diff --git a/backend/src/database.py b/backend/src/database.py
index ee186f6..ff6631d 100644
--- a/backend/src/database.py
+++ b/backend/src/database.py
@@ -50,6 +50,15 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS clips (
 -- ALTER TABLE clips ADD COLUMN title TEXT; -- run separately if needed
 
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_clips_created ON clips(created_at DESC);
+-- clip_favorites: many-to-many join for user favorites (user_id defaults to 'default' until auth)
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS clip_favorites (
+    clip_id TEXT NOT NULL REFERENCES clips(id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
+    user_id TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'default',
+    created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
+    PRIMARY KEY (clip_id, user_id)
+);
+
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_favorites_user ON clip_favorites(user_id, created_at DESC);
 
 -- Migration: add artwork_filename column to existing databases
 -- ALTER TABLE clips ADD COLUMN artwork_filename TEXT; -- run separately if needed
@@ -221,4 +230,49 @@ async def delete_clip(clip_id: str):
 async def delete_all_clips():
     async with aiosqlite.connect(DB_PATH) as db:
         await db.execute("DELETE FROM clips")
-        await db.commit()
\ No newline at end of file
+        await db.commit()
+
+# ─── Favorites ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+async def toggle_favorite(clip_id: str, user_id: str = "default") -> bool:
+    """Toggle favorite status. Returns True if now favorited, False if removed."""
+    async with aiosqlite.connect(DB_PATH) as db:
+        # Check if already favorited
+        async with db.execute(
+            "SELECT 1 FROM clip_favorites WHERE clip_id = ? AND user_id = ?",
+            (clip_id, user_id)
+        ) as cursor:
+            exists = await cursor.fetchone()
+        if exists:
+            await db.execute(
+                "DELETE FROM clip_favorites WHERE clip_id = ? AND user_id = ?",
+                (clip_id, user_id)
+            )
+            await db.commit()
+            return False
+        else:
+            await db.execute(
+                "INSERT INTO clip_favorites (clip_id, user_id) VALUES (?, ?)",
+                (clip_id, user_id)
+            )
+            await db.commit()
+            return True
+
+async def get_favorites(user_id: str = "default") -> list[str]:
+    """Get list of favorited clip IDs for a user."""
+    async with aiosqlite.connect(DB_PATH) as db:
+        async with db.execute(
+            "SELECT clip_id FROM clip_favorites WHERE user_id = ? ORDER BY created_at DESC",
+            (user_id,)
+        ) as cursor:
+            rows = await cursor.fetchall()
+            return [row[0] for row in rows]
+
+async def is_favorite(clip_id: str, user_id: str = "default") -> bool:
+    """Check if a clip is favorited by a user."""
+    async with aiosqlite.connect(DB_PATH) as db:
+        async with db.execute(
+            "SELECT 1 FROM clip_favorites WHERE clip_id = ? AND user_id = ?",
+            (clip_id, user_id)
+        ) as cursor:
+            return await cursor.fetchone() is not None
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/backend/src/main.py b/backend/src/main.py
index a08f1c5..a629c37 100644
--- a/backend/src/main.py
+++ b/backend/src/main.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ from dotenv import load_dotenv
 load_dotenv(Path(__file__).parent.parent / ".env")
 
 from models import GenerateRequest, GenerateResponse, ClipList, RenameRequest, MetadataRequest, GenerateArtworkRequest, LYRIA_MODELS, DEFAULT_MODEL
-from database import init_db, create_clip, get_clips, get_clip, delete_clip, update_clip_status, rename_clip, set_artwork, remove_artwork, delete_all_clips, set_analysis, update_metadata
+from database import init_db, create_clip, get_clips, get_clip, delete_clip, update_clip_status, rename_clip, set_artwork, remove_artwork, delete_all_clips, set_analysis, update_metadata, toggle_favorite, get_favorites, is_favorite
 from kithara_client import generate_clip, save_clip_file
 from waveform import generate_waveform_svg, get_waveform_path
 from analysis import analyze_clip
@@ -569,6 +569,35 @@ async def delete_all_clips_endpoint():
     await delete_all_clips()
     return {"deleted": len(all_clips)}
 
+# ─── Favorites ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+@app.post("/api/clips/{clip_id}/favorite")
+async def toggle_favorite_endpoint(clip_id: str):
+    """Toggle favorite status for a clip. Returns {favorited: bool}."""
+    clip = await get_clip(clip_id)
+    if not clip:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Clip not found")
+    favorited = await toggle_favorite(clip_id)
+    return {"favorited": favorited}
+
+
+@app.get("/api/favorites")
+async def get_favorites_endpoint():
+    """Get list of favorited clip IDs for the current user."""
+    ids = await get_favorites()
+    return {"ids": ids}
+
+
+@app.get("/api/clips/{clip_id}/favorite")
+async def check_favorite_endpoint(clip_id: str):
+    """Check if a clip is favorited."""
+    clip = await get_clip(clip_id)
+    if not clip:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Clip not found")
+    is_fav = await is_favorite(clip_id)
+    return {"favorited": is_fav}
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     import uvicorn
     uvicorn.run(app, host="0.0.0.0", port=8000)
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Gallery.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Gallery.tsx
index c5f6a07..4edb5b2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Gallery.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Gallery.tsx
@@ -98,24 +98,32 @@ export default function Gallery({ clips, onPlay, onDelete, onRename, onSelect, o
   const [showFavorites, setShowFavorites] = useState(false)
   const debouncedSearch = useDebounce(search, 300)
   
-  // Favorites
-  const [favorites, setFavorites] = useState<Set<string>>(() => {
-    try {
-      const raw = localStorage.getItem('kithara-favorites')
-      return raw ? new Set(JSON.parse(raw)) : new Set()
-    } catch {
-      return new Set()
-    }
-  })
+  // Favorites (DB-backed)
+  const [favorites, setFavorites] = useState<Set<string>>(new Set())
 
-  const toggleFavorite = useCallback((id: string) => {
-    setFavorites(prev => {
-      const next = new Set(prev)
-      if (next.has(id)) next.delete(id)
-      else next.add(id)
-      localStorage.setItem('kithara-favorites', JSON.stringify([...next]))
-      return next
-    })
+  // Load favorites on mount
+  useEffect(() => {
+    fetch('/api/favorites')
+      .then(res => res.json())
+      .then(data => setFavorites(new Set(data.ids || [])))
+      .catch(() => {}) // silently fail
+  }, [])
+
+  const toggleFavorite = useCallback(async (id: string) => {
+    try {
+      const res = await fetch(`/api/clips/${id}/favorite`, { method: 'POST' })
+      if (res.ok) {
+        const data = await res.json()
+        setFavorites(prev => {
+          const next = new Set(prev)
+          if (data.favorited) next.add(id)
+          else next.delete(id)
+          return next
+        })
+      }
+    } catch {
+      // silently fail
+    }
   }, [])
   
   // Pagination + view