diff --git a/cpp/src/arrow/dataset/file_parquet.cc b/cpp/src/arrow/dataset/file_parquet.cc
index 140917a2e6341..c17ba89be7907 100644
--- a/cpp/src/arrow/dataset/file_parquet.cc
+++ b/cpp/src/arrow/dataset/file_parquet.cc
@@ -779,6 +779,11 @@ ParquetFileFragment::ParquetFileFragment(FileSource source,
       parquet_format_(checked_cast<ParquetFileFormat&>(*format_)),
       row_groups_(std::move(row_groups)) {}
 
+std::shared_ptr<parquet::FileMetaData> ParquetFileFragment::metadata() {
+  auto lock = physical_schema_mutex_.Lock();
+  return metadata_;
+}
+
 Status ParquetFileFragment::EnsureCompleteMetadata(parquet::arrow::FileReader* reader) {
   auto lock = physical_schema_mutex_.Lock();
   if (metadata_ != nullptr) {
diff --git a/cpp/src/arrow/dataset/file_parquet.h b/cpp/src/arrow/dataset/file_parquet.h
index 5141f36385e3f..63d8fd729223c 100644
--- a/cpp/src/arrow/dataset/file_parquet.h
+++ b/cpp/src/arrow/dataset/file_parquet.h
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ class ARROW_DS_EXPORT ParquetFileFragment : public FileFragment {
   }
 
   /// \brief Return the FileMetaData associated with this fragment.
-  const std::shared_ptr<parquet::FileMetaData>& metadata() const { return metadata_; }
+  std::shared_ptr<parquet::FileMetaData> metadata();
 
   /// \brief Ensure this fragment's FileMetaData is in memory.
   Status EnsureCompleteMetadata(parquet::arrow::FileReader* reader = NULLPTR);