diff --git a/app/[...path]/AlbumDetailView.tsx b/app/[...path]/AlbumDetailView.tsx
index 4e31cd5..bb1fdaa 100644
--- a/app/[...path]/AlbumDetailView.tsx
+++ b/app/[...path]/AlbumDetailView.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import type { PhotoItem } from './PhotoGrid';
 import { PhotoGrid } from './PhotoGrid';
 import { BackLink } from '@/components/BackLink';
 import type { GridConfig } from '@/lib/config';
+import Image from 'next/image';
 import React from 'react';
 
 interface AlbumDetailViewProps {
@@ -13,6 +14,8 @@ interface AlbumDetailViewProps {
   backLinkHref: string;
   backLinkLabel: string;
   subtitle?: string;
+  heroImageUrl?: string;
+  heroBlurDataURL?: string;
 }
 
 export function AlbumDetailView({
@@ -23,10 +26,26 @@ export function AlbumDetailView({
   backLinkHref,
   backLinkLabel,
   subtitle,
+  heroImageUrl,
+  heroBlurDataURL,
 }: AlbumDetailViewProps) {
   return (
     <>
-      <div className="album-header">
+      {heroImageUrl && (
+        <div className="album-hero">
+          <Image
+            src={heroImageUrl}
+            alt={album.albumName}
+            fill
+            priority
+            sizes="100vw"
+            style={{ objectFit: 'cover' }}
+            {...(heroBlurDataURL ? { placeholder: 'blur' as const, blurDataURL: heroBlurDataURL } : {})}
+          />
+          <div className="album-hero__overlay" />
+        </div>
+      )}
+      <div className={`album-header${heroImageUrl ? ' album-header--has-hero' : ''}`}>
         <BackLink href={backLinkHref} label={backLinkLabel} />
         <h1 className="album-header__title">{album.albumName}</h1>
         {subtitle && (
diff --git a/app/[...path]/page.tsx b/app/[...path]/page.tsx
index c8c57cf..6fa8776 100644
--- a/app/[...path]/page.tsx
+++ b/app/[...path]/page.tsx
@@ -133,6 +133,21 @@ async function gateIfProtected(
   return <PasswordGate slug={key} title={title} type={type} />;
 }
 
+/** Fetch hero image URL + blur placeholder for an album if configured. */
+async function getAlbumHeroData(
+  albumId: string,
+  config: ReturnType<typeof getConfig>,
+): Promise<{ heroImageUrl: string; heroBlurDataURL?: string } | null> {
+  const heroAssetId = config.albumHeroImages[albumId];
+  if (!heroAssetId) return null;
+  const asset = await immich.getAssetInfo(heroAssetId);
+  const ph = asset ? assetPlaceholder(asset) : null;
+  return {
+    heroImageUrl: imageUrl(heroAssetId, 'preview'),
+    heroBlurDataURL: ph?.blurDataURL,
+  };
+}
+
 export default async function PathPage({ params }: PathPageProps) {
   const { path } = await params;
   const config = getConfig();
@@ -178,6 +193,8 @@ export default async function PathPage({ params }: PathPageProps) {
     const albumGate = await gateIfProtected(album.id, 'album', album.albumName);
     if (albumGate) return albumGate;
 
+    const heroData = await getAlbumHeroData(album.id, config);
+
     return (
       <AlbumDetailView
         album={album}
@@ -186,6 +203,7 @@ export default async function PathPage({ params }: PathPageProps) {
         gridStyle={buildGridStyle(spGrid)}
         backLinkHref={`/${subpageSlug}`}
         backLinkLabel={`Back to ${subpageName}`}
+        {...heroData}
       />
     );
   }
@@ -217,6 +235,8 @@ export default async function PathPage({ params }: PathPageProps) {
       const albumGate = await gateIfProtected(album.id, 'album', album.albumName);
       if (albumGate) return albumGate;
 
+      const heroData = await getAlbumHeroData(album.id, config);
+
       return (
         <AlbumDetailView
           album={album}
@@ -226,6 +246,7 @@ export default async function PathPage({ params }: PathPageProps) {
           subtitle={result.subpage.subtitle}
           backLinkHref="/"
           backLinkLabel="Back to Gallery"
+          {...heroData}
         />
       );
     }
@@ -265,6 +286,8 @@ export default async function PathPage({ params }: PathPageProps) {
   const albumGate = await gateIfProtected(album.id, 'album', album.albumName);
   if (albumGate) return albumGate;
 
+  const heroData = await getAlbumHeroData(album.id, config);
+
   return (
     <AlbumDetailView
       album={album}
@@ -273,6 +296,7 @@ export default async function PathPage({ params }: PathPageProps) {
       gridStyle={buildGridStyle()}
       backLinkHref="/"
       backLinkLabel="Back to Gallery"
+      {...heroData}
     />
   );
 }
diff --git a/app/admin/admin.css b/app/admin/admin.css
index 41da839..4af0bfe 100644
--- a/app/admin/admin.css
+++ b/app/admin/admin.css
@@ -631,6 +631,56 @@
   background: var(--admin-bg);
 }
 
+/* Album Hero Field */
+.album-hero-field {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 0.75rem;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+}
+
+.album-hero-preview {
+  position: relative;
+  width: 80px;
+  height: 54px;
+  border-radius: 6px;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  border: 1px solid var(--admin-border);
+}
+
+.album-hero-preview img {
+  width: 100%;
+  height: 100%;
+  object-fit: cover;
+  display: block;
+}
+
+.album-hero-remove {
+  position: absolute;
+  top: 2px;
+  right: 2px;
+  width: 18px;
+  height: 18px;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65);
+  color: #fff;
+  border: none;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  font-size: 0.75rem;
+  line-height: 1;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  padding: 0;
+}
+
+.album-hero-empty {
+  font-size: 0.8rem;
+  color: var(--admin-text-muted);
+  font-style: italic;
+}
+
 .album-tile-uuid {
   margin-top: 0.5rem;
 }
diff --git a/app/admin/components/AssetPicker.tsx b/app/admin/components/AssetPicker.tsx
index 2951376..bbae474 100644
--- a/app/admin/components/AssetPicker.tsx
+++ b/app/admin/components/AssetPicker.tsx
@@ -13,12 +13,20 @@ interface Props {
   onSelect: (assetId: string) => void;
   onClose: () => void;
   currentAssetIds?: string[];
+  albumId?: string;
+  title?: string;
 }
 
-type Tab = 'favorites' | 'all';
+type Tab = 'album' | 'favorites' | 'all';
 
-export default function AssetPicker({ onSelect, onClose, currentAssetIds = [] }: Props) {
-  const [tab, setTab] = useState<Tab>('favorites');
+export default function AssetPicker({
+  onSelect,
+  onClose,
+  currentAssetIds = [],
+  albumId,
+  title,
+}: Props) {
+  const [tab, setTab] = useState<Tab>(albumId ? 'album' : 'favorites');
   const [assets, setAssets] = useState<AssetInfo[]>([]);
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
   const [loadingMore, setLoadingMore] = useState(false);
@@ -35,12 +43,16 @@ export default function AssetPicker({ onSelect, onClose, currentAssetIds = [] }:
       else setLoadingMore(true);
 
       try {
-        const params = new URLSearchParams({
-          page: pageNum.toString(),
-          favorites: tab === 'favorites' ? 'true' : 'false',
-        });
-
-        const res = await fetch(`/api/admin/assets?${params}`);
+        let res: Response;
+        if (tab === 'album' && albumId) {
+          res = await fetch(`/api/admin/albums/${albumId}/assets`);
+        } else {
+          const params = new URLSearchParams({
+            page: pageNum.toString(),
+            favorites: tab === 'favorites' ? 'true' : 'false',
+          });
+          res = await fetch(`/api/admin/assets?${params}`);
+        }
         if (res.ok) {
           const data = await res.json();
           setAssets((prev) => (append ? [...prev, ...data.assets] : data.assets));
@@ -54,7 +66,7 @@ export default function AssetPicker({ onSelect, onClose, currentAssetIds = [] }:
         setLoadingMore(false);
       }
     },
-    [tab],
+    [tab, albumId],
   );
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -101,7 +113,7 @@ export default function AssetPicker({ onSelect, onClose, currentAssetIds = [] }:
     <div className="picker-overlay" onClick={onClose}>
       <div className="asset-picker-modal" onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}>
         <div className="picker-header">
-          <h3>Select Hero Image</h3>
+          <h3>{title || 'Select Hero Image'}</h3>
           <button className="admin-btn-icon" onClick={onClose}>
             ×
           </button>
@@ -109,6 +121,14 @@ export default function AssetPicker({ onSelect, onClose, currentAssetIds = [] }:
 
         {/* Tabs */}
         <div className="asset-picker-tabs">
+          {albumId && (
+            <button
+              className={`asset-picker-tab ${tab === 'album' ? 'active' : ''}`}
+              onClick={() => setTab('album')}
+            >
+              📂 This Album
+            </button>
+          )}
           <button
             className={`asset-picker-tab ${tab === 'favorites' ? 'active' : ''}`}
             onClick={() => setTab('favorites')}
diff --git a/app/admin/components/PageBuilder.tsx b/app/admin/components/PageBuilder.tsx
index 394aa28..ab3e8ba 100644
--- a/app/admin/components/PageBuilder.tsx
+++ b/app/admin/components/PageBuilder.tsx
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ interface AlbumEntry {
   title?: string;
   description?: string;
   password?: string;
+  heroImage?: string;
 }
 
 interface Section {
@@ -66,7 +67,11 @@ interface ImmichAlbumInfo {
 function parseAlbumEntries(
   raw:
     | Array<
-        string | Record<string, string | { title: string; description?: string; password?: string }>
+        | string
+        | Record<
+            string,
+            string | { title: string; description?: string; password?: string; heroImage?: string }
+          >
       >
     | undefined,
 ): AlbumEntry[] {
@@ -75,25 +80,33 @@ function parseAlbumEntries(
     if (typeof entry === 'string') return { id: entry };
     const [id, value] = Object.entries(entry)[0];
     if (typeof value === 'string') return { id, title: value };
-    return { id, title: value.title, description: value.description, password: value.password };
+    return {
+      id,
+      title: value.title,
+      description: value.description,
+      password: value.password,
+      heroImage: value.heroImage,
+    };
   });
 }
 
 function serializeAlbumEntries(
   entries: AlbumEntry[],
 ): Array<
-  string | Record<string, string | { title: string; description?: string; password?: string }>
+  | string
+  | Record<string, string | { title: string; description?: string; password?: string; heroImage?: string }>
 > {
   return entries.map((entry) => {
-    if (!entry.title && !entry.description && !entry.password) return entry.id;
-    if (entry.title && !entry.description && !entry.password) {
+    if (!entry.title && !entry.description && !entry.password && !entry.heroImage) return entry.id;
+    if (entry.title && !entry.description && !entry.password && !entry.heroImage) {
       return { [entry.id]: entry.title };
     }
-    const val: { title: string; description?: string; password?: string } = {
+    const val: { title: string; description?: string; password?: string; heroImage?: string } = {
       title: entry.title || '',
     };
     if (entry.description) val.description = entry.description;
     if (entry.password) val.password = entry.password;
+    if (entry.heroImage) val.heroImage = entry.heroImage;
     return { [entry.id]: val };
   });
 }
@@ -1160,6 +1173,7 @@ function AlbumCard({
   dragListeners,
 }: AlbumCardProps) {
   const [expanded, setExpanded] = useState(false);
+  const [showHeroPicker, setShowHeroPicker] = useState(false);
 
   return (
     <div className="album-tile">
@@ -1218,11 +1232,49 @@ function AlbumCard({
               placeholder="Leave empty for public"
             />
           </div>
+          {/* Hero Image */}
+          <div className="admin-field">
+            <label>Hero Image</label>
+            <div className="album-hero-field">
+              {album.heroImage ? (
+                <div className="album-hero-preview">
+                  <img src={`/api/admin/thumbnail/${album.heroImage}`} alt="Hero" />
+                  <button
+                    className="album-hero-remove"
+                    onClick={() => onUpdate({ heroImage: undefined })}
+                    title="Remove hero image"
+                  >
+                    ×
+                  </button>
+                </div>
+              ) : (
+                <span className="album-hero-empty">No hero image set</span>
+              )}
+              <button
+                className="admin-btn admin-btn-xs"
+                onClick={() => setShowHeroPicker(true)}
+              >
+                {album.heroImage ? 'Change' : '+ Pick'}
+              </button>
+            </div>
+          </div>
           <div className="album-tile-uuid">
             <code>{album.id}</code>
           </div>
         </div>
       )}
+      {showHeroPicker && (
+        <AssetPicker
+          albumId={album.id}
+          onSelect={(assetId) => {
+            onUpdate({ heroImage: assetId });
+            setShowHeroPicker(false);
+          }}
+          onClose={() => setShowHeroPicker(false)}
+          currentAssetIds={album.heroImage ? [album.heroImage] : []}
+          title="Pick Hero Image for Album"
+        />
+      )}
     </div>
   );
 }
diff --git a/app/api/admin/albums/[albumId]/assets/route.ts b/app/api/admin/albums/[albumId]/assets/route.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aa75913
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/api/admin/albums/[albumId]/assets/route.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+/**
+ * Admin API: Get assets of a specific album for the hero image picker.
+ */
+
+import { NextRequest, NextResponse } from 'next/server';
+import { isAdminAuthenticated, isAdminEnabled } from '@/lib/admin/auth';
+import { getConfig } from '@/lib/config';
+
+interface ImmichAlbumDetail {
+  assets: Array<{
+    id: string;
+    type: string;
+    originalFileName: string;
+    thumbhash: string | null;
+    fileCreatedAt: string;
+    isFavorite: boolean;
+  }>;
+}
+
+export async function GET(
+  _request: NextRequest,
+  { params }: { params: Promise<{ albumId: string }> },
+) {
+  if (!isAdminEnabled()) {
+    return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Admin not enabled' }, { status: 403 });
+  }
+  if (!(await isAdminAuthenticated())) {
+    return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Unauthorized' }, { status: 401 });
+  }
+
+  const config = getConfig();
+  if (config.needsSetup) {
+    return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Immich not configured' }, { status: 503 });
+  }
+
+  const { albumId } = await params;
+
+  try {
+    const res = await fetch(`${config.immich.apiUrl}/albums/${albumId}`, {
+      headers: {
+        'x-api-key': config.immich.apiKey,
+        Accept: 'application/json',
+      },
+    });
+
+    if (!res.ok) {
+      return NextResponse.json({ error: `Immich API returned ${res.status}` }, { status: 502 });
+    }
+
+    const album = (await res.json()) as ImmichAlbumDetail;
+
+    const assets = album.assets
+      .filter((a) => a.type === 'IMAGE')
+      .map((a) => ({
+        id: a.id,
+        originalFileName: a.originalFileName,
+        fileCreatedAt: a.fileCreatedAt,
+        isFavorite: a.isFavorite,
+      }));
+
+    return NextResponse.json({ assets, nextPage: null });
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error('Failed to fetch album assets:', err);
+    return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Failed to fetch album assets' }, { status: 500 });
+  }
+}
diff --git a/app/globals.css b/app/globals.css
index cdd1160..67b610c 100644
--- a/app/globals.css
+++ b/app/globals.css
@@ -816,10 +816,32 @@
 }
 
 /* ── Photo Grid (Album Detail) ────────────────────── */
+/* ── Album Hero Image ────────────────────────────────────────── */
+.album-hero {
+  position: relative;
+  width: 100%;
+  height: clamp(240px, 40vw, 520px);
+  overflow: hidden;
+  margin-bottom: 0;
+}
+
+.album-hero__overlay {
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0;
+  background: linear-gradient(to bottom, transparent 40%, var(--bg-primary, #fff) 100%);
+  pointer-events: none;
+}
+
 .album-header {
   margin-bottom: 40px;
 }
 
+.album-header--has-hero {
+  margin-top: -60px;
+  position: relative;
+  z-index: 1;
+}
+
 .album-header__back {
   display: inline-flex;
   align-items: center;
diff --git a/lib/config/index.ts b/lib/config/index.ts
index 6ccb84a..0ef1f72 100644
--- a/lib/config/index.ts
+++ b/lib/config/index.ts
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ export function getConfig(): AppConfig {
       albumOverrides: {},
       albumDescriptions: {},
       albumPasswords: {},
+      albumHeroImages: {},
       cacheTtl: env.CACHE_TTL * 1000,
       rateLimitRpm: env.RATE_LIMIT_RPM,
       trustedProxies: env.TRUSTED_PROXIES,
@@ -115,11 +116,12 @@ export function getConfig(): AppConfig {
   const albumOverrides: Record<string, string> = {};
   const albumDescriptions: Record<string, string> = {};
   const albumPasswords: Record<string, string> = {};
+  const albumHeroImages: Record<string, string> = {};
 
   function processAlbumEntry(
     entry:
       | string
-      | Record<string, string | { title: string; description?: string; password?: string }>,
+      | Record<string, string | { title: string; description?: string; password?: string; heroImage?: string }>,
     context: string,
   ): string {
     if (typeof entry === 'string') {
@@ -134,6 +136,7 @@ export function getConfig(): AppConfig {
       if (value.title) albumOverrides[validatedUuid] = value.title;
       if (value.description) albumDescriptions[validatedUuid] = value.description;
       if (value.password) albumPasswords[validatedUuid] = value.password;
+      if (value.heroImage) albumHeroImages[validatedUuid] = value.heroImage;
     }
     return validatedUuid;
   }
@@ -283,6 +286,7 @@ export function getConfig(): AppConfig {
     albumOverrides,
     albumDescriptions,
     albumPasswords,
+    albumHeroImages,
     cacheTtl: env.CACHE_TTL * 1000,
     rateLimitRpm: env.RATE_LIMIT_RPM,
     trustedProxies: env.TRUSTED_PROXIES,
diff --git a/lib/config/schema.ts b/lib/config/schema.ts
index 2a01f7d..8c44d17 100644
--- a/lib/config/schema.ts
+++ b/lib/config/schema.ts
@@ -97,34 +97,34 @@ export interface AppConfig {
   albumOverrides: Record<string, string>;
   albumDescriptions: Record<string, string>;
   albumPasswords: Record<string, string>;
+  albumHeroImages: Record<string, string>;
   cacheTtl: number;
   rateLimitRpm: number;
   trustedProxies: string[];
   needsSetup?: boolean;
 }
 
+export interface AlbumEntryObject {
+  title: string;
+  description?: string;
+  password?: string;
+  heroImage?: string;
+}
+
 export interface GalleryYaml {
   hero?: string | string[];
-  albums?: Array<
-    string | Record<string, string | { title: string; description?: string; password?: string }>
-  >;
+  albums?: Array<string | Record<string, string | AlbumEntryObject>>;
   subpages?:
     | Record<string, string[] | Array<string | Record<string, string>>>
     | Array<{
         name: string;
         title?: string;
         subtitle?: string;
-        albums?: Array<
-          | string
-          | Record<string, string | { title: string; description?: string; password?: string }>
-        >;
+        albums?: Array<string | Record<string, string | AlbumEntryObject>>;
         sections?: Array<{
           title: string;
           description?: string;
-          albums: Array<
-            | string
-            | Record<string, string | { title: string; description?: string; password?: string }>
-          >;
+          albums: Array<string | Record<string, string | AlbumEntryObject>>;
         }>;
         password?: string;
         grid?: {