethod
diff --git a/haystack/utils/__init__.py b/haystack/utils/__init__.py
index 7439e97658..15ac27e8d5 100644
--- a/haystack/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/haystack/utils/__init__.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
     "jinja2_extensions": ["Jinja2TimeExtension"],
     "jupyter": ["is_in_jupyter"],
     "misc": ["expit", "expand_page_range"],
+    "progress_helper": ["get_progress_bar_setting", "HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_ENV"],
     "requests_utils": ["request_with_retry", "async_request_with_retry"],
     "type_serialization": ["deserialize_type", "serialize_type"],
 }
@@ -44,6 +45,8 @@
     from .jupyter import is_in_jupyter as is_in_jupyter
     from .misc import expand_page_range as expand_page_range
     from .misc import expit as expit
+    from .progress_helper import HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_ENV as HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_ENV
+    from .progress_helper import get_progress_bar_setting as get_progress_bar_setting
     from .requests_utils import async_request_with_retry as async_request_with_retry
     from .requests_utils import request_with_retry as request_with_retry
     from .type_serialization import deserialize_type as deserialize_type
diff --git a/haystack/utils/progress_helper.py b/haystack/utils/progress_helper.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..84dc7f97f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/haystack/utils/progress_helper.py
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022-present deepset GmbH <info@deepset.ai>
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+"""Utilities for controlling progress bar behavior across Haystack components."""
+
+import os
+
+__all__ = ["HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_ENV", "get_progress_bar_setting"]
+
+HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_ENV = "HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_BARS"
+_DISABLE_VALUES = {"0", "false", "no", "off", "disable", "disabled"}
+_ENABLE_VALUES = {"1", "true", "yes", "on", "enable", "enabled"}
+
+
+def get_progress_bar_setting(component_default: bool = True, env_var: str = HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_ENV) -> bool:
+    """
+    Determine whether to show progress bars based on component default and environment variable.
+
+    This function allows users to globally control progress bar behavior across all Haystack
+    components using the ``HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_BARS`` environment variable, while still
+    allowing individual components to override this behavior.
+
+    Priority order:
+    1. Environment variable ``HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_BARS`` (if set and valid)
+    2. Component's ``progress_bar`` parameter (``component_default``)
+
+    :param component_default: The component's default progress_bar value.
+        This is used when the environment variable is not set or has an invalid value.
+    :param env_var: Name of the environment variable to check.
+        Defaults to ``HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_BARS``.
+    :return: ``True`` if progress bars should be shown, ``False`` otherwise.
+
+    **Environment variable values:**
+
+    To **disable** progress bars, set one of:
+    - ``"0"``, ``"false"``, ``"no"``, ``"off"``, ``"disable"``, ``"disabled"``
+
+    To **enable** progress bars, set one of:
+    - ``"1"``, ``"true"``, ``"yes"``, ``"on"``, ``"enable"``, ``"enabled"``
+
+    If the environment variable is unset or contains an invalid value,
+    the ``component_default`` value is used.
+
+    **Examples:**
+
+    Disable all progress bars globally:
+
+    .. code-block:: bash
+
+        export HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_BARS=0
+
+    .. code-block:: python
+
+        from haystack.utils import get_progress_bar_setting
+
+        class MyComponent:
+            def __init__(self, progress_bar: bool = True):
+                self.progress_bar = get_progress_bar_setting(progress_bar)
+
+    Enable all progress bars globally (even if component default is False):
+
+    .. code-block:: bash
+
+        export HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_BARS=1
+
+    No environment variable set - use component default:
+
+    .. code-block:: python
+
+        assert get_progress_bar_setting(True) is True
+        assert get_progress_bar_setting(False) is False
+    """
+    env_value = os.getenv(env_var, "").lower()
+
+    if env_value in _DISABLE_VALUES:
+        return False
+    if env_value in _ENABLE_VALUES:
+        return True
+
+    # Environment variable not set or has invalid value -> use component default
+    return component_default
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/add-haystack-progress-bars-env-var.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/add-haystack-progress-bars-env-var.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6fbcaf1d10
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/add-haystack-progress-bars-env-var.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+features:
+  - |
+    Add support for the ``HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_BARS`` environment variable to globally
+    control progress bar behavior across all Haystack components. Users can now disable
+    all progress bars by setting ``HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_BARS=0`` or enable them with
+    ``HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_BARS=1``. This restores functionality from Haystack 1.x.
diff --git a/test/utils/test_progress_helper.py b/test/utils/test_progress_helper.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fe8ef9fc6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/utils/test_progress_helper.py
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022-present deepset GmbH <info@deepset.ai>
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+from haystack.utils import HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_ENV, get_progress_bar_setting
+
+
+def test_progress_bar_env_disabled(monkeypatch):
+    """HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_BARS set to disable values should disable progress bars."""
+    disable_values = ["0", "false", "no", "off", "disable", "disabled"]
+    for val in disable_values:
+        monkeypatch.setenv(HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_ENV, val)
+        assert get_progress_bar_setting(component_default=True) is False
+
+
+def test_progress_bar_env_enabled(monkeypatch):
+    """HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_BARS set to enable values should enable progress bars."""
+    enable_values = ["1", "true", "yes", "on", "enable", "enabled"]
+    for val in enable_values:
+        monkeypatch.setenv(HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_ENV, val)
+        assert get_progress_bar_setting(component_default=False) is True
+
+
+def test_progress_bar_env_case_insensitive(monkeypatch):
+    """Environment variable should be case-insensitive."""
+    monkeypatch.setenv(HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_ENV, "TRUE")
+    assert get_progress_bar_setting(component_default=False) is True
+
+    monkeypatch.setenv(HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_ENV, "FALSE")
+    assert get_progress_bar_setting(component_default=True) is False
+
+    monkeypatch.setenv(HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_ENV, "OFF")
+    assert get_progress_bar_setting(component_default=True) is False
+
+
+def test_progress_bar_env_unset(monkeypatch):
+    """Unset environment variable should use component default."""
+    monkeypatch.delenv(HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_ENV, raising=False)
+
+    assert get_progress_bar_setting(component_default=True) is True
+    assert get_progress_bar_setting(component_default=False) is False
+
+
+def test_progress_bar_env_invalid_value(monkeypatch):
+    """Invalid environment variable value should fall back to component default."""
+    invalid_values = ["", "invalid", "2", "maybe", "2.5"]
+    for val in invalid_values:
+        monkeypatch.setenv(HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_ENV, val)
+        # Should fall back to component_default
+        assert get_progress_bar_setting(component_default=True) is True
+        assert get_progress_bar_setting(component_default=False) is False
+
+
+def test_progress_bar_custom_env_var(monkeypatch):
+    """Should support custom environment variable name."""
+    monkeypatch.setenv("MY_CUSTOM_PROGRESS_VAR", "0")
+    assert get_progress_bar_setting(component_default=True, env_var="MY_CUSTOM_PROGRESS_VAR") is False
+
+    monkeypatch.setenv("MY_CUSTOM_PROGRESS_VAR", "1")
+    assert get_progress_bar_setting(component_default=False, env_var="MY_CUSTOM_PROGRESS_VAR") is True
+
+
+def test_progress_bar_constant_accessible():
+    """HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_ENV constant should be accessible."""
+    assert HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_ENV == "HAYSTACK_PROGRESS_BARS"
+
+
+def test_progress_bar_default_parameter():
+    """Component default should be used when env var is not set."""
+    # No env var set, should return component default
+    assert get_progress_bar_setting() is True
+    assert get_progress_bar_setting(component_default=False) is False