diff --git a/src/api/index.js b/src/api/index.js
index 26bb05e..ad53921 100644
--- a/src/api/index.js
+++ b/src/api/index.js
@@ -385,6 +385,27 @@ export const category = {
       body: { pos },
     });
   },
+
+  /**
+   * POST /api/category/:id/image
+   * Body: raw AVIF bytes (Content-Type: image/avif)
+   * → 201 { category: { id, fullHash, thumbW, thumbH, thumbHash } }
+   */
+  uploadImage(categoryId, file) {
+    return httpBinary(`/api/category/${categoryId}/image`, {
+      method: 'POST',
+      contentType: 'image/avif',
+      body: file,
+    });
+  },
+
+  /**
+   * DELETE /api/category/:id/image
+   * → 200 { category: { id, thumbW: null, thumbH: null, thumbHash: null } }
+   */
+  deleteImage(categoryId) {
+    return http(`/api/category/${categoryId}/image`, { method: 'DELETE' });
+  },
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/components/tiles/CategoryTile.jsx b/src/components/tiles/CategoryTile.jsx
index 20f2002..c12f9a4 100644
--- a/src/components/tiles/CategoryTile.jsx
+++ b/src/components/tiles/CategoryTile.jsx
@@ -10,14 +10,17 @@ import ChevronRightIcon from '@mui/icons-material/ChevronRight';
 import DeleteOutlinedIcon from '@mui/icons-material/DeleteOutlined';
 import SettingsIcon from '@mui/icons-material/Settings';
 import PointOfSaleIcon from '@mui/icons-material/PointOfSale';
+import PhotoCameraIcon from '@mui/icons-material/PhotoCamera';
+import ThumbHashImage from '../article/ThumbHashImage';
+import { thumb } from '../../api';
 import { tileBaseSx } from './Tile';
 
 /**
  * Top row (1/3): sort handle | settings toggle | move handle.
  */
 function TopBand({ onSettingsClick, settingsTab, terminalCount }) {
-  // settingsTab >= 0 means we're on a terminal tab
   const isTerminalMode = settingsTab >= 0 && settingsTab < terminalCount;
+  const isPhotoMode = settingsTab === -2;
   return (
     <Box
       sx={{
@@ -45,11 +48,13 @@ function TopBand({ onSettingsClick, settingsTab, terminalCount }) {
         disableRipple
         onClick={onSettingsClick}
         sx={{
-          color: isTerminalMode ? 'primary.main' : 'action.active',
+          color: isTerminalMode || isPhotoMode ? 'primary.main' : 'action.active',
         }}
       >
         {isTerminalMode ? (
           <PointOfSaleIcon sx={{ fontSize: 28 }} />
+        ) : isPhotoMode ? (
+          <PhotoCameraIcon sx={{ fontSize: 28 }} />
         ) : (
           <SettingsIcon sx={{ fontSize: 28 }} />
         )}
@@ -69,27 +74,23 @@ function TopBand({ onSettingsClick, settingsTab, terminalCount }) {
 /**
  * Middle row (1/3): gray band — TextField or terminal toggle.
  */
-function MiddleBand({ settingsTab, nameInput, terminals, categoryPosterminalIds, onTerminalToggle }) {
-  console.log('[MiddleBand] settingsTab:', settingsTab, 'terminals:', terminals?.length, 'categoryPosterminalIds:', categoryPosterminalIds);
+function MiddleBand({ settingsTab, nameInput, terminals, categoryPosterminalIds, onTerminalToggle, onPhotoUpload, onPhotoDelete, categoryFullHash }) {
+  const fillSx = {
+    width: '100%',
+    height: '100%',
+    display: 'flex',
+    alignItems: 'center',
+    justifyContent: 'center',
+    bgcolor: 'grey.300',
+    px: 1,
+  };
+
   // Show terminal-specific toggle when on a terminal tab
   if (settingsTab >= 0 && settingsTab < terminals.length) {
     const terminal = terminals[settingsTab];
     const isEnabled = categoryPosterminalIds.includes(terminal.id);
     return (
-      <Box
-        sx={{
-          position: 'absolute',
-          top: '33.33%',
-          bottom: '33.33%',
-          left: 0,
-          right: 0,
-          display: 'flex',
-          alignItems: 'center',
-          justifyContent: 'center',
-          bgcolor: 'grey.300',
-          px: 1,
-        }}
-      >
+      <Box sx={fillSx}>
         <Box sx={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: 1 }}>
           <PointOfSaleIcon sx={{ fontSize: 20, color: 'text.secondary' }} />
           <Typography
@@ -109,21 +110,26 @@ function MiddleBand({ settingsTab, nameInput, terminals, categoryPosterminalIds,
     );
   }
 
+  // Show photo upload UI when on photo tab
+  if (settingsTab === -2) {
+    return (
+      <Box sx={fillSx}>
+        <Box sx={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: 1 }}>
+          <PhotoCameraIcon sx={{ fontSize: 20, color: 'text.secondary' }} />
+          <Typography
+            variant="caption"
+            noWrap
+            sx={{ maxWidth: 80, color: 'text.secondary' }}
+          >
+            {categoryFullHash ? 'Löschen' : 'Hochladen'}
+          </Typography>
+        </Box>
+      </Box>
+    );
+  }
+
   return (
-    <Box
-      sx={{
-        position: 'absolute',
-        top: '33.33%',
-        bottom: '33.33%',
-        left: 0,
-        right: 0,
-        display: 'flex',
-        alignItems: 'center',
-        justifyContent: 'center',
-        bgcolor: 'grey.300',
-        px: 1,
-      }}
-    >
+    <Box sx={fillSx}>
       {nameInput}
     </Box>
   );
@@ -207,6 +213,57 @@ function BottomRow({ onOpen, editBand }) {
   );
 }
 
+/**
+ * Renders a ThumbHash preview and the full thumbnail as backdrop for a category tile.
+ * ThumbHash is shown immediately as a placeholder; the thumb fades in once loaded.
+ */
+class CategoryBackdrop extends Component {
+  state = { thumbLoaded: false };
+
+  componentDidUpdate(prevProps) {
+    if (prevProps.fullHash !== this.props.fullHash) {
+      this.setState({ thumbLoaded: false });
+    }
+  }
+
+  handleThumbLoad = () => {
+    this.setState({ thumbLoaded: true });
+  };
+
+  handleThumbError = () => {
+    this.setState({ thumbLoaded: false });
+  };
+
+  render() {
+    const { thumbHash, fullHash } = this.props;
+    const { thumbLoaded } = this.state;
+    if (!thumbHash && !fullHash) return null;
+    return (
+      <Box sx={{ position: 'absolute', inset: 0, zIndex: 0, overflow: 'hidden' }}>
+        {thumbHash && !thumbLoaded ? <ThumbHashImage thumbHash={thumbHash} /> : null}
+        {fullHash ? (
+          <Box
+            component="img"
+            src={thumb.url(fullHash)}
+            alt=""
+            onLoad={this.handleThumbLoad}
+            onError={this.handleThumbError}
+            sx={{
+              position: 'absolute',
+              inset: 0,
+              display: 'block',
+              width: '100%',
+              height: '100%',
+              objectFit: 'cover',
+              opacity: thumbLoaded ? 1 : 0,
+            }}
+          />
+        ) : null}
+      </Box>
+    );
+  }
+}
+
 /**
  * Category tile (normal mode): no icon, click navigates to the category.
  */
@@ -229,7 +286,7 @@ export class CategoryTile extends Component {
           display: 'flex',
           alignItems: 'center',
           justifyContent: 'center',
-          bgcolor: 'grey.300',
+          bgcolor: 'rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5)',
           px: 1,
         }}
       >
@@ -238,7 +295,7 @@ export class CategoryTile extends Component {
             variant="body2"
             fontWeight={600}
             noWrap
-            sx={{ lineHeight: 1.2, color: 'text.primary' }}
+            sx={{ lineHeight: 1.2, color: 'common.white' }}
           >
             {label}
           </Typography>
@@ -248,7 +305,7 @@ export class CategoryTile extends Component {
   }
 
   render() {
-    const { sx, onClick: _onClick, label, ...rest } = this.props;
+    const { sx, onClick: _onClick, label, thumbHash, fullHash, ...rest } = this.props;
     return (
       <Box
         component="button"
@@ -258,10 +315,14 @@ export class CategoryTile extends Component {
         sx={{
           ...tileBaseSx,
           position: 'relative',
+          overflow: 'hidden',
           ...sx,
         }}
       >
-        {this.renderLabel()}
+        <CategoryBackdrop thumbHash={thumbHash} fullHash={fullHash} />
+        <Box sx={{ position: 'absolute', inset: 0, zIndex: 1 }}>
+          {this.renderLabel()}
+        </Box>
       </Box>
     );
   }
@@ -271,29 +332,36 @@ export class CategoryTile extends Component {
  * Category tile for edit mode: three rows of 1/3 each.
  *
  *   Top row:    sort-handle | settings toggle | drop-handle
- *   Middle row: gray band — TextField or POS toggle
+ *   Middle row: gray band — TextField, POS toggle, or photo upload
  *   Bottom row: upper half = open-category click zone
  *               lower half = gray band with chevrons + delete
  */
 export class CategoryEditTile extends Component {
-  state = { settingsTab: -1 }; // -1 = rename, 0..n-1 = terminal index
+  state = { settingsTab: -1 }; // -1 = rename, -2 = photo, 0..n-1 = terminal index
 
   handleSettingsToggle = () => {
     const { terminals } = this.props;
     const terminalCount = terminals?.length || 0;
     this.setState((prev) => {
       const next = prev.settingsTab + 1;
-      const nextTab = next >= terminalCount ? -1 : next;
-      console.log('[CategoryEditTile] settings toggle', {
-        terminals: terminals?.length,
-        terminalCount,
-        from: prev.settingsTab,
-        to: nextTab,
-      });
+      // Cycle: photo (-2) → rename (-1) → terminal 0 → ... → terminal n-1 → photo (-2)
+      const nextTab = next >= terminalCount ? -2 : next;
       return { settingsTab: nextTab };
     });
   };
 
+  handleMiddleBandClick = () => {
+    const { settingsTab } = this.state;
+    const { onPhotoUpload, onPhotoDelete, categoryFullHash } = this.props;
+    if (settingsTab === -2) {
+      if (categoryFullHash) {
+        onPhotoDelete?.();
+      } else {
+        onPhotoUpload?.();
+      }
+    }
+  };
+
   render() {
     const {
       label,
@@ -304,6 +372,10 @@ export class CategoryEditTile extends Component {
       categoryPosterminalIds,
       onTerminalToggle,
       hasTerminals: _hasTerminals,
+      categoryFullHash,
+      thumbHash,
+      onPhotoUpload: _onPhotoUpload,
+      onPhotoDelete: _onPhotoDelete,
       sx,
       ...rest
     } = this.props;
@@ -316,23 +388,40 @@ export class CategoryEditTile extends Component {
           ...tileBaseSx,
           cursor: 'default',
           position: 'relative',
+          overflow: 'hidden',
           '&:hover': { bgcolor: 'background.paper', boxShadow: 0 },
           ...sx,
         }}
       >
-        <TopBand
-          onSettingsClick={this.handleSettingsToggle}
-          settingsTab={settingsTab}
-          terminalCount={terminals?.length || 0}
-        />
-        <MiddleBand
-          settingsTab={settingsTab}
-          nameInput={nameInput}
-          terminals={terminals}
-          categoryPosterminalIds={categoryPosterminalIds}
-          onTerminalToggle={onTerminalToggle}
-        />
-        <BottomRow onOpen={onOpen} editBand={editBand} />
+        <CategoryBackdrop thumbHash={thumbHash} fullHash={categoryFullHash} />
+        <Box sx={{ position: 'absolute', inset: 0, zIndex: 1 }}>
+          <TopBand
+            onSettingsClick={this.handleSettingsToggle}
+            settingsTab={settingsTab}
+            terminalCount={terminals?.length || 0}
+          />
+          <Box
+            onClick={this.handleMiddleBandClick}
+            sx={{
+              position: 'absolute',
+              top: '33.33%',
+              bottom: '33.33%',
+              left: 0,
+              right: 0,
+              cursor: settingsTab === -2 ? 'pointer' : 'default',
+            }}
+          >
+            <MiddleBand
+              settingsTab={settingsTab}
+              nameInput={nameInput}
+              terminals={terminals}
+              categoryPosterminalIds={categoryPosterminalIds}
+              onTerminalToggle={onTerminalToggle}
+              categoryFullHash={categoryFullHash}
+            />
+          </Box>
+          <BottomRow onOpen={onOpen} editBand={editBand} />
+        </Box>
       </Box>
     );
   }
diff --git a/src/pages/artikel/kategorien.jsx b/src/pages/artikel/kategorien.jsx
index 871b86d..2dd6ea0 100644
--- a/src/pages/artikel/kategorien.jsx
+++ b/src/pages/artikel/kategorien.jsx
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ import {
   selectChildCategories,
   selectRenameMode,
   patchCategoryPosterminalIds,
+  uploadCategoryImage,
+  deleteCategoryImage,
 } from '../../store/categorySlice';
 import {
   enableTerminalCategory,
@@ -375,6 +377,33 @@ class ArtikelKategorienPage extends Component {
                   }}
                   onOpen={() => this.navigateToCategoryById(item.id)}
                   hasTerminals={hasTerminals}
+                  categoryFullHash={item.fullHash}
+                  thumbHash={item.thumbHash}
+                  onPhotoUpload={() => {
+                    const input = document.createElement('input');
+                    input.type = 'file';
+                    input.accept = 'image/*';
+                    input.onchange = async (e) => {
+                      const file = e.target.files?.[0];
+                      if (!file) return;
+                      try {
+                        // Prepare image (resize and encode to AVIF)
+                        const { prepareArticlePhoto } = await import('../../utils/prepareArticlePhoto');
+                        const avifFile = await prepareArticlePhoto(file);
+                        await this.props.uploadCategoryImage({
+                          categoryId: item.id,
+                          file: avifFile,
+                        });
+                      } catch (err) {
+                        notifyError(err);
+                      }
+                    };
+                    input.click();
+                  }}
+                  onPhotoDelete={() => {
+                    void this.props.deleteCategoryImage(item.id)
+                      .catch(notifyError);
+                  }}
                   nameInput={
                     <TextField
                       value={draftName}
@@ -417,6 +446,8 @@ class ArtikelKategorienPage extends Component {
                 key={item.id}
                 label={label}
                 onClick={() => this.navigateToCategoryById(item.id)}
+                thumbHash={item.thumbHash}
+                fullHash={item.fullHash}
               />
             );
           })}
@@ -480,6 +511,8 @@ const mapDispatchToProps = {
   enableTerminalCategory,
   disableTerminalCategory,
   patchCategoryPosterminalIds,
+  uploadCategoryImage,
+  deleteCategoryImage,
 };
 
 export default withCategoryRoute(connect(mapStateToProps, mapDispatchToProps)(ArtikelKategorienPage));
diff --git a/src/store/categorySlice.js b/src/store/categorySlice.js
index 15d9c80..f713ff8 100644
--- a/src/store/categorySlice.js
+++ b/src/store/categorySlice.js
@@ -238,6 +238,38 @@ export const toggleCategoryPos = createAsyncThunk(
   },
 );
 
+/**
+ * POST /api/category/:id/image → 201 { category: { id, fullHash, thumbW, thumbH, thumbHash } }
+ */
+export const uploadCategoryImage = createAsyncThunk(
+  'category/uploadImage',
+  async ({ categoryId, file }, { rejectWithValue }) => {
+    try {
+      const data = await category.uploadImage(categoryId, file);
+      requireObject(data.category, 'POST /api/category/:id/image');
+      return data.category;
+    } catch (err) {
+      return catchBackendError(rejectWithValue)(err);
+    }
+  },
+);
+
+/**
+ * DELETE /api/category/:id/image → 200 { category: { id, thumbW: null, thumbH: null, thumbHash: null } }
+ */
+export const deleteCategoryImage = createAsyncThunk(
+  'category/deleteImage',
+  async (categoryId, { rejectWithValue }) => {
+    try {
+      const data = await category.deleteImage(categoryId);
+      requireObject(data.category, 'DELETE /api/category/:id/image');
+      return data.category;
+    } catch (err) {
+      return catchBackendError(rejectWithValue)(err);
+    }
+  },
+);
+
 const initialState = {
   companyId: null,
   languageId: null,
@@ -442,6 +474,30 @@ const categorySlice = createSlice({
           state.categories[key] = { ...existing, pos: updated.pos };
         }
       })
+      .addCase(uploadCategoryImage.fulfilled, (state, action) => {
+        const { id, fullHash, thumbW, thumbH, thumbHash } = action.payload;
+        if (id == null || state.categories == null) return;
+        const key = String(id);
+        const existing = state.categories[key];
+        if (existing) {
+          state.categories[key] = { ...existing, fullHash, thumbW, thumbH, thumbHash };
+        }
+      })
+      .addCase(deleteCategoryImage.fulfilled, (state, action) => {
+        const { id } = action.payload;
+        if (id == null || state.categories == null) return;
+        const key = String(id);
+        const existing = state.categories[key];
+        if (existing) {
+          state.categories[key] = {
+            ...existing,
+            fullHash: null,
+            thumbW: null,
+            thumbH: null,
+            thumbHash: null,
+          };
+        }
+      })
       .addCase(loadCurrentCompany.fulfilled, (state, action) => {
         const nextCompanyId = action.payload?.id ?? null;
         if (nextCompanyId != null && nextCompanyId !== state.companyId) {