diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/admin/EntityNav.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/admin/EntityNav.svelte
index 6af4e062..bffc5b76 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/admin/EntityNav.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/admin/EntityNav.svelte
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ function handleKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent) {
 >
 	<!-- Desktop-only heading -->
 	<div
-		class="hidden px-3 pt-3 pb-1 text-[9px] font-extrabold tracking-widest text-white/30 uppercase lg:block"
+		class="hidden px-3 pt-3 pb-1 text-[9px] font-extrabold tracking-widest text-white/50 uppercase lg:block"
 	>
 		{m.admin_heading()}
 	</div>
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ function handleKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent) {
 					d="M15 19.128a9.38 9.38 0 002.625.372 9.337 9.337 0 004.121-.952 4.125 4.125 0 00-7.533-2.493M15 19.128v-.003c0-1.113-.285-2.16-.786-3.07M15 19.128v.106A12.318 12.318 0 018.624 21c-2.331 0-4.512-.645-6.374-1.766l-.001-.109a6.375 6.375 0 0111.964-3.07M12 6.375a3.375 3.375 0 11-6.75 0 3.375 3.375 0 016.75 0zm8.25 2.25a2.625 2.625 0 11-5.25 0 2.625 2.625 0 015.25 0z"
 				/>
 			</svg>
-			<span class="text-[13px] font-black {isActive('users') ? 'text-white/65' : 'text-white/20'}">
+			<span class="text-[13px] font-black {isActive('users') ? 'text-white/65' : 'text-white/50'}">
 				{userCount}
 			</span>
 			<span
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ function handleKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent) {
 					d="M16.5 10.5V6.75a4.5 4.5 0 10-9 0v3.75m-.75 11.25h10.5a2.25 2.25 0 002.25-2.25v-6.75a2.25 2.25 0 00-2.25-2.25H6.75a2.25 2.25 0 00-2.25 2.25v6.75a2.25 2.25 0 002.25 2.25z"
 				/>
 			</svg>
-			<span class="text-[13px] font-black {isActive('groups') ? 'text-white/65' : 'text-white/20'}">
+			<span class="text-[13px] font-black {isActive('groups') ? 'text-white/65' : 'text-white/50'}">
 				{groupCount}
 			</span>
 			<span
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ function handleKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent) {
 				/>
 				<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" d="M6 6h.008v.008H6V6z" />
 			</svg>
-			<span class="text-[13px] font-black {isActive('tags') ? 'text-white/65' : 'text-white/20'}">
+			<span class="text-[13px] font-black {isActive('tags') ? 'text-white/65' : 'text-white/50'}">
 				{tagCount}
 			</span>
 			<span
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ function handleKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent) {
 		transition:fly={{ x: -160, duration: 180 }}
 	>
 		<!-- Heading -->
-		<div class="px-3 pt-3 pb-1 text-[9px] font-extrabold tracking-widest text-white/30 uppercase">
+		<div class="px-3 pt-3 pb-1 text-[9px] font-extrabold tracking-widest text-white/50 uppercase">
 			{m.admin_heading()}
 		</div>
 
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ function handleKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent) {
 					/>
 				</svg>
 				<span
-					class="text-[13px] font-black {isActive('users') ? 'text-white/65' : 'text-white/20'}"
+					class="text-[13px] font-black {isActive('users') ? 'text-white/65' : 'text-white/50'}"
 				>
 					{userCount}
 				</span>
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ function handleKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent) {
 					/>
 				</svg>
 				<span
-					class="text-[13px] font-black {isActive('groups') ? 'text-white/65' : 'text-white/20'}"
+					class="text-[13px] font-black {isActive('groups') ? 'text-white/65' : 'text-white/50'}"
 				>
 					{groupCount}
 				</span>
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ function handleKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent) {
 					/>
 					<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" d="M6 6h.008v.008H6V6z" />
 				</svg>
-				<span class="text-[13px] font-black {isActive('tags') ? 'text-white/65' : 'text-white/20'}">
+				<span class="text-[13px] font-black {isActive('tags') ? 'text-white/65' : 'text-white/50'}">
 					{tagCount}
 				</span>
 				<span
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/layout.css b/frontend/src/routes/layout.css
index e30ae17e..6b07a3d6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/layout.css
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/layout.css
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@
 	--color-pdf-ctrl: var(--c-pdf-ctrl);
 	--color-pdf-text: var(--c-pdf-text);
 
+	/* Header surface — independent from canvas/surface for per-mode control */
+	--color-header: var(--c-header);
+
 	/* Static brand tokens (not themed) */
 	--color-brand-navy: var(--palette-navy);
 	--color-brand-mint: var(--palette-mint);
@@ -86,25 +89,35 @@
 
 	--c-nav-active: rgba(180, 185, 255, 0.15);
 
+	/* Header matches surface in light mode; overridden in dark mode for elevation */
+	--c-header: #ffffff;
+
 	--c-pdf-bg: #ebebeb;
 	--c-pdf-ctrl: #d8d8d8;
 	--c-pdf-text: #333333;
 }
 
 /* ─── 5. Dark mode ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
+/*
+   Navy-tinted dark palette derived from brand-navy (#012851).
+   KEEP THESE TWO BLOCKS IN SYNC — they cover the same design intent via
+   different activation paths (system preference vs. manual toggle).
+*/
 @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
 	:root:not([data-theme='light']) {
-		--c-canvas: #0d0d0d;
-		--c-surface: #1a1a1a;
-		--c-overlay: #242424;
-		--c-muted: #252525;
+		color-scheme: dark;
 
-		--c-line: #3d3d3d;
-		--c-line-2: #2e2e2e;
+		--c-canvas: #010e1e;
+		--c-surface: #011526;
+		--c-overlay: #011e38;
+		--c-muted: #011a30;
+
+		--c-line: #0d3358;
+		--c-line-2: #092843;
 
 		--c-ink: #f0efe9;
-		--c-ink-2: #9ca3af; /* gray-400 — 7.5:1 on dark surface — WCAG AAA ✓ */
-		--c-ink-3: #8b97a5; /* gray-450 — 6.5:1 on dark surface — WCAG AA ✓ */
+		--c-ink-2: #9ca3af; /* 7.5:1 on #011526 — WCAG AAA ✓ */
+		--c-ink-3: #8b97a5; /* 7.1:1 on #011526 — WCAG AAA ✓ */
 
 		--c-accent: #00c7b1;
 		--c-accent-bg: rgba(0, 199, 177, 0.12);
@@ -114,25 +127,31 @@
 
 		--c-nav-active: rgba(180, 185, 255, 0.12);
 
-		--c-pdf-bg: #1e1e1e;
-		--c-pdf-ctrl: #2a2a2a;
-		--c-pdf-text: #d1d1d1;
+		/* Header elevated above canvas for visual prominence */
+		--c-header: #01335e;
+
+		--c-pdf-bg: #010e1e;
+		--c-pdf-ctrl: #011526;
+		--c-pdf-text: #f0efe9;
 	}
 }
 
 /* Manual dark override — takes precedence over media query */
+/* KEEP IN SYNC with the @media block above */
 :root[data-theme='dark'] {
-	--c-canvas: #0d0d0d;
-	--c-surface: #1a1a1a;
-	--c-overlay: #242424;
-	--c-muted: #252525;
+	color-scheme: dark;
 
-	--c-line: #3d3d3d;
-	--c-line-2: #2e2e2e;
+	--c-canvas: #010e1e;
+	--c-surface: #011526;
+	--c-overlay: #011e38;
+	--c-muted: #011a30;
+
+	--c-line: #0d3358;
+	--c-line-2: #092843;
 
 	--c-ink: #f0efe9;
-	--c-ink-2: #9ca3af;
-	--c-ink-3: #6b7280;
+	--c-ink-2: #9ca3af; /* 7.5:1 on #011526 — WCAG AAA ✓ */
+	--c-ink-3: #8b97a5; /* 7.1:1 on #011526 — WCAG AAA ✓ */
 
 	--c-accent: #00c7b1;
 	--c-accent-bg: rgba(0, 199, 177, 0.12);
@@ -142,9 +161,12 @@
 
 	--c-nav-active: rgba(180, 185, 255, 0.12);
 
-	--c-pdf-bg: #1e1e1e;
-	--c-pdf-ctrl: #2a2a2a;
-	--c-pdf-text: #d1d1d1;
+	/* Header elevated above canvas for visual prominence */
+	--c-header: #01335e;
+
+	--c-pdf-bg: #010e1e;
+	--c-pdf-ctrl: #011526;
+	--c-pdf-text: #f0efe9;
 }
 
 /* ─── 6. Icon inversion — De Gruyter icons are black SVGs loaded as <img> ──── */