diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ChatHeader.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ChatHeader.tsx
index 6eea00b..b1720ee 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ChatHeader.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ChatHeader.tsx
@@ -138,11 +138,11 @@ export function ChatHeader({
             {conversation.type === 'channel' ? conversation.id.toLowerCase() : conversation.id}
           </span>
         )}
-          {conversation.type === 'channel' && activeChannel?.flood_scope_override && (
-            <span className="basis-full sm:basis-auto text-[11px] text-amber-700 dark:text-amber-300 truncate">
-              Regional override active: {activeChannel.flood_scope_override}
-            </span>
-          )}
+        {conversation.type === 'channel' && activeChannel?.flood_scope_override && (
+          <span className="basis-full sm:basis-auto text-[11px] text-amber-700 dark:text-amber-300 truncate">
+            Regional override active: {activeChannel.flood_scope_override}
+          </span>
+        )}
         {conversation.type === 'contact' &&
           (() => {
             const contact = contacts.find((c) => c.public_key === conversation.id);
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Sidebar.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Sidebar.tsx
index f44d8ae..1e6f50a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Sidebar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Sidebar.tsx
@@ -485,6 +485,8 @@ export function Sidebar({
   const getSectionUnreadCount = (rows: ConversationRow[]): number =>
     rows.reduce((total, row) => total + row.unreadCount, 0);
 
+  const sectionHasMention = (rows: ConversationRow[]): boolean => rows.some((row) => row.isMention);
+
   const favoriteRows = favoriteItems.map((item) =>
     item.type === 'channel'
       ? buildChannelRow(item.channel, 'fav-chan')
@@ -498,6 +500,8 @@ export function Sidebar({
   const channelsUnreadCount = getSectionUnreadCount(channelRows);
   const contactsUnreadCount = getSectionUnreadCount(contactRows);
   const repeatersUnreadCount = getSectionUnreadCount(repeaterRows);
+  const favoritesHasMention = sectionHasMention(favoriteRows);
+  const channelsHasMention = sectionHasMention(channelRows);
   const toolRows = !query
     ? [
         renderSidebarActionRow({
@@ -575,7 +579,8 @@ export function Sidebar({
     collapsed: boolean,
     onToggle: () => void,
     showSortToggle = false,
-    unreadCount = 0
+    unreadCount = 0,
+    highlightUnread = false
   ) => {
     const effectiveCollapsed = isSearching ? false : collapsed;
 
@@ -611,7 +616,12 @@ export function Sidebar({
             )}
             {unreadCount > 0 && (
               <span
-                className="text-[10px] font-medium px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded-full bg-secondary text-muted-foreground"
+                className={cn(
+                  'text-[10px] font-medium px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded-full',
+                  highlightUnread
+                    ? 'bg-badge-mention text-badge-mention-foreground'
+                    : 'bg-secondary text-muted-foreground'
+                )}
                 aria-label={`${unreadCount} unread`}
               >
                 {unreadCount}
@@ -701,7 +711,8 @@ export function Sidebar({
               favoritesCollapsed,
               () => setFavoritesCollapsed((prev) => !prev),
               false,
-              favoritesUnreadCount
+              favoritesUnreadCount,
+              favoritesHasMention
             )}
             {(isSearching || !favoritesCollapsed) &&
               favoriteRows.map((row) => renderConversationRow(row))}
@@ -716,7 +727,8 @@ export function Sidebar({
               channelsCollapsed,
               () => setChannelsCollapsed((prev) => !prev),
               true,
-              channelsUnreadCount
+              channelsUnreadCount,
+              channelsHasMention
             )}
             {(isSearching || !channelsCollapsed) &&
               channelRows.map((row) => renderConversationRow(row))}
@@ -731,7 +743,8 @@ export function Sidebar({
               contactsCollapsed,
               () => setContactsCollapsed((prev) => !prev),
               true,
-              contactsUnreadCount
+              contactsUnreadCount,
+              contactsUnreadCount > 0
             )}
             {(isSearching || !contactsCollapsed) &&
               contactRows.map((row) => renderConversationRow(row))}
diff --git a/frontend/src/test/sidebar.test.tsx b/frontend/src/test/sidebar.test.tsx
index 75b19f9..ab01c57 100644
--- a/frontend/src/test/sidebar.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/test/sidebar.test.tsx
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ function makeContact(public_key: string, name: string, type = 1): Contact {
 
 function renderSidebar(overrides?: {
   unreadCounts?: Record<string, number>;
+  mentions?: Record<string, boolean>;
   favorites?: Favorite[];
   lastMessageTimes?: ConversationTimes;
   channels?: Channel[];
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ function renderSidebar(overrides?: {
       onNewMessage={vi.fn()}
       lastMessageTimes={overrides?.lastMessageTimes ?? {}}
       unreadCounts={unreadCounts}
-      mentions={{}}
+      mentions={overrides?.mentions ?? {}}
       showCracker={false}
       crackerRunning={false}
       onToggleCracker={vi.fn()}
@@ -102,6 +103,40 @@ describe('Sidebar section summaries', () => {
     expect(within(getSectionHeaderContainer('Repeaters')).getByText('4')).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
+  it('turns favorites and channels rollups red when they contain a mention', () => {
+    renderSidebar({
+      mentions: {
+        [getStateKey('channel', 'BB'.repeat(16))]: true,
+        [getStateKey('channel', 'CC'.repeat(16))]: true,
+      },
+    });
+
+    expect(within(getSectionHeaderContainer('Favorites')).getByText('2')).toHaveClass(
+      'bg-badge-mention',
+      'text-badge-mention-foreground'
+    );
+    expect(within(getSectionHeaderContainer('Channels')).getByText('1')).toHaveClass(
+      'bg-badge-mention',
+      'text-badge-mention-foreground'
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('keeps contact row badges normal while the contacts rollup is always red', () => {
+    const { aliceName } = renderSidebar();
+
+    expect(within(getSectionHeaderContainer('Contacts')).getByText('3')).toHaveClass(
+      'bg-badge-mention',
+      'text-badge-mention-foreground'
+    );
+
+    const aliceRow = screen.getByText(aliceName).closest('div');
+    if (!aliceRow) throw new Error('Missing Alice row');
+    expect(within(aliceRow).getByText('3')).toHaveClass(
+      'bg-badge-unread/90',
+      'text-badge-unread-foreground'
+    );
+  });
+
   it('expands collapsed sections during search and restores collapse state after clearing search', async () => {
     const { opsChannel, aliceName } = renderSidebar();