diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e446157..a50f892 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -56,9 +56,12 @@ corner; double-click or ⤢ makes it big again, × stops watching (you stay in
 the server, muted) and the strip's screen button brings it back. F or
 double-click on the picture goes fullscreen (the strip hides, the party
 shows in a corner while paused, the window buttons sit in the player's top
-bar while its controls are up), Esc leaves it. While playback waits, a
-pill under the picture says for whom ("Waiting for you · press Space when
-ready"). Chat and activity open in a panel on the right (chat button or
+bar while its controls are up), Esc leaves it. The controls show the
+show's cover, title and episode top left (guests get the cover too); before
+a video first plays, its banner fills the picture until playback starts.
+One pill above the controls says what playback waits for ("Press Space
+when you're ready", "Waiting for Bob and Mika · 2/3 ready", "Bob is
+loading…") or what went wrong, with Retry or Cancel when it helps. Chat and activity open in a panel on the right (chat button or
 Tab); joins, leaves, chat and other news also pop up bottom left with the
 person's avatar.
 
@@ -181,7 +184,7 @@ chapter title and the time there. With the controls hidden it stays as a
 thin line (unless "Progress line when hidden" is off). Above it flat buttons: ≡ menu, Subtitles and Audio (with the
 track count), the shader badge (the active Anime4K mode, e.g. "A HQ"),
 ready, chapters, 1:30, previous / next episode, change video, volume, ⚙
-and fullscreen; chat and back-to-library top right. Keys and skip buttons work
+and fullscreen; the title top left, chat and back-to-library top right. Keys and skip buttons work
 the same.
 
 Skipping: during the opening a "Skip OP" button floats in the corner (it
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/controls/uosc/controls.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/controls/uosc/controls.dart
index 51c022e..89d0f23 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/lib/src/controls/uosc/controls.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/controls/uosc/controls.dart
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ import 'package:signals/signals_flutter.dart';
 import '../../state/settings.dart';
 
 // The mpv-style (uosc) controls frame: a full-width timeline at the
-// bottom with a row of flat buttons above it, a corner widget top right.
+// bottom with a row of flat buttons above it, the title top left and a
+// corner widget top right.
 // Mouse movement shows them; after [UoscControls.hideAfter] without any
 // they fade out, the timeline shrinks to a 2 px line (gone when "Progress
 // line when hidden" is off) and the cursor hides. Our own frame: no
@@ -20,6 +21,9 @@ class UoscControls extends StatefulWidget {
   final List<Widget> right;
   /// Top-right corner (chat, back to the library), shown with the controls.
   final Widget? top;
+  /// Top left (what is playing), shown with the controls; gets the width
+  /// [top] leaves.
+  final Widget? topLeft;
   final VoidCallback? onDoubleTap;
   final Duration hideAfter;
   const UoscControls({
@@ -28,6 +32,7 @@ class UoscControls extends StatefulWidget {
     this.left = const [],
     this.right = const [],
     this.top,
+    this.topLeft,
     this.onDoubleTap,
     this.hideAfter = const Duration(seconds: 3),
   });
@@ -136,13 +141,54 @@ class UoscControlsState extends State<UoscControls> {
               ),
             ),
           ),
-          if (widget.top != null)
+          if (widget.topLeft != null)
+            Positioned(
+              left: 0,
+              right: 0,
+              top: 0,
+              height: 120,
+              child: IgnorePointer(
+                child: AnimatedOpacity(
+                  duration: fade,
+                  opacity: visible ? 1 : 0,
+                  child: const DecoratedBox(
+                    decoration: BoxDecoration(
+                      gradient: LinearGradient(
+                        begin: Alignment.topCenter,
+                        end: Alignment.bottomCenter,
+                        colors: [Color(0x8C000000), Color(0x00000000)],
+                      ),
+                    ),
+                  ),
+                ),
+              ),
+            ),
+          if (widget.top != null || widget.topLeft != null)
             Positioned(
               top: 0,
+              left: 0,
               right: 0,
               child: IgnorePointer(
+                key: const ValueKey('uosc-top'),
                 ignoring: !visible,
-                child: AnimatedOpacity(duration: fade, opacity: visible ? 1 : 0, child: widget.top),
+                child: AnimatedOpacity(
+                  duration: fade,
+                  opacity: visible ? 1 : 0,
+                  child: Row(
+                    crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.start,
+                    children: [
+                      Expanded(
+                        child: Padding(
+                          padding: const EdgeInsets.fromLTRB(16, 12, 16, 0),
+                          child: widget.topLeft == null
+                              ? const SizedBox.shrink()
+                              : Align(alignment: AlignmentDirectional.centerStart, child: widget.topLeft),
+                        ),
+                      ),
+                      ?widget.top,
+                    ],
+                  ),
+                ),
               ),
             ),
           Positioned(
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/schedule/anilist.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/schedule/anilist.dart
index bf02dfd..247d09c 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/lib/src/schedule/anilist.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/schedule/anilist.dart
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ import 'package:sync_relay_core/core.dart';
 import '../update/updater.dart' show appVersion;
 
 // AniList airing schedule (public GraphQL, no login): every episode airing
-// in a time range, with covers, banners and popularity.
+// in a time range, with covers, banners and popularity; and a title search
+// (cover + banner of a show, for the media art of files and links).
 //
 // AniList allows ~90 requests/min (sometimes degraded to 30), so the raw
 // pages are cached: in memory for 10 min (tab switches) and on disk for an
@@ -76,6 +77,35 @@ class Airing {
   String toString() => 'Airing($anilistId "$title" ep $episode @ $airingAt)';
 }
 
+/// An anime found by title ([AniListClient.searchMedia]).
+class AniListMedia {
+  final int id;
+  /// English title, else romaji.
+  final String title;
+  /// Cover (portrait) URL: extraLarge, else large.
+  final String? cover;
+  /// The smaller cover, for when [cover] is too big to send on.
+  final String? coverSmall;
+  final String? banner;
+  const AniListMedia({required this.id, required this.title, this.cover, this.coverSmall, this.banner});
+
+  static AniListMedia? fromJson(Object? m) {
+    if (m is! Map || m['id'] is! int) return null;
+    final t = m['title'] is Map ? m['title'] as Map : const {};
+    final romaji = t['romaji'] is String ? t['romaji'] as String : '';
+    final english = t['english'] is String ? t['english'] as String : '';
+    final cov = m['coverImage'] is Map ? m['coverImage'] as Map : const {};
+    final large = cov['large'] is String ? cov['large'] as String : null;
+    return AniListMedia(
+      id: m['id'] as int,
+      title: english.isNotEmpty ? english : romaji,
+      cover: cov['extraLarge'] is String ? cov['extraLarge'] as String : large,
+      coverSmall: large,
+      banner: m['bannerImage'] is String ? m['bannerImage'] as String : null,
+    );
+  }
+}
+
 /// "#e4a15d" -> opaque [Color]; anything else -> null.
 Color? parseHexColor(Object? s) {
   if (s is! String || s.length != 7 || !s.startsWith('#')) return null;
@@ -217,11 +247,19 @@ media{id title{romaji english} coverImage{large color} bannerImage isAdult popul
   }
 
   Future<Map> _page(int from, int to, int page) async {
+    final (data, status, j) = await _graphql(query, {'from': from - 1, 'to': to, 'page': page});
+    final p = data?['Page'];
+    if (p is! Map) {
+      throw AniListException('AniList: bad response${_errorText(j)}', statusCode: status);
+    }
+    return p;
+  }
+
+  /// One GraphQL request: `data` (null when missing), status and body. A
+  /// 429 waits out Retry-After once; other non-200s throw.
+  Future<(Map?, int, Object?)> _graphql(String query, Map<String, Object?> variables) async {
     for (var attempt = 0;; attempt++) {
-      final (status, body, retryAfter) = await _post(jsonEncode({
-        'query': query,
-        'variables': {'from': from - 1, 'to': to, 'page': page},
-      }));
+      final (status, body, retryAfter) = await _post(jsonEncode({'query': query, 'variables': variables}));
       if (status == 429 && attempt == 0) {
         final wait = retryAfter ?? 60;
         _log.info('AniList rate limited, retrying in ${wait}s');
@@ -235,11 +273,37 @@ media{id title{romaji english} coverImage{large color} bannerImage isAdult popul
       if (status != 200) {
         throw AniListException('AniList HTTP $status${_errorText(j)}', statusCode: status);
       }
-      final data = j is Map && j['data'] is Map ? (j['data'] as Map)['Page'] : null;
-      if (data is! Map) {
-        throw AniListException('AniList: bad response${_errorText(j)}', statusCode: status);
-      }
-      return data;
+      final data = j is Map && j['data'] is Map ? j['data'] as Map : null;
+      return (data, status, j);
+    }
+  }
+
+  static const searchQuery = r'''
+query($search:String){Media(search:$search,type:ANIME,isAdult:false){id title{romaji english}
+coverImage{extraLarge large} bannerImage}}''';
+
+  final _search = <String, Future<AniListMedia?>>{};
+
+  /// AniList's best anime match for [title], or null when there is none.
+  /// One request per title for this client's life (a failure is not kept,
+  /// so a later call asks again).
+  Future<AniListMedia?> searchMedia(String title) {
+    final key = title.trim();
+    if (key.isEmpty) return Future.value(null);
+    return _search[key] ??= _searchMedia(key).catchError((Object e) {
+      _search.remove(key);
+      throw e;
+    });
+  }
+
+  Future<AniListMedia?> _searchMedia(String title) async {
+    try {
+      final (data, _, _) = await _graphql(searchQuery, {'search': title});
+      return AniListMedia.fromJson(data?['Media']);
+    } on AniListException catch (e) {
+      // No match is a 404 with "Not Found." in errors.
+      if (e.statusCode == 404) return null;
+      rethrow;
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/media_art.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/media_art.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..de535ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/media_art.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+import 'dart:async';
+import 'dart:io';
+import 'dart:typed_data';
+
+import 'package:flutter/foundation.dart';
+import 'package:sync_relay_core/core.dart';
+
+import '../files/name_parser.dart';
+import '../schedule/anilist.dart';
+
+// Art for media this client swapped in (`art`, see PROTOCOL.md "Media
+// art"): Jellyfin images with this install's account, else an AniList
+// title search. Everything here fails quietly to "no art".
+
+/// Poster and banner bytes; either may be null.
+typedef ArtBytes = ({Uint8List? poster, Uint8List? banner});
+
+/// Series poster (the item's own for movies) and series/item backdrop,
+/// else its Banner image, scaled by Jellyfin to fit the caps.
+Future<ArtBytes> jellyfinArt(JellyfinClient client, String itemId,
+    {Future<Uint8List?> Function(Uri url, Map<String, String> headers, int maxBytes) fetch = fetchImage}) async {
+  final item = await client.item(itemId).timeout(const Duration(seconds: 10));
+  final seriesPoster = item.seriesId != null && item.seriesPrimaryImageTag != null
+      ? JellyfinImageRef(item.seriesId!, JellyfinImageType.primary, item.seriesPrimaryImageTag!)
+      : null;
+  final poster = seriesPoster ?? item.image(JellyfinImageType.primary);
+  var banner = item.image(JellyfinImageType.backdrop);
+  if (banner == null) {
+    var owner = item;
+    if (item.seriesId != null && item.ownImage(JellyfinImageType.banner) == null) {
+      try {
+        owner = await client.item(item.seriesId!).timeout(const Duration(seconds: 10));
+      } catch (_) {}
+    }
+    banner = owner.ownImage(JellyfinImageType.banner);
+  }
+  final headers = client.authHeaders;
+  final (p, b) = await (
+    poster == null
+        ? Future<Uint8List?>.value()
+        : fetch(client.imageUrl(poster, maxHeight: 450, quality: 85), headers, RelayConstants.maxPosterBytes),
+    banner == null
+        ? Future<Uint8List?>.value()
+        : fetch(client.imageUrl(banner, maxWidth: 1280, quality: 85), headers, RelayConstants.maxBannerBytes),
+  ).wait;
+  return (poster: p, banner: b);
+}
+
+/// The series of release name [name] on AniList: cover and banner; null
+/// when the name says nothing or AniList knows no match.
+Future<ArtBytes?> aniListArt(AniListClient aniList, String name,
+    {Future<Uint8List?> Function(Uri url, Map<String, String> headers, int maxBytes) fetch = fetchImage}) async {
+  final series = parseReleaseName(name).series.trim();
+  if (series.isEmpty) return null;
+  final match = await aniList.searchMedia(series);
+  if (match == null) return null;
+  Future<Uint8List?> get(String? url, int maxBytes) async {
+    final uri = url == null ? null : Uri.tryParse(url);
+    return uri == null ? null : fetch(uri, const {}, maxBytes);
+  }
+
+  final (cover, banner) = await (
+    get(match.cover, RelayConstants.maxPosterBytes),
+    get(match.banner, RelayConstants.maxBannerBytes),
+  ).wait;
+  final poster = cover ?? (match.coverSmall == match.cover ? null : await get(match.coverSmall, RelayConstants.maxPosterBytes));
+  return (poster: poster, banner: banner);
+}
+
+/// GET [url]: the bytes when 200, at most [maxBytes] and a known image
+/// type (see `avatarImageType`); else null.
+Future<Uint8List?> fetchImage(Uri url, Map<String, String> headers, int maxBytes) async {
+  final client = HttpClient()..connectionTimeout = const Duration(seconds: 10);
+  try {
+    final req = await client.getUrl(url);
+    headers.forEach(req.headers.set);
+    final resp = await req.close().timeout(const Duration(seconds: 15));
+    if (resp.statusCode != 200 || resp.contentLength > maxBytes) {
+      await resp.drain<void>().catchError((_) {});
+      return null;
+    }
+    final builder = BytesBuilder(copy: false);
+    await for (final chunk in resp.timeout(const Duration(seconds: 15))) {
+      builder.add(chunk);
+      if (builder.length > maxBytes) return null;
+    }
+    final bytes = builder.takeBytes();
+    return avatarImageType(bytes) == null ? null : bytes;
+  } catch (e) {
+    debugPrint('art: fetch failed: $e');
+    return null;
+  } finally {
+    client.close(force: true);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/now_playing.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/now_playing.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4601a25
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/now_playing.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+/// What the player shows about the current media: a title, an episode line
+/// and art. Art is by content hash (`state.media.art`), fetched by everyone
+/// (guests included) from the server they dialled; '' when there is none.
+class NowPlaying {
+  /// Series name for episodes, else the movie, file or link name.
+  final String title;
+  /// "S2 E4 · Episode title", "E12", or null (movies, links).
+  final String? episode;
+  /// Portrait cover (2:3) and wide banner; '' when none.
+  final String posterHash;
+  final String bannerHash;
+  const NowPlaying({required this.title, this.episode, this.posterHash = '', this.bannerHash = ''});
+
+  @override
+  bool operator ==(Object other) =>
+      other is NowPlaying &&
+      other.title == title &&
+      other.episode == episode &&
+      other.posterHash == posterHash &&
+      other.bannerHash == bannerHash;
+
+  @override
+  int get hashCode => Object.hash(title, episode, posterHash, bannerHash);
+}
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/now_playing_info.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/now_playing_info.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..64715fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/now_playing_info.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+import '../files/name_parser.dart';
+import '../jellyfin/session_media.dart';
+import 'now_playing.dart';
+
+// Title and episode line of `state.media` (pure; see [NowPlaying]).
+
+// "S1E6" (pickFor) or "S01E02".
+final _episodeLabel = RegExp(r'^S(\d{1,3})\s?E(\d{1,4})$', caseSensitive: false);
+final _year = RegExp(r'^(?:19|20)\d{2}$');
+final _ext = RegExp(r'\.(?=[a-z0-9]*[a-z])[a-z0-9]{2,4}$', caseSensitive: false);
+
+/// What the player shows for [media] (`state.media`); null with nothing up.
+NowPlaying? nowPlayingOf(Map<String, Object?>? media) {
+  if (media == null) return null;
+  final name = media['name'] is String ? media['name'] as String : '';
+  final art = media['art'] is Map ? media['art'] as Map : const {};
+  final poster = art['poster'] is String ? art['poster'] as String : '';
+  final banner = art['banner'] is String ? art['banner'] as String : '';
+  final ref = refOfStateMedia(media);
+  final (title, episode) = ref != null
+      ? jellyfinTitle(ref.title.isNotEmpty ? ref.title : name, ref.subtitle)
+      : fileTitle(name);
+  return NowPlaying(title: title, episode: episode, posterHash: poster, bannerHash: banner);
+}
+
+/// Jellyfin: [name] is the item's, [subtitle] "Series · S1E6" (or
+/// "Series - S01E02") for episodes, the year for movies. Episodes give the
+/// series and "S1 E6 · Name"; anything else the name alone.
+(String, String?) jellyfinTitle(String name, String? subtitle) {
+  final sub = subtitle?.trim() ?? '';
+  if (sub.isEmpty || _year.hasMatch(sub)) return (name, null);
+  // The label is after the last separator (or the whole subtitle).
+  final cut = RegExp(r' [·-] ').allMatches(sub).lastOrNull;
+  final m = _episodeLabel.firstMatch(cut == null ? sub : sub.substring(cut.end).trim());
+  final series = m == null ? sub : (cut == null ? '' : sub.substring(0, cut.start).trim());
+  final label = m == null ? null : 'S${int.parse(m.group(1)!)} E${int.parse(m.group(2)!)}';
+  if (series.isEmpty) return (name, label);
+  final episode = [?label, if (name.isNotEmpty) name].join(' · ');
+  return (series, episode.isEmpty ? null : episode);
+}
+
+/// Files and links: the release name's series and "S1 E3", "E25" or its
+/// extra marker (NCOP1, OVA 2); the name minus extension when it says
+/// nothing better.
+(String, String?) fileTitle(String name) {
+  final p = parseReleaseName(name);
+  final series = p.series.trim();
+  if (series.isEmpty) return (name.replaceFirst(_ext, ''), null);
+  final String? episode;
+  if (p.episode != null) {
+    episode = p.season != null ? 'S${p.season} E${p.episode}' : 'E${p.episode}';
+  } else {
+    episode = p.extra;
+  }
+  return (series, episode);
+}
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/session_coordinator.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/session_coordinator.dart
index f9494c6..4b63911 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/session_coordinator.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/session_coordinator.dart
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import 'dart:async';
+import 'dart:convert';
 import 'dart:io';
 
 import 'package:flutter/widgets.dart';
@@ -11,6 +12,7 @@ import '../jellyfin/session_media.dart';
 import '../jellyfin/track_prefs.dart';
 import '../playback/media_marks.dart';
 import '../playback/playback_controller.dart';
+import '../schedule/anilist.dart';
 import '../screens/home/picked_media.dart';
 import '../sfx/sfx.dart';
 import '../state/settings.dart';
@@ -20,6 +22,9 @@ import '../sync/sync_client.dart';
 import '../sync/user_seek.dart';
 import 'health.dart';
 import 'idle.dart';
+import 'media_art.dart';
+import 'now_playing.dart';
+import 'now_playing_info.dart';
 
 /// Thrown when a connect is superseded by cancel/leave before it finished.
 class ConnectCancelled implements Exception {
@@ -146,6 +151,8 @@ class SessionCoordinator {
   final SyncClient sync = SyncClient();
   /// Member pictures by `avatarHash`, fetched from the server.
   late final AvatarCache avatars = AvatarCache(sync);
+  /// The current media's poster and banner by `state.media.art` hash.
+  late final ArtCache art = ArtCache(sync);
   final PlaybackController playback = PlaybackController();
   final StateDiff diff = StateDiff();
 
@@ -160,6 +167,9 @@ class SessionCoordinator {
 
   /// The current media's Jellyfin ref (null for links and files).
   final currentRef = signal<JellyfinRef?>(null);
+  /// Title, episode line and art hashes of the current media; null with
+  /// nothing up.
+  late final nowPlaying = computed<NowPlaying?>(() => nowPlayingOf(serverState.value?.media));
   /// How this viewer plays [currentRef]; null while resolving.
   final jellyfinPlan = signal<JellyfinPlan?>(null);
   /// Set when this viewer cannot play the Jellyfin media: no account and
@@ -221,6 +231,10 @@ class SessionCoordinator {
   String _wsHost = '';
   int _wsPort = 0;
   _RelayOrigin? _pendingOrigin;
+  // This client's last swap, until a state shows it landed (a newer
+  // mediaId than [after] with this member as `swapBy`): its art goes up then.
+  ({HelloMedia media, int after})? _pendingArt;
+  AniListClient? _aniList;
   // What this member serves for media [$1]; survives a reconnect (the
   // state then looks new again).
   (int, _RelayOrigin)? _activeOrigin;
@@ -386,7 +400,7 @@ class SessionCoordinator {
       final media = params.media ??
           (params.linkUrl.isEmpty ? null : await mediaForLink(jellyfin, params.linkUrl));
       if (epoch != _epoch) throw const ConnectCancelled();
-      if (media != null) sync.sendSwap(media);
+      if (media != null) _swap(media);
       _startTicker();
     } catch (e) {
       if (epoch != _epoch) throw const ConnectCancelled();
@@ -522,6 +536,7 @@ class SessionCoordinator {
   void _onState(StateBroadcast r) {
     _lastStateAt = DateTime.now().toUtc();
     serverState.value = r;
+    _maybeSendArt(r);
     _queuedState = r;
     if (_applying) return;
     _applying = true;
@@ -984,6 +999,43 @@ class SessionCoordinator {
     sync.sendKick(memberId, reason: reason);
   }
 
+  void _swap(HelloMedia media) {
+    _pendingArt = (media: media, after: serverState.peek()?.mediaId ?? 0);
+    sync.sendSwap(media);
+  }
+
+  void _maybeSendArt(StateBroadcast r) {
+    final pending = _pendingArt;
+    if (pending == null || r.mediaId <= pending.after) return;
+    if (sync.memberId.isEmpty || r.media?['swapBy'] != sync.memberId) return;
+    _pendingArt = null;
+    unawaited(_sendArt(r.mediaId, pending.media));
+  }
+
+  /// Fetches the art of [media] (this client's swap, now [mediaId]) and
+  /// sends it; quietly nothing on any failure.
+  Future<void> _sendArt(int mediaId, HelloMedia media) async {
+    try {
+      final ref = media.jellyfin;
+      final client = ref == null ? null : jellyfin.clientFor(ref.serverId);
+      final ArtBytes? bytes;
+      if (ref != null && client != null) {
+        bytes = await jellyfinArt(client, ref.itemId);
+      } else {
+        final name = ref == null ? media.name : jellyfinTitle(ref.title, ref.subtitle).$1;
+        bytes = await aniListArt(_aniList ??= AniListClient(), name);
+      }
+      final poster = bytes?.poster, banner = bytes?.banner;
+      if (poster == null && banner == null) return;
+      if (serverState.peek()?.mediaId != mediaId) return;
+      sync.sendArt(mediaId,
+          poster: poster == null ? null : base64Encode(poster),
+          banner: banner == null ? null : base64Encode(banner));
+    } catch (e) {
+      debugPrint('art for media $mediaId: $e');
+    }
+  }
+
   /// A pasted link: a recognised Jellyfin item link goes up as a ref
   /// (see [mediaForLink]) that this member relays for viewers without an
   /// account (with the link's key, which stays here); anything else as the
@@ -993,11 +1045,11 @@ class SessionCoordinator {
     final media = await mediaForLink(jellyfin, url);
     if (media.jellyfin != null) {
       _pendingOrigin = _JellyfinOrigin(url);
-      sync.sendSwap(media.copyWith(relay: const MediaRelay()));
+      _swap(media.copyWith(relay: const MediaRelay()));
       return null;
     }
     if (relay == LinkRelay.direct) {
-      sync.sendSwap(media);
+      _swap(media);
       return null;
     }
     // Relayed: it must be a single file the relay can range-read (not a
@@ -1015,9 +1067,9 @@ class SessionCoordinator {
     }
     if (relay == LinkRelay.me) {
       _pendingOrigin = _LinkOrigin(url);
-      sync.sendSwap(HelloMedia(name: media.name, size: size, duration: 0, relay: const MediaRelay()));
+      _swap(HelloMedia(name: media.name, size: size, duration: 0, relay: const MediaRelay()));
     } else {
-      sync.sendSwap(HelloMedia(
+      _swap(HelloMedia(
           name: media.name, size: size, duration: 0, url: url, relay: const MediaRelay(fetch: true)));
     }
     return null;
@@ -1028,7 +1080,7 @@ class SessionCoordinator {
   void swapJellyfin(JellyfinMedia media) {
     markInput();
     _pendingOrigin = const _JellyfinOrigin(null);
-    sync.sendSwap(mediaForPick(media).copyWith(relay: const MediaRelay()));
+    _swap(mediaForPick(media).copyWith(relay: const MediaRelay()));
   }
 
   /// A file on this computer. The host's app serves it itself; anyone
@@ -1040,13 +1092,13 @@ class SessionCoordinator {
     if (host != null) {
       final file = await host(path);
       if (file == null) return 'file not found — check the path';
-      sync.sendSwap(HelloMedia(name: file.name, size: file.size, duration: 0));
+      _swap(HelloMedia(name: file.name, size: file.size, duration: 0));
       return null;
     }
     final file = File(path);
     if (!await file.exists()) return 'file not found — check the path';
     _pendingOrigin = _FileOrigin(path);
-    sync.sendSwap(HelloMedia(
+    _swap(HelloMedia(
         name: file.uri.pathSegments.last, size: await file.length(), duration: 0, relay: const MediaRelay()));
     return null;
   }
@@ -1541,6 +1593,7 @@ class SessionCoordinator {
     await _stopJellyfin();
     _stopRelaySource();
     _pendingOrigin = null;
+    _pendingArt = null;
     _activeOrigin = null;
     _playerReady = false;
     try {
@@ -1567,6 +1620,7 @@ class SessionCoordinator {
     await _kickSub?.cancel();
     await _errSub?.cancel();
     await _statusSub?.cancel();
+    _aniList?.close();
     await sync.dispose();
     await playback.dispose();
   }
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/motion.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/motion.dart
index 5d6d8df..1531708 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/motion.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/motion.dart
@@ -15,11 +15,16 @@ const fadeOutPart = 0.35;
 /// Fade through (Material motion): the old view is gone after the first
 /// 35%, then the new one fades and scales in; they never overlap. Key
 /// [child] by what it shows so a change of key runs the transition.
-Widget fadeThrough(Widget child, {Key? key}) => AnimatedSwitcher(
+/// [expand] false: sized by the views (at [alignment]) instead of filling
+/// the box, for unbounded places (a row, a pill).
+Widget fadeThrough(Widget child,
+        {Key? key, bool expand = true, AlignmentGeometry alignment = AlignmentDirectional.topStart}) =>
+    AnimatedSwitcher(
       key: key,
       duration: fadeThroughTime,
       layoutBuilder: (current, previous) => Stack(
-        fit: StackFit.expand,
+        fit: expand ? StackFit.expand : StackFit.loose,
+        alignment: alignment,
         children: [...previous, ?current],
       ),
       transitionBuilder: (c, anim) {
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/now_playing_title.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/now_playing_title.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..52df6ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/now_playing_title.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+import 'package:flutter/foundation.dart';
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:signals/signals_flutter.dart';
+
+import '../session/now_playing.dart';
+import '../state/session_state.dart';
+import 'motion.dart';
+
+/// Tests: art bytes by hash instead of the session's cache.
+@visibleForTesting
+Uint8List? Function(String hash)? debugArtBytes;
+
+/// The one lookup for media art (cover, banner) by content hash: null
+/// when there is none or it has not arrived yet (listeners of
+/// [artChanges] hear when it lands).
+Uint8List? artBytes(String hash) {
+  if (hash.isEmpty) return null;
+  final debug = debugArtBytes;
+  if (debug != null) return debug(hash);
+  return SessionState.instance.coordinator.art.bytesFor(hash);
+}
+
+/// Notifies when art arrives.
+Listenable artChanges() => SessionState.instance.coordinator.art;
+
+final _images = <String, MemoryImage>{};
+
+/// [hash]'s art as an image, the same provider while the bytes are the
+/// same (so a rebuild never decodes again).
+ImageProvider? artImage(String hash) {
+  final bytes = artBytes(hash);
+  if (bytes == null) return null;
+  final hit = _images[hash];
+  if (hit != null && identical(hit.bytes, bytes)) return hit;
+  if (_images.length > 16) _images.clear();
+  return _images[hash] = MemoryImage(bytes);
+}
+
+/// [image] fading in (ease) once decoded; nothing before.
+Widget fadeInImage(ImageProvider image, {BoxFit fit = BoxFit.cover}) => Image(
+      image: image,
+      fit: fit,
+      gaplessPlayback: true,
+      frameBuilder: (context, child, frame, sync) => sync
+          ? child
+          : AnimatedOpacity(opacity: frame == null ? 0 : 1, duration: easeTime, curve: ease, child: child),
+    );
+
+/// The portrait cover (2:3) of the current media, a quiet tile with a
+/// film icon until (or unless) its art arrives.
+class ArtCover extends StatelessWidget {
+  final String hash;
+  final double width;
+  const ArtCover({super.key, required this.hash, this.width = 40});
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    final image = artImage(hash);
+    final r = BorderRadius.circular(width >= 80 ? 10 : 6);
+    return Container(
+      width: width,
+      height: width * 1.5,
+      decoration: BoxDecoration(
+        borderRadius: r,
+        boxShadow: const [BoxShadow(color: Color(0x66000000), blurRadius: 10, offset: Offset(0, 3))],
+      ),
+      child: ClipRRect(
+        borderRadius: r,
+        child: Stack(
+          fit: StackFit.expand,
+          children: [
+            DecoratedBox(
+              decoration: const BoxDecoration(
+                gradient: LinearGradient(
+                  begin: Alignment.topLeft,
+                  end: Alignment.bottomRight,
+                  colors: [Color(0xFF2A2D35), Color(0xFF17191E)],
+                ),
+              ),
+              child: Icon(Icons.movie_outlined, color: Colors.white38, size: width * 0.45),
+            ),
+            if (image != null) fadeInImage(image),
+            DecoratedBox(
+              decoration: BoxDecoration(
+                borderRadius: r,
+                border: Border.all(color: Colors.white12),
+              ),
+            ),
+          ],
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+const _shadow = [Shadow(color: Color(0x99000000), blurRadius: 8)];
+
+/// Title and episode line of [now] (with its cover unless [cover] is
+/// off), ellipsized; cross-fades when the media changes.
+class NowPlayingBlock extends StatelessWidget {
+  final NowPlaying? now;
+  final bool cover;
+  /// Smaller type (the mini player).
+  final bool compact;
+  const NowPlayingBlock({super.key, required this.now, this.cover = true, this.compact = false});
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    final n = now;
+    final Widget child;
+    if (n == null) {
+      child = const SizedBox.shrink(key: ValueKey('now-playing-none'));
+    } else {
+      final episode = n.episode;
+      child = Row(
+        key: ValueKey('now-playing:${n.title}\n${episode ?? ''}'),
+        mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
+        children: [
+          if (cover) ...[ArtCover(hash: n.posterHash), const SizedBox(width: 12)],
+          Flexible(
+            child: Column(
+              mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
+              crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.start,
+              children: [
+                Text(
+                  n.title,
+                  key: const ValueKey('now-playing-title'),
+                  maxLines: 1,
+                  overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis,
+                  style: TextStyle(
+                      color: Colors.white,
+                      fontWeight: FontWeight.w700,
+                      fontSize: compact ? 13 : 16,
+                      shadows: _shadow),
+                ),
+                if (episode != null && episode.isNotEmpty)
+                  Text(
+                    episode,
+                    key: const ValueKey('now-playing-episode'),
+                    maxLines: 1,
+                    overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis,
+                    style: TextStyle(color: Colors.white70, fontSize: compact ? 11 : 13, shadows: _shadow),
+                  ),
+              ],
+            ),
+          ),
+        ],
+      );
+    }
+    return fadeThrough(child, expand: false, alignment: AlignmentDirectional.centerStart);
+  }
+}
+
+/// [NowPlayingBlock] of the session's current media.
+class NowPlayingTitle extends StatelessWidget {
+  final bool cover;
+  final bool compact;
+  const NowPlayingTitle({super.key, this.cover = true, this.compact = false});
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) => ListenableBuilder(
+        listenable: artChanges(),
+        builder: (context, _) => SignalBuilder(
+          builder: (context) => NowPlayingBlock(
+            now: SessionState.instance.coordinator.nowPlaying.value,
+            cover: cover,
+            compact: compact,
+          ),
+        ),
+      );
+}
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/player_status.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/player_status.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..63857a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/player_status.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,366 @@
+import 'dart:async';
+import 'dart:ui' show ImageFilter;
+
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:sync_relay_core/core.dart';
+
+import '../session/health.dart';
+import '../session/session_coordinator.dart';
+import '../state/session_state.dart';
+import 'avatar.dart';
+import 'motion.dart';
+
+/// What the player's status pill says, most pressing first.
+enum StatusKind { kicked, reconnecting, problem, connecting, finished, loading, you, waiting }
+
+/// The pill's button: stop reconnecting, retry, or mark yourself ready
+/// (the whole pill).
+enum StatusAction { cancel, retry, ready }
+
+/// One status line: [text], a muted [detail], a coloured [tone] for
+/// problems (warn, error), the members it is about ([who]; [self] for you)
+/// and a loading [progress] (0..1).
+class StatusView {
+  final StatusKind kind;
+  final String text;
+  final String? detail;
+  final HealthSeverity? tone;
+  final List<MemberView> who;
+  final bool self;
+  final double? progress;
+  final StatusAction? action;
+  /// The mini player's shorter line.
+  final String short;
+  const StatusView(
+    this.kind,
+    this.text, {
+    this.detail,
+    this.tone,
+    this.who = const [],
+    this.self = false,
+    this.progress,
+    this.action,
+    String? short,
+  }) : short = short ?? text;
+}
+
+/// "Bob", "Bob and Mika", "Bob, Mika and Cleo", "Bob, Mika and 3 others".
+String nameList(List<String> names) {
+  if (names.length <= 1) return names.join();
+  if (names.length <= 3) return '${names.sublist(0, names.length - 1).join(', ')} and ${names.last}';
+  return '${names[0]}, ${names[1]} and ${names.length - 2} others';
+}
+
+String _sentence(String s) => s.isEmpty ? s : s[0].toUpperCase() + s.substring(1);
+
+/// The player's status from the session's signals; null when there is
+/// nothing to say (playing, connected, everyone ready). [slowConnect]:
+/// connecting has taken over 2 s.
+StatusView? playerStatusFor({
+  required HealthStatus health,
+  bool reconnecting = false,
+  String? kickReason,
+  StateBroadcast? state,
+  MemberView? self,
+  bool slowConnect = false,
+}) {
+  if (kickReason != null) {
+    return StatusView(StatusKind.kicked,
+        kickReason.isEmpty ? 'You were removed from the server' : 'You were removed: $kickReason',
+        tone: HealthSeverity.error, short: 'Removed from the server');
+  }
+  if (reconnecting) {
+    return const StatusView(StatusKind.reconnecting, 'Reconnecting…',
+        tone: HealthSeverity.warn, action: StatusAction.cancel);
+  }
+  if (health.severity == HealthSeverity.warn || health.severity == HealthSeverity.error) {
+    return StatusView(StatusKind.problem, _sentence(health.message),
+        tone: health.severity, action: StatusAction.retry);
+  }
+  if (slowConnect && health.severity == HealthSeverity.info && health.message.startsWith('connecting')) {
+    return const StatusView(StatusKind.connecting, 'Connecting…');
+  }
+  final r = state;
+  if (r == null || r.media == null || r.transport == 'playing') return null;
+  if (r.transport == 'finished') {
+    return const StatusView(StatusKind.finished, 'Finished · seek back or pick the next video', short: 'Finished');
+  }
+  // As the server holds playback: someone in the ready set short of the
+  // minimum buffer.
+  for (final m in r.members) {
+    if (m.inSet && m.buffered < RelayConstants.minBufferSecs) {
+      final you = self != null && m.id == self.id;
+      return StatusView(StatusKind.loading, you ? 'Loading the video…' : '${m.name} is loading…',
+          who: [m], self: you, progress: (m.buffered / RelayConstants.minBufferSecs).clamp(0.0, 1.0));
+    }
+  }
+  if (self != null && !self.ready) {
+    return StatusView(StatusKind.you, "Press Space when you're ready",
+        who: [self], self: true, action: StatusAction.ready, short: 'Press Space when ready');
+  }
+  final active = [for (final m in r.members) if (!m.stale) m];
+  final others = [
+    for (final m in active)
+      if ((self == null || m.id != self.id) && !(m.inSet && m.ready)) m,
+  ];
+  if (others.isEmpty) return null;
+  final ready = active.where((m) => m.ready).length;
+  return StatusView(StatusKind.waiting, 'Waiting for ${nameList([for (final m in others) m.name])}',
+      who: others, detail: '$ready/${active.length} ready');
+}
+
+/// [playerStatusFor] from the session (tracked: call inside a builder).
+StatusView? playerStatusNow({bool slowConnect = false}) {
+  final c = SessionState.instance.coordinator;
+  return playerStatusFor(
+    health: c.health.value,
+    reconnecting: c.reconnecting.value,
+    kickReason: c.kickReason.value,
+    state: c.serverState.value,
+    self: c.selfMember.value,
+    slowConnect: slowConnect,
+  );
+}
+
+/// The player's one status pill (bottom centre): frosted dark glass with
+/// one short line, the members it is about and at most one button. Fades
+/// in and out; a different kind of status fades through, the pill resizing
+/// around it.
+class PlayerStatus extends StatefulWidget {
+  const PlayerStatus({super.key});
+
+  static const connectGrace = Duration(seconds: 2);
+
+  @override
+  State<PlayerStatus> createState() => _PlayerStatusState();
+}
+
+class _PlayerStatusState extends State<PlayerStatus> {
+  Timer? _connectTimer;
+  bool _slow = false;
+  StatusView? _last;
+
+  @override
+  void dispose() {
+    _connectTimer?.cancel();
+    super.dispose();
+  }
+
+  // "Connecting…" only once it takes a while.
+  void _trackConnecting(HealthStatus h) {
+    final connecting = h.severity == HealthSeverity.info && h.message.startsWith('connecting');
+    if (!connecting) {
+      _connectTimer?.cancel();
+      _connectTimer = null;
+      _slow = false;
+    } else if (_connectTimer == null && !_slow) {
+      _connectTimer = Timer(PlayerStatus.connectGrace, () {
+        if (mounted) setState(() => _slow = true);
+      });
+    }
+  }
+
+  void _act(SessionCoordinator coord, StatusAction a) {
+    switch (a) {
+      case StatusAction.cancel:
+        coord.cancelReconnect();
+      case StatusAction.retry:
+        coord.retry();
+      case StatusAction.ready:
+        coord.toggleReady();
+    }
+  }
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    return PartyWatch(builder: (context) {
+      final coord = SessionState.instance.coordinator;
+      _trackConnecting(coord.health.value);
+      final view = playerStatusNow(slowConnect: _slow);
+      if (view != null) _last = view;
+      final shown = _last;
+      final ready = view?.action == StatusAction.ready;
+      return AnimatedOpacity(
+        duration: easeTime,
+        curve: ease,
+        opacity: view == null ? 0 : 1,
+        child: IgnorePointer(
+          ignoring: view == null,
+          child: shown == null
+              ? const SizedBox.shrink()
+              : MouseRegion(
+                  cursor: ready ? SystemMouseCursors.click : MouseCursor.defer,
+                  child: GestureDetector(
+                    key: const ValueKey('player-status'),
+                    onTap: ready ? coord.toggleReady : null,
+                    child: _Glass(
+                      child: AnimatedSize(
+                        duration: easeTime,
+                        curve: ease,
+                        child: fadeThrough(
+                          _StatusLine(
+                            key: ValueKey(shown.kind),
+                            view: shown,
+                            coord: coord,
+                            onAction: (a) => _act(coord, a),
+                          ),
+                          expand: false,
+                          alignment: Alignment.center,
+                        ),
+                      ),
+                    ),
+                  ),
+                ),
+        ),
+      );
+    });
+  }
+}
+
+class _Glass extends StatelessWidget {
+  final Widget child;
+  const _Glass({required this.child});
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    final r = BorderRadius.circular(999);
+    return ConstrainedBox(
+      constraints: const BoxConstraints(maxWidth: 560),
+      child: ClipRRect(
+        borderRadius: r,
+        child: BackdropFilter(
+          filter: ImageFilter.blur(sigmaX: 12, sigmaY: 12),
+          child: DecoratedBox(
+            decoration: BoxDecoration(
+              color: Colors.black.withValues(alpha: 0.55),
+              borderRadius: r,
+              border: Border.all(color: Colors.white12, width: 0.5),
+            ),
+            child: child,
+          ),
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+class _StatusLine extends StatelessWidget {
+  final StatusView view;
+  final SessionCoordinator coord;
+  final ValueChanged<StatusAction> onAction;
+  const _StatusLine({super.key, required this.view, required this.coord, required this.onAction});
+
+  static const _avatar = 24.0;
+
+  Widget? _lead() {
+    final v = view;
+    switch (v.kind) {
+      case StatusKind.kicked:
+      case StatusKind.problem:
+        final error = v.tone == HealthSeverity.error;
+        return Icon(error ? Icons.error_outline_rounded : Icons.warning_amber_rounded,
+            size: 18, color: error ? Colors.redAccent.shade100 : Colors.amber);
+      case StatusKind.reconnecting:
+        return const _Spinner(color: Colors.amber);
+      case StatusKind.connecting:
+        return const _Spinner(color: Colors.white70);
+      case StatusKind.finished:
+        return null;
+      case StatusKind.loading:
+      case StatusKind.you:
+      case StatusKind.waiting:
+        final r = coord.serverState.value;
+        final infos = [
+          for (final m in v.who)
+            v.self ? selfAvatarInfo(ready: m.ready, host: m.host) : memberAvatarInfo(m, r, coord),
+        ];
+        if (infos.isEmpty) return null;
+        return infos.length == 1
+            ? StatusAvatar(info: infos.first, size: _avatar, badges: false)
+            : AvatarStack(members: infos, shown: 4, size: _avatar);
+    }
+  }
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    final v = view;
+    final lead = _lead();
+    final action = v.action == StatusAction.ready ? null : v.action;
+    return Padding(
+      padding: EdgeInsets.fromLTRB(lead == null ? 16 : 6, 6, action == null ? 16 : 6, 6),
+      child: Row(
+        mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
+        children: [
+          if (lead != null) ...[
+            SizedBox(height: _avatar, child: Center(child: lead)),
+            const SizedBox(width: 8),
+          ],
+          Flexible(
+            child: Text(
+              v.text,
+              key: const ValueKey('player-status-text'),
+              maxLines: 1,
+              overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis,
+              style: const TextStyle(color: Colors.white, fontSize: 13, fontWeight: FontWeight.w600),
+            ),
+          ),
+          if (v.progress != null) ...[
+            const SizedBox(width: 8),
+            SizedBox.square(
+              dimension: 14,
+              child: CircularProgressIndicator(
+                value: v.progress,
+                strokeWidth: 2,
+                color: Colors.white,
+                backgroundColor: Colors.white24,
+              ),
+            ),
+          ],
+          if (v.detail != null) ...[
+            const SizedBox(width: 8),
+            Text(v.detail!, style: const TextStyle(color: Colors.white54, fontSize: 13, fontWeight: FontWeight.w500)),
+          ],
+          if (action != null) ...[
+            const SizedBox(width: 10),
+            _PillButton(
+              label: action == StatusAction.cancel ? 'Cancel' : 'Retry',
+              onPressed: () => onAction(action),
+            ),
+          ],
+        ],
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+class _Spinner extends StatelessWidget {
+  final Color color;
+  const _Spinner({required this.color});
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) =>
+      SizedBox.square(dimension: 14, child: CircularProgressIndicator(strokeWidth: 2, color: color));
+}
+
+class _PillButton extends StatelessWidget {
+  final String label;
+  final VoidCallback onPressed;
+  const _PillButton({required this.label, required this.onPressed});
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) => TextButton(
+        key: ValueKey('player-status-$label'),
+        onPressed: onPressed,
+        style: TextButton.styleFrom(
+          foregroundColor: Colors.white,
+          backgroundColor: Colors.white12,
+          shape: const StadiumBorder(),
+          minimumSize: const Size(0, 26),
+          padding: const EdgeInsets.symmetric(horizontal: 12),
+          tapTargetSize: MaterialTapTargetSize.shrinkWrap,
+          visualDensity: VisualDensity.compact,
+          textStyle: const TextStyle(fontSize: 12, fontWeight: FontWeight.w600),
+        ),
+        child: Text(label),
+      );
+}
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/session_player.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/session_player.dart
index 116e439..3656cf0 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/session_player.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/session_player.dart
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import '../controls/uosc/timeline.dart';
 import '../playback/media_marks.dart' show SkipOffer, formatClock;
 import '../screens/session/jellyfin_widgets.dart';
 import '../screens/session/player_controls.dart';
-import '../session/health.dart';
 import '../session/session_coordinator.dart';
 import '../shaders/shader_menu.dart';
 import '../shaders/shader_presets.dart';
@@ -24,6 +23,9 @@ import '../widgets/text_focus.dart';
 import '../widgets/window_buttons.dart';
 import 'avatar.dart';
 import 'motion.dart';
+import 'now_playing_title.dart';
+import 'player_status.dart';
+import 'start_banner.dart';
 
 /// Where the session's video is shown: nowhere, the floating mini player,
 /// or filling the body (and, with fullscreen, the window).
@@ -36,8 +38,8 @@ typedef VideoViewBuilder = Widget Function(BuildContext context, VideoControlsBu
 
 /// The session's player: the one `Video` of the current player and
 /// everything over it. Full: our bars on media_kit's controls or the uosc
-/// set (Settings), health / waiting / Jellyfin overlays and the player
-/// keys. Mini: hover controls and a progress line. The shell keeps this
+/// set (Settings), the start card, the status pill, Jellyfin overlays and
+/// the player keys. Mini: hover controls and a progress line. The shell keeps this
 /// widget mounted at one place in the tree while the mode changes, so the
 /// `Video` is never mounted twice nor rebuilt for a move.
 class SessionPlayer extends StatefulWidget {
@@ -277,8 +279,7 @@ class _SessionPlayerState extends State<SessionPlayer> {
                 child: Stack(fit: StackFit.expand, children: [video, _frameProbe.anchor()]),
               ),
               if (_full) ...[
-                _healthOverlay(),
-                _waitingPill(bottom: 124),
+                _status(),
                 _progressLine(),
                 _jellyfinOverlay(),
                 if (widget.fullscreen) _pausedParty(),
@@ -306,6 +307,8 @@ class _SessionPlayerState extends State<SessionPlayer> {
   }
 
   static const _barHeight = 56.0;
+  /// The standard top bar: room for the cover (2:3, 60 px tall).
+  static const _topBarHeight = 72.0;
   static const _controlsHide = Duration(seconds: 3);
 
   /// Fullscreen hides the strip and its window buttons: the top bar
@@ -346,14 +349,6 @@ class _SessionPlayerState extends State<SessionPlayer> {
         ),
       );
 
-  String get _title {
-    final ref = _coord.currentRef.value;
-    if (ref != null && ref.title.isNotEmpty) {
-      return [ref.title, ?ref.subtitle].join(' · ');
-    }
-    return (_coord.serverState.value?.media?['name'] as String?) ?? '';
-  }
-
   MaterialDesktopVideoControlsThemeData _controlsTheme() {
     final coord = _coord;
     return MaterialDesktopVideoControlsThemeData(
@@ -375,19 +370,10 @@ class _SessionPlayerState extends State<SessionPlayer> {
           child: Align(
             alignment: Alignment.topCenter,
             child: SizedBox(
-              height: _barHeight,
+              height: _topBarHeight,
               child: Row(
                 children: [
-                  Expanded(
-                    child: SignalBuilder(
-                      builder: (context) => Text(
-                        _title,
-                        maxLines: 1,
-                        overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis,
-                        style: const TextStyle(color: Colors.white, fontWeight: FontWeight.w600, fontSize: 16),
-                      ),
-                    ),
-                  ),
+                  const Expanded(child: NowPlayingTitle()),
                   MaterialDesktopCustomButton(
                     icon: const Icon(Icons.video_library_outlined),
                     onPressed: widget.onChangeVideo,
@@ -510,7 +496,12 @@ class _SessionPlayerState extends State<SessionPlayer> {
   }
 
   Widget _sessionControls(VideoState state) {
+    // The start card sits under the controls (they stay usable on it).
     // The "Player design" setting swaps them live.
+    return Stack(fit: StackFit.expand, children: [const StartBanner(), _controlsSwitch(state)]);
+  }
+
+  Widget _controlsSwitch(VideoState state) {
     return SessionControlsSwitch(
       material: (_) => ControlsHoverProbe(
         shown: _standardShown,
@@ -518,7 +509,7 @@ class _SessionPlayerState extends State<SessionPlayer> {
         child: DoubleClickListener(
           onDoubleClick: widget.onToggleFullscreen,
           // Clicks on the bars are button clicks, not the video.
-          skipTop: _barHeight,
+          skipTop: _topBarHeight,
           skipBottom: _barHeight + ChapterSeekBar.height,
           child: MaterialDesktopVideoControls(state),
         ),
@@ -546,6 +537,7 @@ class _SessionPlayerState extends State<SessionPlayer> {
         });
     return UoscControls(
       onDoubleTap: widget.onToggleFullscreen,
+      topLeft: const NowPlayingTitle(),
       top: Row(
         mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
         children: [
@@ -655,80 +647,9 @@ class _SessionPlayerState extends State<SessionPlayer> {
     );
   }
 
-  Widget _healthOverlay() {
-    final coord = _coord;
-    return Positioned(
-      top: _barHeight + 8,
-      left: 12,
-      right: 12,
-      child: Align(
-        alignment: Alignment.topLeft,
-        child: SignalBuilder(
-          builder: (context) {
-            final h = coord.health.value;
-            final starve = coord.starving.value;
-            final retrying = coord.reconnecting.value;
-            final kicked = coord.kickReason.value;
-            final unwell = h.severity == HealthSeverity.warn ||
-                h.severity == HealthSeverity.error ||
-                retrying ||
-                starve != null;
-            if (!unwell) return const SizedBox.shrink();
-            final color = switch (h.severity) {
-              HealthSeverity.ok => Colors.green,
-              HealthSeverity.info => Colors.grey,
-              HealthSeverity.warn => Colors.orange,
-              HealthSeverity.error => Colors.red,
-            };
-            final IconData icon;
-            if (retrying) {
-              icon = Icons.sync;
-            } else if (h.severity == HealthSeverity.error) {
-              icon = Icons.error_outline;
-            } else if (h.severity == HealthSeverity.warn) {
-              icon = Icons.warning_amber_outlined;
-            } else {
-              icon = Icons.hourglass_empty;
-            }
-            final text = [h.message, ?starve, if (retrying) 'reconnecting…'].join(' · ');
-            final canRetry = !retrying &&
-                kicked == null &&
-                (h.severity == HealthSeverity.error || h.severity == HealthSeverity.warn);
-            final button = TextButton.styleFrom(
-                foregroundColor: Colors.white, tapTargetSize: MaterialTapTargetSize.shrinkWrap);
-            return Container(
-              decoration: BoxDecoration(
-                  color: Colors.black.withValues(alpha: 0.65), borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(999)),
-              padding: const EdgeInsets.symmetric(horizontal: 12, vertical: 6),
-              child: Row(
-                mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
-                children: [
-                  Icon(icon, color: color, size: 16),
-                  const SizedBox(width: 8),
-                  Flexible(child: Text(text, style: const TextStyle(color: Colors.white, fontSize: 12))),
-                  if (retrying)
-                    TextButton(
-                      style: button,
-                      onPressed: coord.cancelReconnect,
-                      child: const Text('Cancel', style: TextStyle(fontSize: 12)),
-                    ),
-                  if (canRetry)
-                    TextButton(
-                      style: button,
-                      onPressed: coord.retry,
-                      child: const Text('Retry', style: TextStyle(fontSize: 12)),
-                    ),
-                ],
-              ),
-            );
-          },
-        ),
-      ),
-    );
-  }
-
-  Widget _waitingPill({required double bottom}) =>
-      Positioned(left: 0, right: 0, bottom: bottom, child: const Center(child: WaitingPill()));
+  /// The one status pill, bottom centre above the controls.
+  Widget _status() =>
+      const Positioned(left: 16, right: 16, bottom: 124, child: Center(child: PlayerStatus()));
 
   /// Jellyfin: the blocked card, the end-of-episode card (countdown) and
   /// the "Next episode" pill; for any media the skip pill (Skip OP / ED /
@@ -807,7 +728,6 @@ class _SessionPlayerState extends State<SessionPlayer> {
   Widget _miniOverlay() {
     final coord = _coord;
     final playback = coord.playback;
-    const white = TextStyle(color: Colors.white, fontWeight: FontWeight.w600);
     return MouseRegion(
       onEnter: (_) => setState(() => _miniHover = true),
       onExit: (_) => setState(() => _miniHover = false),
@@ -832,12 +752,7 @@ class _SessionPlayerState extends State<SessionPlayer> {
                     Row(
                       children: [
                         const SizedBox(width: 10),
-                        Expanded(
-                          child: SignalBuilder(
-                            builder: (context) =>
-                                Text(_title, maxLines: 1, overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis, style: white),
-                          ),
-                        ),
+                        const Expanded(child: NowPlayingTitle(cover: false, compact: true)),
                         IconButton(
                           focusNode: _noFocus,
                           onPressed: widget.onExpand,
@@ -871,7 +786,7 @@ class _SessionPlayerState extends State<SessionPlayer> {
                               style: const TextStyle(color: Colors.white70, fontSize: 12)),
                           const Spacer(),
                           Flexible(
-                            child: Text(waitingText(compact: true),
+                            child: Text(playerStatusNow()?.short ?? '',
                                 maxLines: 1,
                                 overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis,
                                 style: const TextStyle(color: Colors.amber, fontSize: 12)),
@@ -904,81 +819,6 @@ const _shaderKeys = [
   LogicalKeyboardKey.digit6,
 ];
 
-/// Who the server waits for: "Waiting for you · press Space when ready",
-/// "Waiting for Alex, Mika", or '' while playing or with nothing up.
-String waitingText({bool compact = false}) {
-  final coord = SessionState.instance.coordinator;
-  final r = coord.serverState.value;
-  if (r == null || r.media == null || r.transport != 'held') return '';
-  final self = coord.selfMember.value;
-  if (self != null && !self.ready) {
-    return compact ? 'waiting for you' : 'Waiting for you · press Space when ready';
-  }
-  final waiting = [for (final m in r.members) if (!m.ready && !m.stale) m.name];
-  if (waiting.isEmpty) return compact ? '' : 'Paused';
-  return '${compact ? 'waiting' : 'Waiting'} for ${waiting.join(', ')}';
-}
-
-/// While held: who everyone is waiting for, with their avatars. When it
-/// is you, a click marks you ready.
-class WaitingPill extends StatelessWidget {
-  const WaitingPill({super.key});
-
-  @override
-  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
-    return PartyWatch(builder: (context) {
-      final coord = SessionState.instance.coordinator;
-      final text = waitingText();
-      final r = coord.serverState.value;
-      final self = coord.selfMember.value;
-      final meWaiting = self != null && !self.ready;
-      final who = meWaiting
-          ? [selfAvatarInfo()]
-          : [
-              for (final m in r?.members ?? const <MemberView>[])
-                if (!m.ready && !m.stale) memberAvatarInfo(m, r, coord),
-            ];
-      return AnimatedOpacity(
-        duration: easeTime,
-        curve: ease,
-        opacity: text.isEmpty ? 0 : 1,
-        child: IgnorePointer(
-          ignoring: text.isEmpty || !meWaiting,
-          child: GestureDetector(
-            key: const ValueKey('waiting-pill'),
-            onTap: coord.toggleReady,
-            child: MouseRegion(
-              cursor: meWaiting ? SystemMouseCursors.click : MouseCursor.defer,
-              child: Container(
-                padding: const EdgeInsets.fromLTRB(8, 6, 16, 6),
-                decoration: BoxDecoration(
-                  color: Colors.black.withValues(alpha: 0.72),
-                  borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(30),
-                  border: Border.all(color: Colors.white12),
-                ),
-                child: Row(
-                  mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
-                  children: [
-                    for (final m in who.take(4))
-                      Padding(padding: const EdgeInsets.only(right: 4), child: StatusAvatar(info: m, size: 28)),
-                    const SizedBox(width: 6),
-                    Flexible(
-                      child: Text(text,
-                          maxLines: 1,
-                          overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis,
-                          style: const TextStyle(color: Colors.white, fontWeight: FontWeight.w600)),
-                    ),
-                  ],
-                ),
-              ),
-            ),
-          ),
-        ),
-      );
-    });
-  }
-}
-
 /// Mini player progress: a 2 px line, or (hovered) a 4 px bar that seeks.
 class _MiniSeekBar extends StatelessWidget {
   final bool thin;
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/start_banner.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/start_banner.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..85db03c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/start_banner.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,176 @@
+import 'dart:ui' show ImageFilter;
+
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:signals/signals_flutter.dart';
+
+import '../session/now_playing.dart';
+import '../state/session_state.dart';
+import 'motion.dart';
+import 'now_playing_title.dart';
+
+/// Space kept free at the bottom of the start card for the controls and
+/// the status pill.
+const startCardBottom = 176.0;
+
+/// The start card of [now]: its banner (cover-fit, darkened), else a soft
+/// blur of the cover, else dark; the cover, a big title and the episode
+/// line bottom left, above the controls.
+class StartCard extends StatelessWidget {
+  final NowPlaying now;
+  const StartCard({super.key, required this.now});
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    final banner = artImage(now.bannerHash);
+    final cover = banner == null ? artImage(now.posterHash) : null;
+    final episode = now.episode;
+    return LayoutBuilder(builder: (context, box) {
+      final h = box.maxHeight;
+      final coverWidth = (h * 0.26).clamp(84.0, 240.0) / 1.5;
+      final titleSize = (h * 0.05).clamp(22.0, 44.0);
+      final side = (box.maxWidth * 0.05).clamp(20.0, 72.0);
+      return Stack(
+        fit: StackFit.expand,
+        children: [
+          const ColoredBox(color: Color(0xFF0C0D11)),
+          if (banner != null)
+            fadeInImage(banner)
+          else if (cover != null)
+            Opacity(
+              opacity: 0.5,
+              child: ImageFiltered(
+                imageFilter: ImageFilter.blur(sigmaX: 48, sigmaY: 48, tileMode: TileMode.decal),
+                child: Transform.scale(scale: 1.3, child: fadeInImage(cover)),
+              ),
+            )
+          else
+            const DecoratedBox(
+              decoration: BoxDecoration(
+                gradient: RadialGradient(
+                  center: Alignment(-0.7, 0.5),
+                  radius: 1.2,
+                  colors: [Color(0xFF23262E), Color(0xFF0C0D11)],
+                ),
+              ),
+            ),
+          const DecoratedBox(
+            decoration: BoxDecoration(
+              gradient: LinearGradient(
+                begin: Alignment.topCenter,
+                end: Alignment.bottomCenter,
+                stops: [0, 0.35, 1],
+                colors: [Color(0x55000000), Color(0x22000000), Color(0xE6000000)],
+              ),
+            ),
+          ),
+          const DecoratedBox(
+            decoration: BoxDecoration(
+              gradient: LinearGradient(
+                begin: Alignment.centerLeft,
+                end: Alignment.centerRight,
+                stops: [0, 0.65],
+                colors: [Color(0x99000000), Color(0x00000000)],
+              ),
+            ),
+          ),
+          Positioned(
+            left: side,
+            right: side,
+            bottom: startCardBottom,
+            child: Row(
+              crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.end,
+              children: [
+                ArtCover(hash: now.posterHash, width: coverWidth),
+                const SizedBox(width: 24),
+                Expanded(
+                  child: Column(
+                    mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
+                    crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.start,
+                    children: [
+                      Text(
+                        now.title,
+                        key: const ValueKey('start-card-title'),
+                        maxLines: 2,
+                        overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis,
+                        style: TextStyle(
+                          color: Colors.white,
+                          fontSize: titleSize,
+                          fontWeight: FontWeight.w800,
+                          height: 1.1,
+                          shadows: const [Shadow(color: Color(0x99000000), blurRadius: 16)],
+                        ),
+                      ),
+                      if (episode != null && episode.isNotEmpty) ...[
+                        const SizedBox(height: 6),
+                        Text(
+                          episode,
+                          maxLines: 1,
+                          overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis,
+                          style: TextStyle(color: Colors.white70, fontSize: titleSize * 0.42),
+                        ),
+                      ],
+                    ],
+                  ),
+                ),
+              ],
+            ),
+          ),
+        ],
+      );
+    });
+  }
+}
+
+/// [StartCard] over the picture until playback starts on this media
+/// (the server plays, or its position passed 1 s); then it fades out and
+/// stays gone for that media, whatever happens later. Never takes input.
+class StartBanner extends StatefulWidget {
+  const StartBanner({super.key});
+
+  @override
+  State<StartBanner> createState() => _StartBannerState();
+}
+
+class _StartBannerState extends State<StartBanner> {
+  int? _mediaId;
+  bool _started = false;
+  // Faded out: the card leaves the tree (and its images with it).
+  bool _gone = true;
+  NowPlaying? _last;
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    final coord = SessionState.instance.coordinator;
+    return IgnorePointer(
+      child: ListenableBuilder(
+        listenable: artChanges(),
+        builder: (context, _) => SignalBuilder(builder: (context) {
+          final r = coord.serverState.value;
+          final now = coord.nowPlaying.value;
+          if (r != null && r.mediaId != _mediaId) {
+            _mediaId = r.mediaId;
+            _started = false;
+          }
+          if (r != null && (r.transport == 'playing' || r.position >= 1)) _started = true;
+          final show = now != null && r?.media != null && !_started;
+          if (show) {
+            _last = now;
+            _gone = false;
+          }
+          final last = _last;
+          if (last == null || _gone) return const SizedBox.shrink();
+          return AnimatedOpacity(
+            key: const ValueKey('start-banner'),
+            opacity: show ? 1 : 0,
+            duration: easeTime,
+            curve: ease,
+            onEnd: () {
+              if (!show && mounted) setState(() => _gone = true);
+            },
+            child: StartCard(now: last),
+          );
+        }),
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/sync/avatar_cache.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/sync/avatar_cache.dart
index e31ed10..7831f3b 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/lib/src/sync/avatar_cache.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/sync/avatar_cache.dart
@@ -3,15 +3,38 @@ import 'dart:io';
 import 'dart:typed_data';
 
 import 'package:flutter/foundation.dart';
+import 'package:sync_relay_core/core.dart';
 
 import 'sync_client.dart';
 
-/// Member pictures by content hash (`state.members[].avatarHash`), fetched
-/// once from `/a/<sid>/<token>/<hash>` on the host the client dialled and
-/// kept in memory. A hash names fixed bytes, so entries never go stale;
-/// listeners are notified when one arrives.
-class AvatarCache extends ChangeNotifier {
+/// Member pictures by content hash (`state.members[].avatarHash`), from `/a/`.
+class AvatarCache extends PictureCache {
+  AvatarCache(super.sync, {super.fetch})
+      : super(route: 'a', keep: 32, live: (s) => [for (final m in s.members) m.avatarHash]);
+}
+
+/// The current media's art by content hash (`state.media.art`), from `/i/`.
+class ArtCache extends PictureCache {
+  ArtCache(super.sync, {super.fetch}) : super(route: 'i', keep: 8, live: artHashesOf);
+
+  /// Poster and banner hashes of [s]'s media.
+  static List<String> artHashesOf(StateBroadcast s) {
+    final art = s.media?['art'];
+    if (art is! Map) return const [];
+    return [for (final v in art.values) if (v is String) v];
+  }
+}
+
+/// Pictures by content hash, fetched once from `/<route>/<sid>/<token>/<hash>`
+/// on the host the client dialled and kept in memory. A hash names fixed
+/// bytes, so entries never go stale; listeners are notified when one
+/// arrives. Hashes in each state ([live]) are fetched ahead of use.
+class PictureCache extends ChangeNotifier {
   final SyncClient sync;
+  /// First path segment of the picture route: 'a' (avatars), 'i' (art).
+  final String route;
+  /// Above this many pictures, ones not in the latest state go.
+  final int keep;
   /// Fetches one picture; null on any failure. Injectable for tests.
   final Future<Uint8List?> Function(Uri url) _fetch;
   final Map<String, Uint8List> _bytes = {};
@@ -21,15 +44,17 @@ class AvatarCache extends ChangeNotifier {
   bool _disposed = false;
 
   static const _retryAfter = Duration(seconds: 10);
-  /// Above this many pictures, ones nobody in the latest state uses go.
-  static const _keep = 32;
 
-  AvatarCache(this.sync, {Future<Uint8List?> Function(Uri url)? fetch})
+  PictureCache(this.sync,
+      {required this.route,
+      required this.keep,
+      required Iterable<String> Function(StateBroadcast state) live,
+      Future<Uint8List?> Function(Uri url)? fetch})
       : _fetch = fetch ?? _httpGet {
     _sub = sync.states.listen((s) {
-      final live = {for (final m in s.members) if (m.avatarHash.isNotEmpty) m.avatarHash};
-      if (_bytes.length > _keep) _bytes.removeWhere((h, _) => !live.contains(h));
-      live.forEach(_want);
+      final hashes = {for (final h in live(s)) if (h.isNotEmpty) h};
+      if (_bytes.length > keep) _bytes.removeWhere((h, _) => !hashes.contains(h));
+      hashes.forEach(_want);
     });
   }
 
@@ -53,7 +78,7 @@ class AvatarCache extends ChangeNotifier {
         scheme: ws.scheme == 'wss' ? 'https' : 'http',
         host: ws.host,
         port: ws.port,
-        pathSegments: ['a', 'default', token, hash]);
+        pathSegments: [route, 'default', token, hash]);
     _inFlight.add(hash);
     unawaited(_fetch(url).then((bytes) {
       _inFlight.remove(hash);
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/sync/sync_client.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/sync/sync_client.dart
index 6e85151..7967f2c 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/lib/src/sync/sync_client.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/sync/sync_client.dart
@@ -250,6 +250,11 @@ class SyncClient {
     _send(ProfileIntent(name: name, avatar: avatar).toJson());
   }
 
+  /// Art for media [mediaId] (base64 picture bytes; null = none).
+  void sendArt(int mediaId, {String? poster, String? banner}) {
+    _send(ArtMessage(mediaId: mediaId, poster: poster, banner: banner).toJson());
+  }
+
   void sendKick(String target, {String reason = ''}) {
     _send(KickRequest(target: target, reason: reason).toJson());
   }
diff --git a/apps/desktop/test/avatar_cache_test.dart b/apps/desktop/test/avatar_cache_test.dart
index 42b4273..885cf05 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/test/avatar_cache_test.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/test/avatar_cache_test.dart
@@ -56,4 +56,35 @@ void main() {
       await server.stop();
     }
   });
+
+  test('media art arrives by hash over /i/; a swap clears it', () async {
+    final server = SyncServer(const AppConfig(port: 0, secret: 's', name: 'art'));
+    await server.start();
+    final client = SyncClient();
+    final cache = ArtCache(client);
+    final poster = Uint8List.fromList([0xFF, 0xD8, 0xFF, ...List<int>.generate(197, (i) => i % 256)]);
+    try {
+      await client.connect(
+        wsUri: Uri.parse('ws://127.0.0.1:${server.boundPort}/sync'),
+        secret: 's',
+        name: 'alice',
+      );
+      client.sendSwap(const HelloMedia(name: 'Show - 01.mkv', size: 0, duration: 0, url: 'http://example.com/a.mkv'));
+      await _poll(() => client.lastState?.media?['swapBy'] == client.memberId, 'swap');
+      client.sendArt(client.lastState!.mediaId, poster: base64Encode(poster));
+      await _poll(() => ArtCache.artHashesOf(client.lastState!).isNotEmpty, 'art in state');
+      final hash = ArtCache.artHashesOf(client.lastState!).single;
+      expect(hash, avatarHashOf(poster));
+      await _poll(() => cache.bytesFor(hash) != null, 'art bytes');
+      expect(cache.bytesFor(hash), poster);
+
+      client.sendSwap(const HelloMedia(name: 'Other.mkv', size: 0, duration: 0, url: 'http://example.com/b.mkv'));
+      await _poll(() => client.lastState?.media?['name'] == 'Other.mkv', 'second swap');
+      expect(ArtCache.artHashesOf(client.lastState!), isEmpty);
+    } finally {
+      cache.dispose();
+      await client.dispose();
+      await server.stop();
+    }
+  });
 }
diff --git a/apps/desktop/test/now_playing_info_test.dart b/apps/desktop/test/now_playing_info_test.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ab40117
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/test/now_playing_info_test.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
+import 'package:watch_together/src/session/now_playing.dart';
+import 'package:watch_together/src/session/now_playing_info.dart';
+
+void main() {
+  group('jellyfinTitle', () {
+    test('episodes: series on top, "S1 E2 · Name" below', () {
+      expect(jellyfinTitle('The Pilot', 'Show · S1E2'), ('Show', 'S1 E2 · The Pilot'));
+      expect(jellyfinTitle('The Pilot', 'Show - S01E02'), ('Show', 'S1 E2 · The Pilot'));
+      expect(jellyfinTitle('Ep', 'Re:Zero - Starting Life · S2E10'), ('Re:Zero - Starting Life', 'S2 E10 · Ep'));
+    });
+
+    test('movies and partial subtitles', () {
+      expect(jellyfinTitle('Movie', '2019'), ('Movie', null));
+      expect(jellyfinTitle('Movie', null), ('Movie', null));
+      expect(jellyfinTitle('Pilot', 'S1E1'), ('Pilot', 'S1 E1'));
+      expect(jellyfinTitle('Special', 'Show'), ('Show', 'Special'));
+    });
+  });
+
+  group('fileTitle', () {
+    test('release names', () {
+      expect(fileTitle('[SubsPlease] Frieren - 05 (1080p) [ABCD1234].mkv'), ('Frieren', 'E5'));
+      expect(fileTitle('Show.Name.S01E03.1080p.WEB-DL.x264-GRP.mkv'), ('Show Name', 'S1 E3'));
+      expect(fileTitle('[Grp] Show - NCOP1 [1080p].mkv'), ('Show', 'NCOP1'));
+      expect(fileTitle('Some Movie (2019).mkv'), ('Some Movie', null));
+    });
+
+    test('nothing sensible: the raw name minus extension', () {
+      expect(fileTitle('[1080p].mkv').$1, '[1080p]');
+    });
+  });
+
+  test('nowPlayingOf: media map with ref and art', () {
+    expect(nowPlayingOf(null), isNull);
+    expect(
+        nowPlayingOf({
+          'name': 'The Pilot',
+          'jellyfin': {'serverId': 's', 'itemId': 'i', 'title': 'The Pilot', 'subtitle': 'Show · S1E2'},
+          'art': {'poster': 'aaaa', 'banner': 'bbbb'},
+        }),
+        const NowPlaying(title: 'Show', episode: 'S1 E2 · The Pilot', posterHash: 'aaaa', bannerHash: 'bbbb'));
+    expect(nowPlayingOf({'name': 'Show - 12.mkv'}), const NowPlaying(title: 'Show', episode: 'E12'));
+  });
+}
diff --git a/apps/desktop/test/player_status_test.dart b/apps/desktop/test/player_status_test.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ccf2b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/test/player_status_test.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,283 @@
+import 'dart:typed_data';
+
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
+import 'package:sync_relay_core/core.dart';
+import 'package:watch_together/src/controls/uosc/buttons.dart';
+import 'package:watch_together/src/controls/uosc/controls.dart';
+import 'package:watch_together/src/controls/uosc/timeline.dart';
+import 'package:watch_together/src/session/health.dart';
+import 'package:watch_together/src/session/now_playing.dart';
+import 'package:watch_together/src/shell/now_playing_title.dart';
+import 'package:watch_together/src/shell/player_status.dart';
+import 'package:watch_together/src/shell/session_player.dart';
+import 'package:watch_together/src/shell/start_banner.dart';
+import 'package:watch_together/src/state/session_state.dart';
+
+// The player's title block, start card and status pill (never a media_kit
+// `Video`).
+
+/// A 1x1 transparent PNG.
+final png = Uint8List.fromList(const [
+  0x89, 0x50, 0x4E, 0x47, 0x0D, 0x0A, 0x1A, 0x0A, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x0D, 0x49, 0x48, 0x44, 0x52, //
+  0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01, 0x08, 0x06, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x1F, 0x15, 0xC4,
+  0x89, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x0D, 0x49, 0x44, 0x41, 0x54, 0x78, 0x9C, 0x63, 0x00, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00,
+  0x05, 0x00, 0x01, 0x0D, 0x0A, 0x2D, 0xB4, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x49, 0x45, 0x4E, 0x44, 0xAE,
+  0x42, 0x60, 0x82,
+]);
+
+MemberView mv(String id, String name, {bool ready = false, bool? inSet, double buffered = 30, bool stale = false}) =>
+    MemberView(id: id, name: name, ready: ready, inSet: inSet ?? ready, buffered: buffered, stale: stale);
+
+StateBroadcast held(List<MemberView> members, {String transport = 'held', double position = 0, int mediaId = 1}) =>
+    StateBroadcast(
+      eventId: 1,
+      transport: transport,
+      position: position,
+      serverTime: DateTime.now().toUtc(),
+      mediaId: mediaId,
+      media: {'name': 'Movie.mkv', 'size': 1, 'duration': 0},
+      members: members,
+    );
+
+const ok = HealthStatus(HealthSeverity.ok, 'connected');
+
+void main() {
+  final coord = SessionState.instance.coordinator;
+
+  tearDown(() {
+    debugArtBytes = null;
+    coord.serverState.value = null;
+    coord.health.value = const HealthStatus(HealthSeverity.info, 'idle');
+    coord.playback.alive.value = false;
+  });
+
+  group('status', () {
+    final me = mv('me', 'Me', ready: true);
+
+    test('problems first: removed, reconnecting, health', () {
+      var v = playerStatusFor(
+          health: const HealthStatus(HealthSeverity.error, 'kicked: spam'),
+          kickReason: 'spam',
+          reconnecting: true,
+          state: held([me]));
+      expect(v!.kind, StatusKind.kicked);
+      expect(v.text, 'You were removed: spam');
+      expect(v.tone, HealthSeverity.error);
+      expect(v.action, isNull);
+      v = playerStatusFor(health: const HealthStatus(HealthSeverity.warn, 'connection lost — retrying…'),
+          reconnecting: true);
+      expect(v!.text, 'Reconnecting…');
+      expect(v.action, StatusAction.cancel);
+      v = playerStatusFor(health: const HealthStatus(HealthSeverity.warn, 'waiting for Bob to pass the video on'),
+          state: held([me]), self: me);
+      expect(v!.kind, StatusKind.problem);
+      expect(v.text, 'Waiting for Bob to pass the video on');
+      expect(v.tone, HealthSeverity.warn);
+      expect(v.action, StatusAction.retry);
+    });
+
+    test('info never shows; connecting only once slow', () {
+      expect(playerStatusFor(health: const HealthStatus(HealthSeverity.info, 'connected — waiting for host media…')),
+          isNull);
+      const connecting = HealthStatus(HealthSeverity.info, 'connecting…');
+      expect(playerStatusFor(health: connecting), isNull);
+      expect(playerStatusFor(health: connecting, slowConnect: true)!.text, 'Connecting…');
+      expect(playerStatusFor(health: ok, state: held([me], transport: 'playing'), self: me), isNull);
+      expect(playerStatusFor(health: ok, state: held([me]), self: me), isNull, reason: 'everyone ready');
+    });
+
+    test('finished, then whoever is loading', () {
+      expect(playerStatusFor(health: ok, state: held([me], transport: 'finished'), self: me)!.text,
+          'Finished · seek back or pick the next video');
+      final slow = mv('b', 'Bob', ready: true, buffered: RelayConstants.minBufferSecs / 2);
+      final v = playerStatusFor(health: ok, state: held([me, slow, mv('c', 'Cleo')]), self: me)!;
+      expect(v.kind, StatusKind.loading);
+      expect(v.text, 'Bob is loading…');
+      expect(v.who.single.id, 'b');
+      expect(v.progress, closeTo(0.5, 1e-9));
+      final mine = mv('me', 'Me', ready: true, buffered: 0);
+      expect(playerStatusFor(health: ok, state: held([mine]), self: mine)!.text, 'Loading the video…');
+    });
+
+    test('you, then the others with a ready count', () {
+      final notMe = mv('me', 'Me');
+      final v = playerStatusFor(health: ok, state: held([notMe, mv('b', 'Bob')]), self: notMe)!;
+      expect(v.kind, StatusKind.you);
+      expect(v.text, "Press Space when you're ready");
+      expect(v.action, StatusAction.ready);
+      expect(v.self, isTrue);
+      final w = playerStatusFor(
+          health: ok,
+          state: held([me, mv('b', 'Bob'), mv('m', 'Mika'), mv('z', 'Zed', stale: true)]),
+          self: me)!;
+      expect(w.kind, StatusKind.waiting);
+      expect(w.text, 'Waiting for Bob and Mika');
+      expect(w.detail, '1/3 ready');
+      expect(w.who.map((m) => m.name), ['Bob', 'Mika']);
+    });
+
+    test('names read as a sentence', () {
+      expect(nameList(['Bob']), 'Bob');
+      expect(nameList(['Bob', 'Mika']), 'Bob and Mika');
+      expect(nameList(['Bob', 'Mika', 'Cleo']), 'Bob, Mika and Cleo');
+      expect(nameList(['Bob', 'Mika', 'Cleo', 'Dan', 'Eve']), 'Bob, Mika and 3 others');
+    });
+  });
+
+  group('title block', () {
+    Widget host(Widget child, {double width = 400}) => MaterialApp(
+          home: Scaffold(backgroundColor: Colors.black, body: Center(child: SizedBox(width: width, child: child))),
+        );
+    const now = NowPlaying(title: 'Frieren', episode: 'S1 E4 · The Land Where Souls Rest', posterHash: 'p');
+
+    testWidgets('title, episode and a placeholder cover without art', (tester) async {
+      await tester.pumpWidget(host(const NowPlayingBlock(now: now)));
+      expect(find.text('Frieren'), findsOneWidget);
+      expect(find.text('S1 E4 · The Land Where Souls Rest'), findsOneWidget);
+      expect(find.byIcon(Icons.movie_outlined), findsOneWidget);
+      expect(find.byType(Image), findsNothing);
+      final cover = tester.getSize(find.byType(ArtCover));
+      expect(cover, const Size(40, 60));
+    });
+
+    testWidgets('the cover image once its bytes are here', (tester) async {
+      debugArtBytes = (hash) => hash == 'p' ? png : null;
+      await tester.pumpWidget(host(const NowPlayingBlock(now: now)));
+      final image = tester.widget<Image>(find.byType(Image));
+      expect((image.image as MemoryImage).bytes, png);
+      expect(image.gaplessPlayback, isTrue);
+    });
+
+    testWidgets('no cover, no episode: just the title; long titles ellipsize', (tester) async {
+      await tester.pumpWidget(host(
+          NowPlayingBlock(now: NowPlaying(title: 'A very long title ' * 10), cover: false, compact: true),
+          width: 200));
+      expect(find.byType(ArtCover), findsNothing);
+      expect(find.byKey(const ValueKey('now-playing-episode')), findsNothing);
+      expect(tester.takeException(), isNull);
+    });
+
+    testWidgets('a new media fades through', (tester) async {
+      await tester.pumpWidget(host(const NowPlayingBlock(now: now)));
+      await tester.pumpWidget(host(const NowPlayingBlock(now: NowPlaying(title: 'Dune'))));
+      await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 60));
+      expect(find.text('Frieren'), findsOneWidget, reason: 'still fading out');
+      await tester.pumpAndSettle();
+      expect(find.text('Frieren'), findsNothing);
+      expect(find.text('Dune'), findsOneWidget);
+    });
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('start banner: up before playback, fades on play, never back for that media', (tester) async {
+    await tester.pumpWidget(const MaterialApp(home: SizedBox(width: 1280, height: 720, child: StartBanner())));
+    final card = find.byKey(const ValueKey('start-card-title'));
+    expect(card, findsNothing);
+    coord.serverState.value = held([mv('a', 'Alex')]);
+    await tester.pump();
+    expect(card, findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.text(coord.nowPlaying.value!.title), findsWidgets);
+    expect(tester.widget<AnimatedOpacity>(find.byKey(const ValueKey('start-banner'))).opacity, 1);
+    coord.serverState.value = held([mv('a', 'Alex', ready: true)], transport: 'playing');
+    await tester.pump();
+    expect(tester.widget<AnimatedOpacity>(find.byKey(const ValueKey('start-banner'))).opacity, 0);
+    await tester.pumpAndSettle();
+    expect(card, findsNothing);
+    // Paused back at the start: still gone.
+    coord.serverState.value = held([mv('a', 'Alex')]);
+    await tester.pumpAndSettle();
+    expect(card, findsNothing);
+    // The next media gets its own card.
+    coord.serverState.value = held([mv('a', 'Alex')], mediaId: 2);
+    await tester.pump();
+    expect(card, findsOneWidget);
+    // Joined mid-way: none.
+    coord.serverState.value = held([mv('a', 'Alex')], mediaId: 3, position: 600);
+    await tester.pumpAndSettle();
+    expect(card, findsNothing);
+  });
+
+  group('no overflow', () {
+    const sizes = [Size(900, 600), Size(2560, 1080)];
+    final long = NowPlaying(title: 'An Extremely Long Series Title ' * 4, episode: 'S12 E104 · ${'Episode ' * 20}',
+        posterHash: 'p', bannerHash: 'b');
+    final crowd = [
+      for (var i = 0; i < 9; i++) mv('$i', 'Someone With A Long Name $i'),
+    ];
+
+    Future<void> sized(WidgetTester tester, Size size, Widget child) async {
+      tester.view.physicalSize = size;
+      tester.view.devicePixelRatio = 1;
+      addTearDown(tester.view.reset);
+      await tester.pumpWidget(MaterialApp(theme: ThemeData.dark(), home: Scaffold(body: child)));
+      await tester.pumpAndSettle();
+      expect(tester.takeException(), isNull);
+    }
+
+    for (final size in sizes) {
+      testWidgets('session player, status pill: ${size.width.toInt()}', (tester) async {
+        coord.playback.alive.value = true;
+        coord.serverState.value = held(crowd);
+        await sized(
+          tester,
+          size,
+          SessionPlayer(
+            mode: PlayerMode.full,
+            fullscreen: false,
+            onExpand: () {},
+            onCollapse: () {},
+            onClose: () {},
+            onToggleFullscreen: () {},
+            onToggleChat: () {},
+            onChangeVideo: () {},
+            onOpenIntegrations: () {},
+            onLeave: () {},
+            windowControls: false,
+            videoBuilder: (context, controls) => const ColoredBox(color: Colors.black),
+          ),
+        );
+        expect(find.byKey(const ValueKey('player-status')), findsOneWidget);
+        expect(find.textContaining('Waiting for Someone With A Long Name 0'), findsOneWidget);
+      });
+
+      testWidgets('uosc top bar and start card: ${size.width.toInt()}', (tester) async {
+        debugArtBytes = (hash) => png;
+        await sized(
+          tester,
+          size,
+          Stack(fit: StackFit.expand, children: [
+            StartCard(now: long),
+            UoscControls(
+              topLeft: NowPlayingBlock(now: long),
+              top: Row(mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min, children: [
+                for (final i in [Icons.chat_bubble_outline, Icons.fullscreen, Icons.close])
+                  UoscButton(icon: i, tooltip: '', onPressed: () {}),
+              ]),
+              timeline: (context, expanded) =>
+                  UoscTimeline(position: Duration.zero, duration: const Duration(minutes: 24), expanded: expanded, onSeek: (_) {}),
+            ),
+          ]),
+        );
+        expect(find.byType(ArtCover), findsNWidgets(2));
+      });
+
+      testWidgets('standard top bar row: ${size.width.toInt()}', (tester) async {
+        await sized(
+          tester,
+          size,
+          Align(
+            alignment: Alignment.topCenter,
+            child: SizedBox(
+              height: 72,
+              child: Row(children: [
+                Expanded(child: NowPlayingBlock(now: long)),
+                for (final i in [Icons.video_library_outlined, Icons.chat_bubble_outline, Icons.close_fullscreen])
+                  IconButton(onPressed: () {}, icon: Icon(i)),
+              ]),
+            ),
+          ),
+        );
+      });
+    }
+  });
+}
diff --git a/apps/desktop/test/schedule_anilist_test.dart b/apps/desktop/test/schedule_anilist_test.dart
index c9de308..fb3a076 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/test/schedule_anilist_test.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/test/schedule_anilist_test.dart
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 import 'dart:convert';
 import 'dart:io';
+import 'dart:typed_data';
 
 import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
 import 'package:watch_together/src/schedule/anilist.dart';
+import 'package:watch_together/src/session/media_art.dart';
 
 import 'schedule_fake_server.dart';
 
@@ -163,6 +165,52 @@ void main() {
     await expectLater(client().schedule(from, to), throwsA(isA<AniListException>()));
   });
 
+  test('searchMedia: one request per title, 404 is no match, art via aniListArt', () async {
+    server.handler = (req, res) async {
+      final search = ((jsonDecode(req.body) as Map)['variables'] as Map)['search'];
+      if (search != 'Frieren') {
+        json(res, {'errors': [{'message': 'Not Found.', 'status': 404}], 'data': {'Media': null}}, status: 404);
+        return;
+      }
+      json(res, {
+        'data': {
+          'Media': {
+            'id': 154587,
+            'title': {'romaji': 'Sousou no Frieren', 'english': 'Frieren: Beyond Journey\'s End'},
+            'coverImage': {'extraLarge': 'https://img/xl.jpg', 'large': 'https://img/l.jpg'},
+            'bannerImage': 'https://img/banner.jpg',
+          },
+        },
+      });
+    };
+    final c = client();
+    final m = await c.searchMedia('Frieren');
+    expect(m!.id, 154587);
+    expect(m.title, "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End");
+    expect(m.cover, 'https://img/xl.jpg');
+    expect(m.coverSmall, 'https://img/l.jpg');
+    expect(m.banner, 'https://img/banner.jpg');
+    await c.searchMedia('Frieren');
+    expect(server.seen, hasLength(1), reason: 'cached per title');
+    expect(await c.searchMedia('Nothing Like It'), isNull);
+    expect(await c.searchMedia('  '), isNull);
+    expect(server.seen, hasLength(2));
+
+    // Files: the release name's series; the extraLarge cover too big falls
+    // back to large.
+    final jpeg = Uint8List.fromList([0xFF, 0xD8, 0xFF, 1, 2, 3]);
+    final asked = <String>[];
+    final art = await aniListArt(c, '[SubsPlease] Frieren - 05 (1080p) [ABCD1234].mkv', fetch: (url, headers, max) async {
+      asked.add('$url');
+      return url.path == '/xl.jpg' ? null : jpeg;
+    });
+    expect(art!.poster, jpeg);
+    expect(art.banner, jpeg);
+    expect(asked, unorderedEquals(['https://img/xl.jpg', 'https://img/banner.jpg', 'https://img/l.jpg']));
+    expect(await aniListArt(c, 'Nothing Like It.mkv', fetch: (_, _, _) async => jpeg), isNull);
+    c.close();
+  });
+
   test('parseHexColor', () {
     expect(parseHexColor('#000000')?.toARGB32(), 0xff000000);
     expect(parseHexColor('e4a15d'), isNull);
diff --git a/apps/desktop/test/shell_test.dart b/apps/desktop/test/shell_test.dart
index cc85149..5b83239 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/test/shell_test.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/test/shell_test.dart
@@ -290,12 +290,13 @@ void main() {
     expect(tester.takeException(), isNull);
   });
 
-  testWidgets('waiting pill: who is not ready, or you', (tester) async {
+  testWidgets('status pill: who is not ready, with the ready count', (tester) async {
     coord.playback.alive.value = true;
     await pumpShell(tester, const Size(1280, 800));
     online([member('a', 'Alex', ready: true), member('b', 'Bob'), member('c', 'Cleo')]);
     await tester.pumpAndSettle();
-    expect(find.text('Waiting for Bob, Cleo'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.text('Waiting for Bob and Cleo'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.text('1/3 ready'), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   test('toasts: feed toasts carry the actor, the rest are the app\'s', () {
diff --git a/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md b/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
index 6111c50..1bc4bf7 100644
--- a/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
+++ b/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
@@ -604,9 +604,22 @@ sideways until an end, then the page).
   The player keys (Settings → Keyboard shortcuts) work while the player is
   full and nothing is in front of it. Something coming up while the player
   is closed opens it: full right after joining or after putting it up
-  here, else mini. While held, a pill under the picture names who
-  everyone waits for, or says "Waiting for you · press Space" (a click
-  marks you ready); the mini shows it in its hover bar. ⚙ in both
+  here, else mini. Both control designs show `NowPlayingTitle` top left
+  (`now_playing_title.dart`: 2:3 cover, title, episode line from
+  `coordinator.nowPlaying`, art through `artBytes`; it fades through when
+  the media changes); the mini shows title and episode without the cover.
+  Until playback first starts on a media (server not playing, position
+  under 1 s) `StartBanner` (`start_banner.dart`) lies under the controls:
+  the banner (else a blur of the cover, else dark), darkened, with cover,
+  big title and episode; it fades out on play and stays gone for that
+  media. One status pill (`player_status.dart`) sits bottom centre above
+  the controls: `playerStatusFor` (pure) picks the most pressing of
+  removed, reconnecting (Cancel), a warn/error health message (Retry),
+  connecting (only after 2 s), finished, someone loading (their avatar
+  and buffer progress), you not ready (a click marks you ready) and who
+  everyone waits for (avatars, "2/3 ready"); nothing otherwise, info
+  never. Frosted glass, colour only for problems; it fades through
+  between kinds. The mini shows its short line in its hover bar. ⚙ in both
   control designs opens the player settings card (`controls/
   player_settings.dart`, `showPopover`): player design, progress line
   when hidden, upscaling shader, hardware decoding (set live on mpv's
@@ -686,7 +699,7 @@ Session controls (the Standard player design): media_kit's
 `screens/session/player_controls.dart`); its own double-click and keys are
 off (its double-click pushes a fullscreen route with a second `Video`), the
 picture's double-click is a raw pointer observer (`DoubleClickListener`).
-The top bar holds the title, Change video, chat and back-to-library
+The top bar holds the now-playing title, Change video, chat and back-to-library
 (fullscreen: exit, then the window buttons); the bottom bar ends with the
 shader button, ⚙ and fullscreen. Its seek bar is off; ours
 (`ChapterSeekBar`: chapter diamonds, hover time with the chapter title)
@@ -714,7 +727,8 @@ change video, chat & activity, reload, mark everyone ready, fullscreen,
 leave),
 subtitles and audio with track counts, a shader badge ("A HQ", opening the
 shared `showShaderMenu`), ready, mark everyone ready, reload; 1:30,
-chapters, previous / next episode, change video, volume, ⚙, fullscreen; chat
+chapters, previous / next episode, change video, volume, ⚙, fullscreen; the
+now-playing title top left (`UoscControls.topLeft`, with a top gradient), chat
 and back-to-library (fullscreen: exit) top right. Menus (`showUoscMenu`: a popup route above the button, the
 current row highlighted) list tracks and chapters with start times. All
 actions are the coordinator's (seeks through `player.seek`, the user path;
@@ -791,3 +805,10 @@ this repo, written by `tool/release.sh`.
   the bytes of current members in memory and serves them at `/a/...`, which
   clients fetch once per hash (`AvatarCache`). Uplink per broadcast stays
   small whatever the picture size (cap 256 KiB base64 per avatar).
+- Media art the same way (`/i/...`, `ArtCache` as `coordinator.art`): the
+  member who swapped the media in fetches poster and banner once the state
+  shows its swap landed (`media_art.dart`: Jellyfin series/item images with
+  its own account, else an AniList title search on the parsed release
+  name) and sends `art`, so guests without Jellyfin get covers too.
+  `coordinator.nowPlaying` derives title, episode line and art hashes from
+  `state.media` (`now_playing_info.dart`).
diff --git a/docs/PROTOCOL.md b/docs/PROTOCOL.md
index 5e0dc3a..0851d9d 100644
--- a/docs/PROTOCOL.md
+++ b/docs/PROTOCOL.md
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ with different `proto` refuse each other at `hello` (`proto mismatch`).
   `GET /j/<sid>/<token>/<itemId>` relays the current Jellyfin media (see
   "Jellyfin media" below). `/r/<sid>/<token>/...` is the relay of a
   member's media (see "Relay" below). `GET /a/<sid>/<token>/<hash>` serves
-  a member's picture (see "Avatars" below).
+  a member's picture (see "Avatars" below), `GET /i/<sid>/<token>/<hash>`
+  the current media's art (see "Media art" below).
 
 ## Client to server
 
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ with different `proto` refuse each other at `hello` (`proto mismatch`).
 {"t":"chat","text":"..."}
 {"t":"kick","target":"<memberId>","reason":""}
 {"t":"profile","name":"...","avatar":"<base64>"}
+{"t":"art","mediaId":2,"poster":"<base64>","banner":"<base64>"}
 ```
 
 Field notes:
@@ -77,6 +79,7 @@ Field notes:
   that is absent (or null) stays as it is; `avatar: ""` removes the picture.
   Same rules as `hello.user`; a too large avatar gets `err`
   `rejected: avatar too large` (the socket stays open, nothing changes).
+- `art`: pictures of the current media (see "Media art").
 - `chat.text` is cut to 500 characters.
 - `swap.media.url` is the link; `name`, `size`, `duration` are informational.
   `swap.media.jellyfin` makes it Jellyfin media (see below); then `url` is
@@ -91,7 +94,7 @@ Field notes:
  "state":{<state>}}
 {"t":"state","eventId":7,"transport":"playing"|"held"|"finished","position":12.3,
  "serverTime":"<ISO-8601 UTC>","mediaId":1,
- "media":{name,size,duration,url?,jellyfin?}|absent,
+ "media":{name,size,duration,url?,jellyfin?,relay?,swapBy?,art?}|absent,
  "members":[{"id","name","avatarHash"?,"ready","inSet","buffered","stale","jf"?,
    "host"?}],
  "seekBy":"m1","seekSeq":3,"relay":true}
@@ -116,7 +119,9 @@ Field notes:
   `eventId` increases on seek, swap and transport changes.
   `mediaId` increases on swap. `media.relay` is present for relayed media
   (see "Relay"). `media.duration` is 0 until a client reports
-  it. `seekBy` (member id) and `seekSeq` are present only while the current
+  it. `media.swapBy`: member id of who swapped it in (omitted once that
+  member left, and for the media the server started with). `media.art`:
+  see "Media art". `seekBy` (member id) and `seekSeq` are present only while the current
   `eventId` came from a seek. `relay` (omitted when false): the server can
   relay the current Jellyfin media. `members[].jf` is the member's last
   `report.jf`, omitted when it never sent one. `members[].avatarHash`
@@ -150,6 +155,26 @@ Field notes:
   picture, 410 unknown session. Pictures go with their member (leave,
   change, removal).
 
+## Media art
+
+```
+client  {"t":"art","mediaId":2,"poster":"<base64>","banner":"<base64>"}
+state   media.art = {"poster":"<hash>","banner":"<hash>"}
+```
+
+- A portrait poster and a wide banner for the current media, so every
+  member (guests without Jellyfin included) can show them. Sent by the
+  member who made the current swap (`media.swapBy`) or the host, for the
+  current `mediaId`; from anyone else, or for another `mediaId`, it is
+  ignored. Each field is optional; one that is not a picture (same check
+  as avatars) or larger than its cap (poster 256 KiB, banner 768 KiB of
+  decoded bytes) counts as none. A later `art` replaces the earlier one
+  whole; any swap clears it.
+- `media.art` carries hashes like `avatarHash`; a key is omitted when that
+  picture is absent, `art` when both are.
+- `GET /i/<sid>/<token>/<hash>`: as `/a/` (see "Avatars"); 404 when the
+  current media has no such art.
+
 ## Jellyfin media
 
 ```
diff --git a/packages/core/lib/src/constants.dart b/packages/core/lib/src/constants.dart
index 80308ff..7e39603 100644
--- a/packages/core/lib/src/constants.dart
+++ b/packages/core/lib/src/constants.dart
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ abstract class RelayConstants {
   // over-size for private-server use. PNG keeps transparency; JPEG did
   // not. Only the hash rides in `state`; the bytes are fetched once.
   static const int maxAvatarBytes = 256 * 1024;
+  /// Decoded-byte caps of the current media's art (`art` message).
+  static const int maxPosterBytes = 256 * 1024;
+  static const int maxBannerBytes = 768 * 1024;
   static const int maxNameLength = 32;
   static const int maxChatLength = 500;
 }
diff --git a/packages/core/lib/src/jellyfin/models.dart b/packages/core/lib/src/jellyfin/models.dart
index d41f318..ce1c58f 100644
--- a/packages/core/lib/src/jellyfin/models.dart
+++ b/packages/core/lib/src/jellyfin/models.dart
@@ -132,7 +132,8 @@ enum JellyfinImageType {
   primary('Primary'),
   backdrop('Backdrop'),
   thumb('Thumb'),
-  logo('Logo');
+  logo('Logo'),
+  banner('Banner');
 
   final String apiName;
   const JellyfinImageType(this.apiName);
@@ -361,6 +362,8 @@ class JellyfinItem {
         if (parentLogoItemId != null && parentLogoImageTag != null) {
           return JellyfinImageRef(parentLogoItemId!, type, parentLogoImageTag!);
         }
+      case JellyfinImageType.banner:
+        break;
     }
     return null;
   }
diff --git a/packages/core/lib/src/protocol.dart b/packages/core/lib/src/protocol.dart
index e9861c9..a6ff032 100644
--- a/packages/core/lib/src/protocol.dart
+++ b/packages/core/lib/src/protocol.dart
@@ -478,6 +478,32 @@ class ProfileIntent {
   }
 }
 
+/// Cover art for the current media, sent by the member who swapped it in
+/// (or the host). Base64 picture bytes; null = none.
+class ArtMessage {
+  final int mediaId;
+  final String? poster;
+  final String? banner;
+  const ArtMessage({required this.mediaId, this.poster, this.banner});
+
+  Map<String, Object?> toJson() => {
+        't': 'art',
+        'mediaId': mediaId,
+        if (poster != null) 'poster': poster,
+        if (banner != null) 'banner': banner,
+      };
+
+  factory ArtMessage.fromJson(Map<String, Object?> json) {
+    if (json['t'] != 'art') throw const ProtocolException('not an art message');
+    final poster = json['poster'];
+    final banner = json['banner'];
+    return ArtMessage(
+        mediaId: finiteInt(json['mediaId'], 'mediaId'),
+        poster: poster is String ? poster : null,
+        banner: banner is String ? banner : null);
+  }
+}
+
 class MemberView {
   final String id;
   final String name;
diff --git a/packages/core/lib/src/sync_engine.dart b/packages/core/lib/src/sync_engine.dart
index 69a06e5..b210fcb 100644
--- a/packages/core/lib/src/sync_engine.dart
+++ b/packages/core/lib/src/sync_engine.dart
@@ -97,6 +97,27 @@ class EngineMember {
       );
 }
 
+/// Picture bytes from base64 when they decode, are at most [maxBytes] and
+/// are a known image type (see [avatarImageType]); else null.
+Uint8List? decodePicture(String base64, int maxBytes) {
+  // Base64 is 4 chars per 3 bytes: skip decoding what cannot fit.
+  if (base64.isEmpty || base64.length > (maxBytes + 2) ~/ 3 * 4) return null;
+  try {
+    final bytes = base64Decode(base64);
+    if (bytes.length > maxBytes || avatarImageType(bytes) == null) return null;
+    return bytes;
+  } on FormatException {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+/// One picture of the current media's art, by content hash.
+class ArtImage {
+  final String hash;
+  final Uint8List bytes;
+  ArtImage(this.bytes) : hash = avatarHashOf(bytes);
+}
+
 class EngineFeed {
   final List<FeedMessage> pending = [];
   void add(FeedMessage message) => pending.add(message);
@@ -120,6 +141,12 @@ class SyncEngine {
   DateTime serverTime;
   int mediaId = 1;
   HelloMedia? media;
+  /// Token of the member who made the current swap; null before any swap.
+  String? swapBy;
+  /// Art of the current media (`art`), served at `/i/...`; only the hashes
+  /// ride in `state.media.art`. Every swap clears it.
+  ArtImage? poster;
+  ArtImage? banner;
   int _nextId = 1;
   // Who sent the seek that produced [_seekEventId], for the echo check.
   String? _seekBy;
@@ -207,6 +234,38 @@ class SyncEngine {
     return null;
   }
 
+  /// Art for the current media from [token]: only from the member who made
+  /// the current swap (or the host) and only for the current [forMediaId].
+  /// It replaces any earlier art; an absent or invalid field is none.
+  /// Returns whether it was taken.
+  bool applyArt(String token, int forMediaId, {String? poster, String? banner}) {
+    final member = members[token];
+    if (member == null || media == null || forMediaId != mediaId) return false;
+    if (token != swapBy && !member.host) return false;
+    _seen(member);
+    final p = poster == null ? null : decodePicture(poster, RelayConstants.maxPosterBytes);
+    final b = banner == null ? null : decodePicture(banner, RelayConstants.maxBannerBytes);
+    this.poster = p == null ? null : ArtImage(p);
+    this.banner = b == null ? null : ArtImage(b);
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  /// Bytes of the current media's art by hash.
+  Uint8List? artFor(String hash) {
+    if (hash.isEmpty) return null;
+    if (poster?.hash == hash) return poster!.bytes;
+    if (banner?.hash == hash) return banner!.bytes;
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  /// `state.media.art`; null when there is none.
+  Map<String, Object?>? get artJson => poster == null && banner == null
+      ? null
+      : {
+          if (poster != null) 'poster': poster!.hash,
+          if (banner != null) 'banner': banner!.hash,
+        };
+
   /// A reconnect took over [token]'s member (see `hello.resume`).
   void applyResume(String token) {
     final member = members[token];
@@ -301,6 +360,9 @@ class SyncEngine {
     final actor = members[actorToken];
     mediaId++;
     media = next;
+    swapBy = actorToken;
+    poster = null;
+    banner = null;
     position = 0;
     serverTime = now;
     eventId++;
@@ -409,7 +471,13 @@ class SyncEngine {
       position: position,
       serverTime: serverTime,
       mediaId: mediaId,
-      media: media?.toJson(),
+      media: media == null
+          ? null
+          : {
+              ...media!.toJson(),
+              if (members[swapBy]?.id case final id?) 'swapBy': id,
+              if (artJson != null) 'art': artJson,
+            },
       members: members.values.map((m) => m.view(stale: isStale(m))).toList(),
       seekBy: bySeek ? _seekBy : null,
       seekSeq: bySeek ? _seekSeq : null,
diff --git a/packages/core/test/sync_engine_test.dart b/packages/core/test/sync_engine_test.dart
index 359f168..25128f5 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/sync_engine_test.dart
+++ b/packages/core/test/sync_engine_test.dart
@@ -606,4 +606,68 @@ void main() {
       expect(engine.members['a']!.avatarHash, isEmpty);
     });
   });
+
+  group('media art', () {
+    final jpeg = base64Encode([0xFF, 0xD8, 0xFF, ...List<int>.generate(61, (i) => i)]);
+    final png = base64Encode([0x89, 0x50, 0x4E, 0x47, ...List<int>.generate(60, (i) => 255 - i)]);
+    const media = HelloMedia(name: 'Show - 01.mkv', size: 1, duration: 0, url: 'http://x/a.mkv');
+    Map<String, Object?>? art() => engine.broadcast().media?['art'] as Map<String, Object?>?;
+
+    test('swapper sends art for the current media; state carries hashes only', () {
+      join('a', 'alice');
+      join('b', 'bob');
+      engine.applySwap('a', media);
+      expect(art(), isNull, reason: 'omitted when empty');
+      expect(engine.broadcast().media?['swapBy'], 'm1');
+      expect(engine.applyArt('a', engine.mediaId, poster: jpeg, banner: png), isTrue);
+      final hashes = art()!;
+      expect(hashes['poster'], avatarHashOf(base64Decode(jpeg)));
+      expect(hashes['banner'], avatarHashOf(base64Decode(png)));
+      expect(engine.artFor(hashes['poster'] as String), base64Decode(jpeg));
+      expect(engine.artFor('0123456789abcdef'), isNull);
+      expect(jsonEncode(engine.broadcast().toJson()), isNot(contains(jpeg)));
+      // A later art replaces it; a field left out is none.
+      expect(engine.applyArt('a', engine.mediaId, poster: png), isTrue);
+      expect(art(), {'poster': avatarHashOf(base64Decode(png))});
+    });
+
+    test('rejects other members, stale mediaId; host may send', () {
+      join('a', 'alice');
+      join('b', 'bob');
+      join('h', 'host');
+      engine.members['h']!.host = true;
+      expect(engine.applyArt('a', engine.mediaId, poster: jpeg), isFalse, reason: 'no media yet');
+      engine.applySwap('a', media);
+      final id = engine.mediaId;
+      expect(engine.applyArt('b', id, poster: jpeg), isFalse);
+      expect(engine.applyArt('a', id - 1, poster: jpeg), isFalse);
+      expect(art(), isNull);
+      expect(engine.applyArt('h', id, poster: jpeg), isTrue);
+      expect(art(), contains('poster'));
+    });
+
+    test('bad bytes and oversize fields are dropped; any swap clears', () {
+      join('a', 'alice');
+      engine.applySwap('a', media);
+      final big = base64Encode([0xFF, 0xD8, 0xFF, ...List<int>.filled(RelayConstants.maxPosterBytes, 1)]);
+      engine.applyArt('a', engine.mediaId,
+          poster: big, banner: base64Encode(List<int>.generate(64, (i) => i)));
+      expect(art(), isNull);
+      engine.applyArt('a', engine.mediaId, poster: 'not base64!', banner: big);
+      expect(art(), {'banner': avatarHashOf(base64Decode(big))}, reason: 'banner cap is larger');
+      join('b', 'bob');
+      engine.applySwap('b', media);
+      expect(art(), isNull);
+      expect(engine.artFor(avatarHashOf(base64Decode(big))), isNull);
+    });
+
+    test('ArtMessage round trip', () {
+      final m = ArtMessage.fromJson(Map<String, Object?>.from(
+          jsonDecode(jsonEncode(ArtMessage(mediaId: 3, poster: jpeg).toJson())) as Map));
+      expect(m.mediaId, 3);
+      expect(m.poster, jpeg);
+      expect(m.banner, isNull);
+      expect(const ArtMessage(mediaId: 1).toJson(), {'t': 'art', 'mediaId': 1});
+    });
+  });
 }
diff --git a/packages/server/lib/src/server_hub.dart b/packages/server/lib/src/server_hub.dart
index 88c4dd3..38c7e6e 100644
--- a/packages/server/lib/src/server_hub.dart
+++ b/packages/server/lib/src/server_hub.dart
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import 'dart:async';
 import 'dart:convert';
+import 'dart:typed_data';
 
 import 'package:relic/relic.dart';
 import 'package:sync_relay_core/core.dart';
@@ -162,9 +163,17 @@ class ServerHub {
 /// `GET /a/<sid>/<token>/<hash>`: a current member's picture by its
 /// content hash, for members (valid, unkicked token) only. The bytes for a
 /// hash never change, so clients may cache them for good.
-void mountAvatarRoute(RelicApp app, ServerHub hub) {
+void mountAvatarRoute(RelicApp app, ServerHub hub) =>
+    _mountPictureRoute(app, hub, 'a', hub.engine.avatarFor);
+
+/// `GET /i/<sid>/<token>/<hash>`: the current media's art (`art`) by hash,
+/// same rules as [mountAvatarRoute].
+void mountArtRoute(RelicApp app, ServerHub hub) =>
+    _mountPictureRoute(app, hub, 'i', hub.engine.artFor);
+
+void _mountPictureRoute(RelicApp app, ServerHub hub, String prefix, Uint8List? Function(String hash) lookup) {
   Response status(int code) => Response(code, body: Body.fromString('status $code'));
-  app.get('/a/:sid/:token/:hash', (final req) {
+  app.get('/$prefix/:sid/:token/:hash', (final req) {
     final sid = req.pathParameters.raw[#sid] ?? '';
     final token = req.pathParameters.raw[#token] ?? '';
     final hash = req.pathParameters.raw[#hash] ?? '';
@@ -178,7 +187,7 @@ void mountAvatarRoute(RelicApp app, ServerHub hub) {
       default:
         break;
     }
-    final bytes = hub.engine.avatarFor(hash);
+    final bytes = lookup(hash);
     final type = bytes == null ? null : avatarImageType(bytes);
     if (bytes == null || type == null) return status(404);
     return Response.ok(
@@ -402,6 +411,12 @@ void mountSyncRoute(
               if (name != null) viewer.name = name;
               hub.engine.applyProfile(token, name: name, avatar: avatar);
               hub.changed();
+            case 'art':
+              if (token == null) return;
+              final art = ArtMessage.fromJson(decoded);
+              if (hub.engine.applyArt(token, art.mediaId, poster: art.poster, banner: art.banner)) {
+                hub.broadcastState();
+              }
             case 'report':
               if (token == null) return;
               final report = ReportMessage.fromJson(decoded);
diff --git a/packages/server/lib/src/sync_server.dart b/packages/server/lib/src/sync_server.dart
index 84e5d71..cbd56f0 100644
--- a/packages/server/lib/src/sync_server.dart
+++ b/packages/server/lib/src/sync_server.dart
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ class SyncServer {
     mountSessionMediaRoute(_app, sessions);
     mountRelayRoutes(_app, sessions, () => hub.relay);
     mountAvatarRoute(_app, hub);
+    mountArtRoute(_app, hub);
     mountJellyfinRelayRoute(
         _app, sessions, () => hub.jellyfin, () => _relayClient ??= HttpClient());
     // advertiseHost is only an explicit override; otherwise echo what the client dialled.
diff --git a/packages/server/test/server_auth_test.dart b/packages/server/test/server_auth_test.dart
index 42e124b..809b0c6 100644
--- a/packages/server/test/server_auth_test.dart
+++ b/packages/server/test/server_auth_test.dart
@@ -390,6 +390,98 @@ void main() {
       } catch (_) {}
     });
 
+    test('art: swapper only, current mediaId, hashes in state, /i serves', () async {
+      final jpeg = Uint8List.fromList([0xFF, 0xD8, 0xFF, ...List<int>.generate(200, (i) => (i * 3) % 256)]);
+      final png = Uint8List.fromList([0x89, 0x50, 0x4E, 0x47, ...List<int>.generate(200, (i) => i % 256)]);
+      final clients = <WebSocketChannel>[];
+      final subs = <StreamSubscription<Object?>>[];
+      Future<(WebSocketChannel, List<Map<String, Object?>>, String)> connect(String name) async {
+        final ch = WebSocketChannel.connect(Uri.parse('ws://127.0.0.1:${server.boundPort}/sync'));
+        final messages = <Map<String, Object?>>[];
+        clients.add(ch);
+        subs.add(ch.stream.listen((m) => messages.add(Map<String, Object?>.from(jsonDecode('$m') as Map))));
+        ch.sink.add(jsonEncode(HelloMessage(
+            proto: RelayConstants.protoVersion,
+            secret: 'shh',
+            user: HelloUser(name: name),
+            media: const HelloMedia(name: 'f.bin', size: 8192, duration: 10.0)).toJson()));
+        final deadline = DateTime.now().add(const Duration(seconds: 5));
+        while (!messages.any((m) => m['t'] == 'welcome')) {
+          if (DateTime.now().isAfter(deadline)) fail('no welcome');
+          await Future.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 20));
+        }
+        return (ch, messages, messages.firstWhere((m) => m['t'] == 'welcome')['token'] as String);
+      }
+
+      Future<Map<String, Object?>> waitFor(
+          List<Map<String, Object?>> messages, bool Function(Map<String, Object?>) test) async {
+        final deadline = DateTime.now().add(const Duration(seconds: 5));
+        while (DateTime.now().isBefore(deadline)) {
+          for (final m in messages) {
+            if (test(m)) return m;
+          }
+          await Future.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 20));
+        }
+        fail('timed out; got $messages');
+      }
+
+      Map<String, Object?>? artOf(Map<String, Object?> state) =>
+          (state['media'] as Map?)?['art'] as Map<String, Object?>?;
+      Future<HttpClientResponse> artGet(String token, String hash) async =>
+          (await http.get('127.0.0.1', server.boundPort, '/i/default/$token/$hash')).close();
+
+      try {
+        final (a, aMsgs, aToken) = await connect('alice');
+        final (b, bMsgs, bToken) = await connect('bob');
+        a.sink.add(jsonEncode(const SwapIntent(
+            media: HelloMedia(name: 'Show - 01.mkv', size: 1, duration: 0, url: 'http://example.com/a.mkv')).toJson()));
+        final swapped = await waitFor(bMsgs, (m) => m['t'] == 'state' && (m['media'] as Map?)?['name'] == 'Show - 01.mkv');
+        final mediaId = swapped['mediaId'] as int;
+
+        // Not the swapper, or a stale mediaId: ignored.
+        b.sink.add(jsonEncode(ArtMessage(mediaId: mediaId, poster: base64Encode(png)).toJson()));
+        a.sink.add(jsonEncode(ArtMessage(mediaId: mediaId - 1, poster: base64Encode(png)).toJson()));
+        await Future.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 300));
+        expect(server.hub.engine.poster, isNull);
+
+        a.sink.add(jsonEncode(ArtMessage(mediaId: mediaId, poster: base64Encode(jpeg), banner: base64Encode(png)).toJson()));
+        final withArt = await waitFor(bMsgs, (m) => m['t'] == 'state' && artOf(m) != null);
+        final art = artOf(withArt)!;
+        expect(art, {'poster': avatarHashOf(jpeg), 'banner': avatarHashOf(png)});
+
+        // Any member (a guest without Jellyfin) fetches it.
+        final ok = await artGet(bToken, art['poster'] as String);
+        expect(ok.statusCode, 200);
+        expect(ok.headers.contentType?.mimeType, 'image/jpeg');
+        expect(ok.headers.value('cache-control'), contains('immutable'));
+        expect(await ok.expand((c) => c).toList(), jpeg);
+        final unknown = await artGet(bToken, '0123456789abcdef');
+        expect(unknown.statusCode, 404);
+        await unknown.drain();
+        final noToken = await artGet('nope', art['poster'] as String);
+        expect(noToken.statusCode, 401);
+        await noToken.drain();
+
+        // Any swap clears the art.
+        b.sink.add(jsonEncode(const SwapIntent(
+            media: HelloMedia(name: 'Other.mkv', size: 1, duration: 0, url: 'http://example.com/b.mkv')).toJson()));
+        final cleared = await waitFor(aMsgs, (m) => m['t'] == 'state' && (m['media'] as Map?)?['name'] == 'Other.mkv');
+        expect(artOf(cleared), isNull);
+        final gone = await artGet(aToken, art['poster'] as String);
+        expect(gone.statusCode, 404);
+        await gone.drain();
+      } finally {
+        for (final sub in subs) {
+          await sub.cancel();
+        }
+        for (final ch in clients) {
+          try {
+            await ch.sink.close();
+          } catch (_) {}
+        }
+      }
+    });
+
     test('profile: rename + avatar feed, state carries hash, /a gated', () async {
       final png = Uint8List.fromList([0x89, 0x50, 0x4E, 0x47, ...List<int>.generate(296, (i) => (i * 7) % 256)]);
       final ch = WebSocketChannel.connect(