diff --git a/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/IconRenderer.tsx b/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/IconRenderer.tsx
index f87c1a751e..e7d26c1dbc 100644
--- a/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/IconRenderer.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/IconRenderer.tsx
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import { ReactComponent as ProjectIcon } from 'assets/icons/projectIconSmall.svg
 import type { FC } from 'react';
 import { styled } from '@mui/material';
 
+// TODO: move to routes
 const icons: Record<string, typeof SvgIcon> = {
     '/applications': ApplicationsIcon,
     '/context': ContextFieldsIcon,
diff --git a/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/ListItems.tsx b/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/ListItems.tsx
index c11ac7cb73..5375b7219e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/ListItems.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/ListItems.tsx
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import type { Theme } from '@mui/material/styles/createTheme';
 const listItemButtonStyle = (theme: Theme) => ({
     borderRadius: theme.spacing(0.5),
     borderLeft: `${theme.spacing(0.5)} solid transparent`,
-    '&:hover': {
+    '&.Mui-selected': {
         borderLeft: `${theme.spacing(0.5)} solid ${theme.palette.primary.main}`,
     },
 });
@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@ export const FullListItem: FC<{
     href: string;
     text: string;
     badge?: ReactNode;
-    onClick?: () => void;
-}> = ({ href, text, badge, onClick, children }) => {
+    onClick: () => void;
+    selected?: boolean;
+}> = ({ href, text, badge, onClick, selected, children }) => {
     return (
         <ListItem disablePadding onClick={onClick}>
             <ListItemButton
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ export const FullListItem: FC<{
                 component={Link}
                 to={href}
                 sx={listItemButtonStyle}
+                selected={selected}
             >
                 <ListItemIcon sx={(theme) => ({ minWidth: theme.spacing(4) })}>
                     {children}
@@ -82,18 +84,20 @@ export const SignOutItem = () => {
     );
 };
 
-export const MiniListItem: FC<{ href: string; text: string }> = ({
-    href,
-    text,
-    children,
-}) => {
+export const MiniListItem: FC<{
+    href: string;
+    text: string;
+    selected?: boolean;
+    onClick: () => void;
+}> = ({ href, text, selected, onClick, children }) => {
     return (
-        <ListItem disablePadding>
+        <ListItem disablePadding onClick={onClick}>
             <ListItemButton
                 dense={true}
                 component={Link}
                 to={href}
                 sx={listItemButtonStyle}
+                selected={selected}
             >
                 <Tooltip title={text} placement='right'>
                     <ListItemIcon
diff --git a/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/NavigationList.tsx b/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/NavigationList.tsx
index 6e0d83f079..f205caca72 100644
--- a/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/NavigationList.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/NavigationList.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { type FC, type ReactNode, useCallback } from 'react';
+import { type FC, useCallback } from 'react';
 import type { INavigationMenuItem } from 'interfaces/route';
 import type { NavigationMode } from './NavigationMode';
 import {
@@ -48,34 +48,12 @@ const useShowBadge = () => {
     return showBadge;
 };
 
-export const ConfigureNavigationList: FC<{
+export const SecondaryNavigationList: FC<{
     routes: INavigationMenuItem[];
     mode: NavigationMode;
-    onClick?: () => void;
-}> = ({ routes, mode, onClick }) => {
-    const DynamicListItem = mode === 'mini' ? MiniListItem : FullListItem;
-
-    return (
-        <List>
-            {routes.map((route) => (
-                <DynamicListItem
-                    key={route.title}
-                    href={route.path}
-                    text={route.title}
-                    onClick={onClick}
-                >
-                    <IconRenderer path={route.path} />
-                </DynamicListItem>
-            ))}
-        </List>
-    );
-};
-export const AdminNavigationList: FC<{
-    routes: INavigationMenuItem[];
-    mode: NavigationMode;
-    badge?: ReactNode;
-    onClick?: () => void;
-}> = ({ routes, mode, onClick, badge }) => {
+    onClick: (activeItem: string) => void;
+    activeItem?: string;
+}> = ({ routes, mode, onClick, activeItem }) => {
     const showBadge = useShowBadge();
     const DynamicListItem = mode === 'mini' ? MiniListItem : FullListItem;
 
@@ -84,9 +62,10 @@ export const AdminNavigationList: FC<{
             {routes.map((route) => (
                 <DynamicListItem
                     key={route.title}
-                    onClick={onClick}
+                    onClick={() => onClick(route.path)}
                     href={route.path}
                     text={route.title}
+                    selected={activeItem === route.path}
                     badge={
                         showBadge(route?.menu?.mode) ? (
                             <EnterprisePlanBadge />
@@ -121,26 +100,43 @@ export const OtherLinksList = () => {
 
 export const PrimaryNavigationList: FC<{
     mode: NavigationMode;
-    onClick?: () => void;
-}> = ({ mode, onClick }) => {
+    onClick: (activeItem: string) => void;
+    activeItem?: string;
+}> = ({ mode, onClick, activeItem }) => {
     const DynamicListItem = mode === 'mini' ? MiniListItem : FullListItem;
 
     return (
         <List>
-            <DynamicListItem href='/projects' text='Projects' onClick={onClick}>
+            <DynamicListItem
+                href='/projects'
+                text='Projects'
+                onClick={() => onClick('/projects')}
+                selected={activeItem === '/projects'}
+            >
                 <StyledProjectIcon />
             </DynamicListItem>
-            <DynamicListItem href='/search' text='Search' onClick={onClick}>
+            <DynamicListItem
+                href='/search'
+                text='Search'
+                onClick={() => onClick('/search')}
+                selected={activeItem === '/search'}
+            >
                 <SearchIcon />
             </DynamicListItem>
             <DynamicListItem
                 href='/playground'
                 text='Playground'
-                onClick={onClick}
+                onClick={() => onClick('/playground')}
+                selected={activeItem === '/playground'}
             >
                 <PlaygroundIcon />
             </DynamicListItem>
-            <DynamicListItem href='/insights' text='Insights' onClick={onClick}>
+            <DynamicListItem
+                href='/insights'
+                text='Insights'
+                onClick={() => onClick('/insights')}
+                selected={activeItem === '/insights'}
+            >
                 <InsightsIcon />
             </DynamicListItem>
         </List>
@@ -163,23 +159,21 @@ const AccordionHeader: FC = ({ children }) => {
 
 export const SecondaryNavigation: FC<{
     expanded: boolean;
-    onChange: (expanded: boolean) => void;
+    onExpandChange: (expanded: boolean) => void;
     mode: NavigationMode;
-    routes: INavigationMenuItem[];
-}> = ({ mode, expanded, onChange, routes, children }) => {
+    title: string;
+}> = ({ mode, expanded, onExpandChange, title, children }) => {
     return (
         <Accordion
             disableGutters={true}
             sx={{ boxShadow: 'none' }}
             expanded={expanded}
             onChange={(_, expand) => {
-                onChange(expand);
+                onExpandChange(expand);
             }}
         >
-            {mode === 'full' && <AccordionHeader>{children}</AccordionHeader>}
-            <AccordionDetails sx={{ p: 0 }}>
-                <ConfigureNavigationList routes={routes} mode={mode} />
-            </AccordionDetails>
+            {mode === 'full' && <AccordionHeader>{title}</AccordionHeader>}
+            <AccordionDetails sx={{ p: 0 }}>{children}</AccordionDetails>
         </Accordion>
     );
 };
diff --git a/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/NavigationSidebar.test.tsx b/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/NavigationSidebar.test.tsx
index b998bb839c..4a65500afa 100644
--- a/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/NavigationSidebar.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/NavigationSidebar.test.tsx
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ import { render } from 'utils/testRenderer';
 import { NavigationSidebar } from './NavigationSidebar';
 import { screen, fireEvent, waitFor } from '@testing-library/react';
 import { createLocalStorage } from 'utils/createLocalStorage';
+import { Route, Routes } from 'react-router-dom';
+import { listItemButtonClasses as classes } from '@mui/material/ListItemButton';
 
 beforeEach(() => {
     window.localStorage.clear();
@@ -54,3 +56,16 @@ test('persist navigation mode and expansion selection in storage', async () => {
         expect(expanded).toEqual(['admin']);
     });
 });
+
+test('select active item', async () => {
+    render(
+        <Routes>
+            <Route path={'/search'} element={<NavigationSidebar />} />
+        </Routes>,
+        { route: '/search' },
+    );
+
+    const links = screen.getAllByRole('link');
+
+    expect(links[1]).toHaveClass(classes.selected);
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/NavigationSidebar.tsx b/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/NavigationSidebar.tsx
index de78754d96..96d8811c00 100644
--- a/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/NavigationSidebar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/NavigationSidebar.tsx
@@ -1,16 +1,16 @@
 import { Box, styled } from '@mui/material';
-import type { FC } from 'react';
+import { type FC, useState } from 'react';
 import { useNavigationMode } from './useNavigationMode';
 import { ShowHide } from './ShowHide';
 import { useRoutes } from './useRoutes';
 import { useExpanded } from './useExpanded';
 import {
-    AdminNavigationList,
-    ConfigureNavigationList,
     OtherLinksList,
     PrimaryNavigationList,
     SecondaryNavigation,
+    SecondaryNavigationList,
 } from './NavigationList';
+import { useInitialPathname } from './useInitialPathname';
 
 export const MobileNavigationSidebar: FC<{ onClick: () => void }> = ({
     onClick,
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ export const MobileNavigationSidebar: FC<{ onClick: () => void }> = ({
     return (
         <>
             <PrimaryNavigationList mode='full' onClick={onClick} />
-            <ConfigureNavigationList
+            <SecondaryNavigationList
                 routes={routes.mainNavRoutes}
                 mode='full'
                 onClick={onClick}
@@ -45,29 +45,46 @@ export const NavigationSidebar = () => {
 
     const [mode, setMode] = useNavigationMode();
     const [expanded, changeExpanded] = useExpanded<'configure' | 'admin'>();
+    const initialPathname = useInitialPathname();
+
+    const [activeItem, setActiveItem] = useState(initialPathname);
 
     return (
         <StyledBox>
-            <PrimaryNavigationList mode={mode} />
+            <PrimaryNavigationList
+                mode={mode}
+                onClick={setActiveItem}
+                activeItem={activeItem}
+            />
             <SecondaryNavigation
                 expanded={expanded.includes('configure')}
-                onChange={(expand) => {
+                onExpandChange={(expand) => {
                     changeExpanded('configure', expand);
                 }}
                 mode={mode}
-                routes={routes.mainNavRoutes}
+                title='Configure'
             >
-                Configure
+                <SecondaryNavigationList
+                    routes={routes.mainNavRoutes}
+                    mode={mode}
+                    onClick={setActiveItem}
+                    activeItem={activeItem}
+                />
             </SecondaryNavigation>
             <SecondaryNavigation
                 expanded={expanded.includes('admin')}
-                onChange={(expand) => {
+                onExpandChange={(expand) => {
                     changeExpanded('admin', expand);
                 }}
                 mode={mode}
-                routes={routes.adminRoutes}
+                title='Admin'
             >
-                Admin
+                <SecondaryNavigationList
+                    routes={routes.adminRoutes}
+                    mode={mode}
+                    onClick={setActiveItem}
+                    activeItem={activeItem}
+                />
             </SecondaryNavigation>
             <ShowHide
                 mode={mode}
diff --git a/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/useInitialPathname.test.ts b/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/useInitialPathname.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..697f37ed1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/useInitialPathname.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import { normalizeTopLevelPath } from './useInitialPathname';
+
+test('normalization test', () => {
+    expect(normalizeTopLevelPath('/')).toBe('/projects');
+    expect(normalizeTopLevelPath('')).toBe('/projects');
+    expect(normalizeTopLevelPath('/admin')).toBe('/projects');
+    expect(normalizeTopLevelPath('/admin/test')).toBe('/admin/test');
+    expect(normalizeTopLevelPath('/projects')).toBe('/projects');
+    expect(normalizeTopLevelPath('/projects/default')).toBe('/projects');
+    expect(normalizeTopLevelPath('/projects/default/test')).toBe('/projects');
+    expect(normalizeTopLevelPath('/insights/default/test')).toBe('/insights');
+    expect(normalizeTopLevelPath('/admin/networks/test')).toBe(
+        '/admin/networks',
+    );
+    expect(normalizeTopLevelPath('/admin/networks/test/another')).toBe(
+        '/admin/networks',
+    );
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/useInitialPathname.ts b/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/useInitialPathname.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6ba8c8711b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/component/layout/MainLayout/NavigationSidebar/useInitialPathname.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+import { useLocation } from 'react-router-dom';
+
+export const normalizeTopLevelPath = (pathname: string) => {
+    const parts = pathname.split('/').filter((part) => part);
+
+    const isEmptyPath =
+        parts.length === 0 || (parts[0] === 'admin' && parts.length === 1);
+    if (isEmptyPath) {
+        return '/projects';
+    }
+
+    const isAdminPath = parts[0] === 'admin' && parts.length > 1;
+    if (isAdminPath) {
+        return `/${parts[0]}/${parts[1]}`;
+    }
+
+    return `/${parts[0]}`;
+};
+
+export const useInitialPathname = () => {
+    const { pathname, state } = useLocation();
+
+    return normalizeTopLevelPath(pathname);
+};