diff --git a/samples/MvcSample.Web/Views/Home/ValidationSummary.cshtml b/samples/MvcSample.Web/Views/Home/ValidationSummary.cshtml
index 9188ca196c..d1b888f97f 100644
--- a/samples/MvcSample.Web/Views/Home/ValidationSummary.cshtml
+++ b/samples/MvcSample.Web/Views/Home/ValidationSummary.cshtml
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@
 <section class="validationSummary">
     @Html.ValidationSummary()
     @Html.ValidationSummary(excludePropertyErrors: true)
-    @Html.ValidationSummary(message: "Hello from validation message summary 1.")
+    @Html.ValidationSummary(message: "Hello from validation message summary 1.", tag: "h2")
     @Html.ValidationSummary(excludePropertyErrors: true, message: "Hello from validation message summary 2")
     @Html.ValidationSummary(message: "Hello from validation message summary 3", htmlAttributes: new { style = "color: red" })
     @Html.ValidationSummary(excludePropertyErrors: true, message: "Hello from validation message summary 4", htmlAttributes: new { style = "color: green" })
-    @Html.ValidationSummary(message: "Hello from validation message summary 5", htmlAttributes: new Dictionary<string, object> { { "style", "color: blue" } })
+    @Html.ValidationSummary(message: "Hello from validation message summary 5", htmlAttributes: new Dictionary<string, object> { { "style", "color: blue" } }, tag: "h1")
 </section>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/Rendering/Html/HtmlHelper.cs b/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/Rendering/Html/HtmlHelper.cs
index 232ced77a4..9746106e1d 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/Rendering/Html/HtmlHelper.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/Rendering/Html/HtmlHelper.cs
@@ -443,13 +443,16 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Rendering
         }
         
         /// <inheritdoc />
-        public HtmlString ValidationMessage(string expression, string message, object htmlAttributes)
+        public HtmlString ValidationMessage(string expression, string message, object htmlAttributes, string tag)
         {
-            return GenerateValidationMessage(expression, message, htmlAttributes);
+            return GenerateValidationMessage(expression, message, htmlAttributes, tag);
         }
 
         /// <inheritdoc />
-        public virtual HtmlString ValidationSummary(bool excludePropertyErrors, string message, IDictionary<string, object> htmlAttributes)
+        public virtual HtmlString ValidationSummary(bool excludePropertyErrors,
+            string message,
+            IDictionary<string, object> htmlAttributes,
+            string tag)
         {
             var formContext = ViewContext.ClientValidationEnabled ? ViewContext.FormContext : null;
 
@@ -464,16 +467,20 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Rendering
                 }
             }
 
-            string messageSpan;
+            string wrappedMessage;
             if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(message))
             {
-                var spanTag = new TagBuilder("span");
-                spanTag.SetInnerText(message);
-                messageSpan = spanTag.ToString(TagRenderMode.Normal) + Environment.NewLine;
+                if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(tag))
+                {
+                    tag = ViewContext.ValidationSummaryMessageElement;
+                }
+                var messageTag = new TagBuilder(tag);
+                messageTag.SetInnerText(message);
+                wrappedMessage = messageTag.ToString(TagRenderMode.Normal) + Environment.NewLine;
             }
             else
             {
-                messageSpan = null;
+                wrappedMessage = null;
             }
 
             var htmlSummary = new StringBuilder();
@@ -516,7 +523,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Rendering
                 divBuilder.AddCssClass(HtmlHelper.ValidationSummaryCssClassName);
             }
 
-            divBuilder.InnerHtml = messageSpan + unorderedList.ToString(TagRenderMode.Normal);
+            divBuilder.InnerHtml = wrappedMessage + unorderedList.ToString(TagRenderMode.Normal);
 
             if (formContext != null)
             {
@@ -1261,8 +1268,10 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Rendering
             return tagBuilder.ToHtmlString(TagRenderMode.SelfClosing);
         }
 
-        protected virtual HtmlString GenerateValidationMessage(string expression, string message,
-            object htmlAttributes)
+        protected virtual HtmlString GenerateValidationMessage(string expression,
+            string message,
+            object htmlAttributes,
+            string tag)
         {
             var modelName = ViewData.TemplateInfo.GetFullHtmlFieldName(expression);
             if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(modelName))
@@ -1294,7 +1303,11 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Rendering
 
             // Even if there are no model errors, we generate the span and add the validation message
             // if formContext is not null.
-            var builder = new TagBuilder("span");
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(tag))
+            {
+                tag = ViewContext.ValidationMessageElement;
+            }
+            var builder = new TagBuilder(tag);
             builder.MergeAttributes(AnonymousObjectToHtmlAttributes(htmlAttributes));
 
             // Only the style of the span is changed according to the errors if message is null or empty.
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/Rendering/Html/HtmlHelperOfT.cs b/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/Rendering/Html/HtmlHelperOfT.cs
index 16d88f75eb..0008e5ce29 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/Rendering/Html/HtmlHelperOfT.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/Rendering/Html/HtmlHelperOfT.cs
@@ -229,9 +229,14 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Rendering
 
         /// <inheritdoc />
         public HtmlString ValidationMessageFor<TProperty>([NotNull] Expression<Func<TModel, TProperty>> expression,
-                                                            string message, object htmlAttributes)
+            string message,
+            object htmlAttributes,
+            string tag)
         {
-            return GenerateValidationMessage(ExpressionHelper.GetExpressionText(expression), message, htmlAttributes);
+            return GenerateValidationMessage(ExpressionHelper.GetExpressionText(expression),
+                message,
+                htmlAttributes,
+                tag);
         }
 
         /// <inheritdoc />
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/Rendering/HtmlHelperValidationExtensions.cs b/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/Rendering/HtmlHelperValidationExtensions.cs
index edbcba84ae..0f751bfbc1 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/Rendering/HtmlHelperValidationExtensions.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/Rendering/HtmlHelperValidationExtensions.cs
@@ -12,95 +12,202 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Rendering
         public static HtmlString ValidationMessage([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper,
             string expression)
         {
-            return htmlHelper.ValidationMessage(expression, message: null, htmlAttributes: null);
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationMessage(expression, message: null, htmlAttributes: null, tag: null);
         }
 
         public static HtmlString ValidationMessage([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper,
-            string expression, string message)
+            string expression,
+            string message)
         {
-            return htmlHelper.ValidationMessage(expression, message, htmlAttributes: null);
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationMessage(expression, message, htmlAttributes: null, tag: null);
         }
 
         public static HtmlString ValidationMessage([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper,
-            string expression, object htmlAttributes)
+            string expression,
+            object htmlAttributes)
         {
-            return htmlHelper.ValidationMessage(expression, message: null, htmlAttributes: htmlAttributes);
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationMessage(expression, message: null, htmlAttributes: htmlAttributes, tag: null);
         }
 
         public static HtmlString ValidationMessage([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper,
-            string expression, string message, object htmlAttributes)
+            string expression,
+            string message,
+            string tag)
         {
-            return htmlHelper.ValidationMessage(expression, message, htmlAttributes);
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationMessage(expression, message, htmlAttributes: null, tag: tag);
+        }
+
+        public static HtmlString ValidationMessage([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper,
+            string expression,
+            string message,
+            object htmlAttributes)
+        {
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationMessage(expression, message, htmlAttributes, tag: null);
+        }
+
+        public static HtmlString ValidationMessage([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper,
+            string expression,
+            string message,
+            object htmlAttributes,
+            string tag)
+        {
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationMessage(expression, message, htmlAttributes, tag);
         }
 
         public static HtmlString ValidationMessageFor<TModel, TProperty>([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper<TModel> htmlHelper,
             [NotNull] Expression<Func<TModel, TProperty>> expression)
         {
-            return htmlHelper.ValidationMessageFor(expression, message: null, htmlAttributes: null);
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationMessageFor(expression, message: null, htmlAttributes: null, tag: null);
         }
 
         public static HtmlString ValidationMessageFor<TModel, TProperty>([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper<TModel> htmlHelper,
-            [NotNull] Expression<Func<TModel, TProperty>> expression, string message)
+            [NotNull] Expression<Func<TModel, TProperty>> expression,
+            string message)
         {
-            return htmlHelper.ValidationMessageFor(expression, message, htmlAttributes: null);
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationMessageFor(expression, message, htmlAttributes: null, tag: null);
         }
 
         public static HtmlString ValidationMessageFor<TModel, TProperty>([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper<TModel> htmlHelper,
-            [NotNull] Expression<Func<TModel, TProperty>> expression, string message, object htmlAttributes)
+            [NotNull] Expression<Func<TModel, TProperty>> expression,
+            string message,
+            object htmlAttributes)
         {
-            return htmlHelper.ValidationMessageFor(expression, message, htmlAttributes);
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationMessageFor(expression, message, htmlAttributes, tag: null);
+        }
+
+        public static HtmlString ValidationMessageFor<TModel, TProperty>([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper<TModel> htmlHelper,
+            [NotNull] Expression<Func<TModel, TProperty>> expression,
+            string message,
+            string tag)
+        {
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationMessageFor(expression, message, htmlAttributes: null, tag: tag);
+        }
+
+        public static HtmlString ValidationMessageFor<TModel, TProperty>([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper<TModel> htmlHelper,
+            [NotNull] Expression<Func<TModel, TProperty>> expression,
+            string message,
+            object htmlAttributes,
+            string tag)
+        {
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationMessageFor(expression, message, htmlAttributes, tag);
         }
 
         public static HtmlString ValidationSummary([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper)
         {
-            return ValidationSummary(htmlHelper, excludePropertyErrors: false);
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationSummary(excludePropertyErrors: false,
+                message: null,
+                htmlAttributes: null,
+                tag: null);
         }
 
         public static HtmlString ValidationSummary([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper, bool excludePropertyErrors)
         {
-            return ValidationSummary(htmlHelper, excludePropertyErrors, message: null);
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationSummary(excludePropertyErrors,
+                message: null,
+                htmlAttributes: null,
+                tag: null);
         }
 
         public static HtmlString ValidationSummary([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper, string message)
         {
-            return ValidationSummary(htmlHelper, excludePropertyErrors: false, message: message,
-                htmlAttributes: (object)null);
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationSummary(excludePropertyErrors: false,
+                message: message,
+                htmlAttributes: null,
+                tag: null);
         }
 
-        public static HtmlString ValidationSummary(
-            [NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper,
+        public static HtmlString ValidationSummary([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper, string message, string tag)
+        {
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationSummary(excludePropertyErrors: false,
+                message: message,
+                htmlAttributes: null,
+                tag: tag);
+        }
+
+        public static HtmlString ValidationSummary([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper,
             bool excludePropertyErrors,
             string message)
         {
-            return ValidationSummary(htmlHelper, excludePropertyErrors, message, htmlAttributes: (object)null);
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationSummary(excludePropertyErrors,
+                message,
+                htmlAttributes: null,
+                tag: null);
         }
 
-        public static HtmlString ValidationSummary(
-            [NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper,
+        public static HtmlString ValidationSummary([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper,
             string message,
             object htmlAttributes)
         {
-            return ValidationSummary(htmlHelper, excludePropertyErrors: false, message: message,
-                htmlAttributes: HtmlHelper.AnonymousObjectToHtmlAttributes(htmlAttributes));
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationSummary(excludePropertyErrors: false,
+                message: message,
+                htmlAttributes: HtmlHelper.AnonymousObjectToHtmlAttributes(htmlAttributes),
+                tag: null);
         }
 
-        public static HtmlString ValidationSummary(
-            [NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper,
+        public static HtmlString ValidationSummary([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper,
+            string message,
+            object htmlAttributes,
+            string tag)
+        {
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationSummary(excludePropertyErrors: false,
+                message: message,
+                htmlAttributes: HtmlHelper.AnonymousObjectToHtmlAttributes(htmlAttributes),
+                tag: tag);
+        }
+
+        public static HtmlString ValidationSummary([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper,
+            bool excludePropertyErrors,
+            string message,
+            string tag)
+        {
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationSummary(excludePropertyErrors,
+                message,
+                htmlAttributes: null,
+                tag: tag);
+        }
+
+        public static HtmlString ValidationSummary([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper,
             bool excludePropertyErrors,
             string message,
             object htmlAttributes)
         {
-            return htmlHelper.ValidationSummary(excludePropertyErrors, message,
-                HtmlHelper.AnonymousObjectToHtmlAttributes(htmlAttributes));
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationSummary(excludePropertyErrors,
+                message,
+                HtmlHelper.AnonymousObjectToHtmlAttributes(htmlAttributes),
+                tag: null);
         }
 
-        public static HtmlString ValidationSummary(
-            [NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper,
+        public static HtmlString ValidationSummary([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper,
+            bool excludePropertyErrors,
+            string message,
+            object htmlAttributes,
+            string tag)
+        {
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationSummary(excludePropertyErrors,
+                message,
+                HtmlHelper.AnonymousObjectToHtmlAttributes(htmlAttributes),
+                tag);
+        }
+
+        public static HtmlString ValidationSummary([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper,
             string message,
             IDictionary<string, object> htmlAttributes)
         {
-            return htmlHelper.ValidationSummary(excludePropertyErrors: false, message: message,
-                htmlAttributes: htmlAttributes);
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationSummary(excludePropertyErrors: false,
+                message: message,
+                htmlAttributes: htmlAttributes,
+                tag: null);
+        }
+
+        public static HtmlString ValidationSummary([NotNull] this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper,
+            string message,
+            IDictionary<string, object> htmlAttributes,
+            string tag)
+        {
+            return htmlHelper.ValidationSummary(excludePropertyErrors: false,
+                message: message,
+                htmlAttributes: htmlAttributes,
+                tag: tag);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/Rendering/IHtmlHelper.cs b/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/Rendering/IHtmlHelper.cs
index 3c81a06c39..dd7ef26d2a 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/Rendering/IHtmlHelper.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/Rendering/IHtmlHelper.cs
@@ -447,8 +447,10 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Rendering
         /// <param name="htmlAttributes"> An object that contains the HTML attributes to set for the element. 
         /// Alternatively, an <see cref="IDictionary{string, object}"/> instance containing the HTML attributes.
         /// </param>
+        /// <param name="tag">The tag to wrap the <paramref name="message"/> in the generated HTML.
+        /// Its default value is <see cref="ViewContext.ValidationMessageElement" />.</param>
         /// <returns>An <see cref="HtmlString"/> that contains the validation message</returns>
-        HtmlString ValidationMessage(string modelName, string message, object htmlAttributes);
+        HtmlString ValidationMessage(string modelName, string message, object htmlAttributes, string tag);
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Returns an unordered list (ul element) of validation messages that are in the
@@ -458,12 +460,15 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Rendering
         /// have the summary display all errors.</param>
         /// <param name="message">The message to display with the validation summary.</param>
         /// <param name="htmlAttributes">A dictionary that contains the HTML attributes for the element.</param>
+        /// <param name="tag">The tag to wrap the <paramref name="message"/> in the generated HTML.
+        /// Its default value is <see cref="ViewContext.ValidationMessageElement" />.</param>
         /// <returns>An <see cref="HtmlString"/> that contains an unordered list (ul element) of validation messages.
         /// </returns>
         HtmlString ValidationSummary(
             bool excludePropertyErrors,
             string message,
-            IDictionary<string, object> htmlAttributes);
+            IDictionary<string, object> htmlAttributes,
+            string tag);
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Returns the model value for the given expression <paramref name="name"/>.
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/Rendering/IHtmlHelperOfT.cs b/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/Rendering/IHtmlHelperOfT.cs
index 1f537dc549..7b934507cd 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/Rendering/IHtmlHelperOfT.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/Rendering/IHtmlHelperOfT.cs
@@ -253,9 +253,13 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Rendering
         /// <param name="htmlAttributes"> An object that contains the HTML attributes to set for the element.
         /// Alternatively, an /// <see cref="IDictionary{string, object}"/> instance containing the HTML attributes.
         /// </param>
+        /// <param name="tag">The tag to wrap the <paramref name="message"/> in the generated HTML.
+        /// Its default value is <see cref="ViewContext.ValidationMessageElement" />.</param>
         /// <returns>An <see cref="HtmlString"/> that contains the validation message</returns>
         HtmlString ValidationMessageFor<TProperty>([NotNull] Expression<Func<TModel, TProperty>> expression,
-            string message, object htmlAttributes);
+            string message,
+            object htmlAttributes,
+            string tag);
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Returns the model value for the given expression <paramref name="expression"/>.
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/ViewContext.cs b/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/ViewContext.cs
index 67484b980d..7f3c47ca9d 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/ViewContext.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc.Core/ViewContext.cs
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc
             _formContext = _defaultFormContext;
             UnobtrusiveJavaScriptEnabled = true;
             ClientValidationEnabled = true;
+            ValidationSummaryMessageElement = "span";
+            ValidationMessageElement = "span";
         }
 
         public ViewContext(
@@ -41,6 +43,8 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc
             _formContext = viewContext.FormContext;
             UnobtrusiveJavaScriptEnabled = viewContext.UnobtrusiveJavaScriptEnabled;
             ClientValidationEnabled = viewContext.ClientValidationEnabled;
+            ValidationSummaryMessageElement = viewContext.ValidationSummaryMessageElement;
+            ValidationMessageElement = viewContext.ValidationMessageElement;
 
             View = view;
             ViewData = viewData;
@@ -64,6 +68,18 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc
 
         public bool ClientValidationEnabled { get; set; }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Element name used to wrap a top-level message generated by
+        /// <see cref="HtmlHelperValidationExtensions.ValidationSummary(IHtmlHelper)"/> and other overloads.
+        /// </summary>
+        public string ValidationSummaryMessageElement { get; set; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Element name used to wrap a top-level message generated by
+        /// <see cref="HtmlHelperValidationExtensions.ValidationMessage(IHtmlHelper, string)"/> and other overloads.
+        /// </summary>
+        public string ValidationMessageElement { get; set; }
+
         public dynamic ViewBag
         {
             get