diff --git a/app/components/MobileNav.module.css b/app/components/MobileNav.module.css
index 7d9c146cb..cb46fbc49 100644
--- a/app/components/MobileNav.module.css
+++ b/app/components/MobileNav.module.css
@@ -353,6 +353,11 @@
 	place-items: center;
 	pointer-events: none;
 	line-height: 1;
+
+	&.tabBadgeLeft {
+		right: auto;
+		left: -8px;
+	}
 }
 
 .noAnimation {
diff --git a/app/components/MobileNav.tsx b/app/components/MobileNav.tsx
index dc3d94563..207a0a1e5 100644
--- a/app/components/MobileNav.tsx
+++ b/app/components/MobileNav.tsx
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import { useChatContext } from "~/features/chat/useChatContext";
 import { FriendMenu } from "~/features/friends/components/FriendMenu";
 import { SENDOUQ_ACTIVITY_LABEL } from "~/features/friends/friends-constants";
 import { useLayoutSize } from "~/hooks/useMainContentWidth";
+import { useUnseenFriendRequests } from "~/hooks/useUnseenFriendRequests";
 import type { RootLoaderData } from "~/root";
 import {
 	EVENTS_PAGE,
@@ -60,6 +61,9 @@ export function MobileNav({ sidebarData }: { sidebarData: SidebarData }) {
 	const hasFriendInSendouQ =
 		sidebarData?.friends.some((f) => f.subtitle === SENDOUQ_ACTIVITY_LABEL) ??
 		false;
+	const unseenFriendRequests = useUnseenFriendRequests(
+		sidebarData?.incomingFriendRequestIds ?? [],
+	);
 
 	const skipAnimation = previousPanelRef.current !== "closed";
 
@@ -152,6 +156,7 @@ export function MobileNav({ sidebarData }: { sidebarData: SidebarData }) {
 				isLoggedIn={Boolean(user)}
 				hasUnseenNotifications={hasUnseenNotifications}
 				hasFriendInSendouQ={hasFriendInSendouQ}
+				unseenFriendRequests={unseenFriendRequests}
 			/>
 		</div>
 	);
@@ -163,12 +168,14 @@ function MobileTabBar({
 	isLoggedIn,
 	hasUnseenNotifications,
 	hasFriendInSendouQ,
+	unseenFriendRequests,
 }: {
 	activePanel: PanelType;
 	onTabPress: (panel: PanelType) => void;
 	isLoggedIn: boolean;
 	hasUnseenNotifications: boolean;
 	hasFriendInSendouQ: boolean;
+	unseenFriendRequests: number;
 }) {
 	const { t } = useTranslation(["front", "common"]);
 	const chatContext = useChatContext();
@@ -190,6 +197,8 @@ function MobileTabBar({
 						isActive={activePanel === "friends"}
 						onPress={() => onTabPress("friends")}
 						showNotificationDot={hasFriendInSendouQ}
+						badgeCount={unseenFriendRequests}
+						badgeLeft={hasFriendInSendouQ}
 					/>
 					<MobileTab
 						icon={<Calendar />}
@@ -233,6 +242,8 @@ function MobileTab({
 	onPress,
 	showNotificationDot,
 	unreadCount,
+	badgeCount,
+	badgeLeft,
 }: {
 	icon: React.ReactNode;
 	label: string;
@@ -240,7 +251,11 @@ function MobileTab({
 	onPress: () => void;
 	showNotificationDot?: boolean;
 	unreadCount?: number;
+	badgeCount?: number;
+	badgeLeft?: boolean;
 }) {
+	const count = unreadCount ?? badgeCount;
+
 	return (
 		<button
 			type="button"
@@ -251,8 +266,14 @@ function MobileTab({
 			<span className={styles.tabIcon}>
 				{icon}
 				{showNotificationDot ? <NotificationDot /> : null}
-				{unreadCount ? (
-					<span className={styles.tabBadge}>{unreadCount}</span>
+				{count ? (
+					<span
+						className={clsx(styles.tabBadge, {
+							[styles.tabBadgeLeft]: badgeLeft,
+						})}
+					>
+						{count}
+					</span>
 				) : null}
 			</span>
 			<span>{label}</span>
diff --git a/app/components/SideNav.module.css b/app/components/SideNav.module.css
index 3f6c2ee1e..3e2d4a4e9 100644
--- a/app/components/SideNav.module.css
+++ b/app/components/SideNav.module.css
@@ -155,6 +155,8 @@
 }
 
 .sideNavHeaderAction {
+	display: flex;
+	align-items: center;
 	margin-inline-start: auto;
 	font-size: var(--font-2xs);
 	font-weight: var(--weight-normal);
diff --git a/app/components/layout/index.module.css b/app/components/layout/index.module.css
index bc0132551..6ad0b7085 100644
--- a/app/components/layout/index.module.css
+++ b/app/components/layout/index.module.css
@@ -165,6 +165,44 @@
 	}
 }
 
+.friendRequestsBadge {
+	font-size: var(--font-2xs);
+	font-weight: var(--weight-bold);
+	color: var(--color-text-inverse);
+	background-color: var(--color-text-accent);
+	min-width: 18px;
+	height: 18px;
+	padding: 0 var(--s-1);
+	border-radius: 9px;
+	display: grid;
+	place-items: center;
+	margin-inline-end: var(--s-1-5);
+	pointer-events: none;
+}
+
+.sideNavCollapseBadge {
+	position: absolute;
+	top: -5px;
+	inset-inline-end: -5px;
+	font-size: var(--font-2xs);
+	font-weight: var(--weight-bold);
+	color: var(--color-text-inverse);
+	background-color: var(--color-text-accent);
+	min-width: 16px;
+	height: 16px;
+	padding: 0 var(--s-0-5);
+	border-radius: 8px;
+	display: grid;
+	place-items: center;
+	line-height: 1;
+	pointer-events: none;
+
+	&.sideNavCollapseBadgeLeft {
+		inset-inline-end: auto;
+		inset-inline-start: -5px;
+	}
+}
+
 .sideNavCollapseButtonContainer {
 	display: none;
 	position: relative;
diff --git a/app/components/layout/index.tsx b/app/components/layout/index.tsx
index 3c7ac7d3e..eb7bb7eef 100644
--- a/app/components/layout/index.tsx
+++ b/app/components/layout/index.tsx
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import { useDateTimeFormat } from "~/hooks/intl/useDateTimeFormat";
 import { useHydrated } from "~/hooks/useHydrated";
 import { useLayoutSize } from "~/hooks/useMainContentWidth";
 import { usePrefersReducedMotion } from "~/hooks/usePrefersReducedMotion";
+import { useUnseenFriendRequests } from "~/hooks/useUnseenFriendRequests";
 import { useVisualViewportHeight } from "~/hooks/useVisualViewportHeight";
 import type { RootLoaderData } from "~/root";
 import type { Breadcrumb, SendouRouteHandle } from "~/utils/remix.server";
@@ -235,7 +236,7 @@ export function Layout({
 		setChatSidebarOpen(open);
 	};
 
-	const { t } = useTranslation(["front", "common"]);
+	const { t } = useTranslation(["front", "common", "friends"]);
 	const { formatRelativeDate } = useRelativeDayFormat();
 	const isHydrated = useHydrated();
 	const location = useLocation();
@@ -265,6 +266,9 @@ export function Layout({
 	const sidebarData = data?.sidebar;
 	const events = sidebarData?.events ?? [];
 	const friends = sidebarData?.friends ?? [];
+	const unseenFriendRequests = useUnseenFriendRequests(
+		sidebarData?.incomingFriendRequestIds ?? [],
+	);
 	const streams = sidebarData?.streams ?? [];
 
 	const isFrontPage = location.pathname === "/";
@@ -326,10 +330,23 @@ export function Layout({
 				icon={<Users />}
 				action={
 					user ? (
-						<Link to={FRIENDS_PAGE} className={styles.viewAllLink}>
-							{t("common:actions.viewAll")}
-							<ChevronRight size={14} />
-						</Link>
+						<>
+							{unseenFriendRequests > 0 ? (
+								<span
+									className={styles.friendRequestsBadge}
+									role="status"
+									aria-label={t("friends:unseenRequests", {
+										count: unseenFriendRequests,
+									})}
+								>
+									{unseenFriendRequests}
+								</span>
+							) : null}
+							<Link to={FRIENDS_PAGE} className={styles.viewAllLink}>
+								{t("common:actions.viewAll")}
+								<ChevronRight size={14} />
+							</Link>
+						</>
 					) : null
 				}
 			>
@@ -391,6 +408,7 @@ export function Layout({
 						<SideNavCollapseButton
 							className={styles.sideNavModalTrigger}
 							showNotificationDot={!sideNavModalOpen && unseenIds.length > 0}
+							badgeCount={!sideNavModalOpen ? unseenFriendRequests : 0}
 							testId="sidenav-modal-trigger"
 						/>
 						<ModalOverlay className={styles.sideNavModalOverlay} isDismissable>
@@ -427,6 +445,7 @@ export function Layout({
 						onToggle={() => setSideNavCollapsed(!sideNavCollapsed)}
 						className={styles.sideNavCollapseButton}
 						showNotificationDot={sideNavCollapsed && unseenIds.length > 0}
+						badgeCount={sideNavCollapsed ? unseenFriendRequests : 0}
 						testId="sidenav-collapse-button"
 					/>
 					<TopNavMenus />
@@ -545,13 +564,17 @@ function SideNavCollapseButton({
 	onToggle,
 	className,
 	showNotificationDot,
+	badgeCount,
 	testId,
 }: {
 	onToggle?: () => void;
 	className?: string;
 	showNotificationDot?: boolean;
+	badgeCount?: number;
 	testId?: string;
 }) {
+	const { t } = useTranslation(["friends"]);
+
 	return (
 		<div className={styles.sideNavCollapseButtonContainer} data-testid={testId}>
 			<SendouButton
@@ -563,6 +586,17 @@ function SideNavCollapseButton({
 				onPress={onToggle}
 			/>
 			{showNotificationDot ? <NotificationDot /> : null}
+			{badgeCount ? (
+				<span
+					className={clsx(styles.sideNavCollapseBadge, {
+						[styles.sideNavCollapseBadgeLeft]: showNotificationDot,
+					})}
+					role="status"
+					aria-label={t("friends:unseenRequests", { count: badgeCount })}
+				>
+					{badgeCount}
+				</span>
+			) : null}
 		</div>
 	);
 }
diff --git a/app/features/friends/FriendRepository.server.ts b/app/features/friends/FriendRepository.server.ts
index 149dc26d7..1ad6425da 100644
--- a/app/features/friends/FriendRepository.server.ts
+++ b/app/features/friends/FriendRepository.server.ts
@@ -236,6 +236,18 @@ export async function findPendingReceivedRequests(receiverId: number) {
 		.execute();
 }
 
+export async function findPendingReceivedRequestIds(
+	receiverId: number,
+): Promise<number[]> {
+	const rows = await db
+		.selectFrom("FriendRequest")
+		.select("FriendRequest.id")
+		.where("FriendRequest.receiverId", "=", receiverId)
+		.execute();
+
+	return rows.map((row) => row.id);
+}
+
 export async function insertFriendship({
 	userOneId,
 	userTwoId,
diff --git a/app/features/friends/routes/friends.tsx b/app/features/friends/routes/friends.tsx
index 821eeffa8..aede37bfd 100644
--- a/app/features/friends/routes/friends.tsx
+++ b/app/features/friends/routes/friends.tsx
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import * as React from "react";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
 import { Form, Link, useLoaderData, useSearchParams } from "react-router";
 import { Avatar } from "~/components/Avatar";
@@ -6,6 +7,7 @@ import { Main } from "~/components/Main";
 import { SubmitButton } from "~/components/SubmitButton";
 import { SubNav, SubNavLink } from "~/components/SubNav";
 import { SendouForm } from "~/form/SendouForm";
+import { markFriendRequestsSeen } from "~/hooks/useUnseenFriendRequests";
 import type { SendouRouteHandle } from "~/utils/remix.server";
 import { FriendMenu } from "../components/FriendMenu";
 import { sendFriendRequestBaseSchema } from "../friends-schemas";
@@ -25,6 +27,15 @@ type ViewFilter = (typeof VIEW_FILTERS)[number];
 export default function FriendsPage() {
 	const data = useLoaderData<FriendsLoaderData>();
 
+	const incomingRequestIds = data.incomingRequests
+		.map((request) => request.id)
+		.join(",");
+
+	// biome-ignore lint/correctness/useExhaustiveDependencies: stabilized on the joined ids to avoid refiring on every loader-data reference change
+	React.useEffect(() => {
+		markFriendRequestsSeen(data.incomingRequests.map((request) => request.id));
+	}, [incomingRequestIds]);
+
 	return (
 		<Main halfWidth>
 			<div className="stack lg">
diff --git a/app/features/sidebar/core/sidebar.server.ts b/app/features/sidebar/core/sidebar.server.ts
index 2009d7f01..2ba33f142 100644
--- a/app/features/sidebar/core/sidebar.server.ts
+++ b/app/features/sidebar/core/sidebar.server.ts
@@ -68,16 +68,23 @@ export async function resolveSidebarData(userId: number | null) {
 			friends: [] as SidebarFriend[],
 			streams: await combinedStreamsCached(),
 			savedTournamentIds: [] as number[],
+			incomingFriendRequestIds: [] as number[],
 		};
 	}
 
-	const [tournamentsData, scrimsData, friendsWithActivity, savedTournaments] =
-		await Promise.all([
-			ShowcaseTournaments.categorizedTournamentsByUserId(userId),
-			ScrimPostRepository.findUserScrims(userId),
-			FriendRepository.findByUserIdWithActivity(userId),
-			SavedCalendarEventRepository.upcoming(userId),
-		]);
+	const [
+		tournamentsData,
+		scrimsData,
+		friendsWithActivity,
+		savedTournaments,
+		incomingFriendRequestIds,
+	] = await Promise.all([
+		ShowcaseTournaments.categorizedTournamentsByUserId(userId),
+		ScrimPostRepository.findUserScrims(userId),
+		FriendRepository.findByUserIdWithActivity(userId),
+		SavedCalendarEventRepository.upcoming(userId),
+		FriendRepository.findPendingReceivedRequestIds(userId),
+	]);
 
 	const seenTournamentIds = new Set<number>();
 	const tournamentEvents: SidebarEvent[] = [
@@ -113,6 +120,7 @@ export async function resolveSidebarData(userId: number | null) {
 		friends,
 		streams: await combinedStreamsCached(),
 		savedTournamentIds,
+		incomingFriendRequestIds,
 	};
 }
 
diff --git a/app/hooks/useUnseenFriendRequests.ts b/app/hooks/useUnseenFriendRequests.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..89dfe78fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/hooks/useUnseenFriendRequests.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+import * as React from "react";
+import * as R from "remeda";
+
+const LOCAL_STORAGE_KEY = "seen-friend-requests";
+const MAX_STORED_IDS = 200;
+
+const listeners = new Set<() => void>();
+
+/**
+ * Returns the count of incoming friend requests that the user has not yet seen.
+ *
+ * "Seen" requests are tracked per-device in local storage (the dedicated /friends
+ * page remains the authoritative view). The count updates when requests are marked
+ * as seen via {@link markFriendRequestsSeen} in the same tab, or when local storage
+ * changes in another tab.
+ */
+export function useUnseenFriendRequests(incomingRequestIds: number[]): number {
+	const raw = React.useSyncExternalStore(
+		subscribe,
+		getSnapshot,
+		getServerSnapshot,
+	);
+
+	const seenIds = new Set(parseSeenIds(raw));
+
+	return incomingRequestIds.filter((id) => !seenIds.has(id)).length;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Records the given incoming friend request ids as seen, clearing the unseen badge.
+ *
+ * Ids are merged into the existing seen set rather than replacing it, so that
+ * acting on a request (e.g. declining it) doesn't make an already-seen request
+ * count as unseen again while other consumers still have a stale list. Only the
+ * most recent ids are kept to keep the stored set from growing without bound.
+ */
+export function markFriendRequestsSeen(ids: number[]) {
+	try {
+		const merged = R.unique([...parseSeenIds(getSnapshot()), ...ids])
+			.sort((a, b) => b - a)
+			.slice(0, MAX_STORED_IDS);
+		localStorage.setItem(LOCAL_STORAGE_KEY, JSON.stringify(merged));
+		for (const listener of listeners) {
+			listener();
+		}
+	} catch {
+		// local storage may be unavailable
+	}
+}
+
+function subscribe(listener: () => void) {
+	listeners.add(listener);
+	window.addEventListener("storage", listener);
+	return () => {
+		listeners.delete(listener);
+		window.removeEventListener("storage", listener);
+	};
+}
+
+function getSnapshot() {
+	return localStorage.getItem(LOCAL_STORAGE_KEY) ?? "[]";
+}
+
+function getServerSnapshot() {
+	return "[]";
+}
+
+function parseSeenIds(raw: string): number[] {
+	try {
+		const parsed = JSON.parse(raw);
+		return Array.isArray(parsed) ? parsed : [];
+	} catch {
+		return [];
+	}
+}
diff --git a/locales/da/friends.json b/locales/da/friends.json
index 8a17841ab..c0a1fa21c 100644
--- a/locales/da/friends.json
+++ b/locales/da/friends.json
@@ -15,5 +15,7 @@
 	"view.friends": "",
 	"view.teamMembers": "",
 	"view.all": "",
-	"teamMembers.empty": ""
+	"teamMembers.empty": "",
+	"unseenRequests_one": "",
+	"unseenRequests_other": ""
 }
diff --git a/locales/de/friends.json b/locales/de/friends.json
index 8a17841ab..c0a1fa21c 100644
--- a/locales/de/friends.json
+++ b/locales/de/friends.json
@@ -15,5 +15,7 @@
 	"view.friends": "",
 	"view.teamMembers": "",
 	"view.all": "",
-	"teamMembers.empty": ""
+	"teamMembers.empty": "",
+	"unseenRequests_one": "",
+	"unseenRequests_other": ""
 }
diff --git a/locales/en/friends.json b/locales/en/friends.json
index 4d7f4aaad..e3e98de12 100644
--- a/locales/en/friends.json
+++ b/locales/en/friends.json
@@ -15,5 +15,7 @@
 	"view.friends": "Friends",
 	"view.teamMembers": "Team members",
 	"view.all": "All",
-	"teamMembers.empty": "No team members yet"
+	"teamMembers.empty": "No team members yet",
+	"unseenRequests_one": "{{count}} unseen friend request",
+	"unseenRequests_other": "{{count}} unseen friend requests"
 }
diff --git a/locales/es-ES/friends.json b/locales/es-ES/friends.json
index 8a17841ab..4e1a0b924 100644
--- a/locales/es-ES/friends.json
+++ b/locales/es-ES/friends.json
@@ -15,5 +15,8 @@
 	"view.friends": "",
 	"view.teamMembers": "",
 	"view.all": "",
-	"teamMembers.empty": ""
+	"teamMembers.empty": "",
+	"unseenRequests_one": "",
+	"unseenRequests_many": "",
+	"unseenRequests_other": ""
 }
diff --git a/locales/es-US/friends.json b/locales/es-US/friends.json
index 8a17841ab..4e1a0b924 100644
--- a/locales/es-US/friends.json
+++ b/locales/es-US/friends.json
@@ -15,5 +15,8 @@
 	"view.friends": "",
 	"view.teamMembers": "",
 	"view.all": "",
-	"teamMembers.empty": ""
+	"teamMembers.empty": "",
+	"unseenRequests_one": "",
+	"unseenRequests_many": "",
+	"unseenRequests_other": ""
 }
diff --git a/locales/fr-CA/friends.json b/locales/fr-CA/friends.json
index 8a17841ab..4e1a0b924 100644
--- a/locales/fr-CA/friends.json
+++ b/locales/fr-CA/friends.json
@@ -15,5 +15,8 @@
 	"view.friends": "",
 	"view.teamMembers": "",
 	"view.all": "",
-	"teamMembers.empty": ""
+	"teamMembers.empty": "",
+	"unseenRequests_one": "",
+	"unseenRequests_many": "",
+	"unseenRequests_other": ""
 }
diff --git a/locales/fr-EU/friends.json b/locales/fr-EU/friends.json
index 8a17841ab..4e1a0b924 100644
--- a/locales/fr-EU/friends.json
+++ b/locales/fr-EU/friends.json
@@ -15,5 +15,8 @@
 	"view.friends": "",
 	"view.teamMembers": "",
 	"view.all": "",
-	"teamMembers.empty": ""
+	"teamMembers.empty": "",
+	"unseenRequests_one": "",
+	"unseenRequests_many": "",
+	"unseenRequests_other": ""
 }
diff --git a/locales/he/friends.json b/locales/he/friends.json
index 8a17841ab..c946bdfe8 100644
--- a/locales/he/friends.json
+++ b/locales/he/friends.json
@@ -15,5 +15,8 @@
 	"view.friends": "",
 	"view.teamMembers": "",
 	"view.all": "",
-	"teamMembers.empty": ""
+	"teamMembers.empty": "",
+	"unseenRequests_one": "",
+	"unseenRequests_two": "",
+	"unseenRequests_other": ""
 }
diff --git a/locales/it/friends.json b/locales/it/friends.json
index 8a17841ab..4e1a0b924 100644
--- a/locales/it/friends.json
+++ b/locales/it/friends.json
@@ -15,5 +15,8 @@
 	"view.friends": "",
 	"view.teamMembers": "",
 	"view.all": "",
-	"teamMembers.empty": ""
+	"teamMembers.empty": "",
+	"unseenRequests_one": "",
+	"unseenRequests_many": "",
+	"unseenRequests_other": ""
 }
diff --git a/locales/nl/friends.json b/locales/nl/friends.json
index 8a17841ab..c0a1fa21c 100644
--- a/locales/nl/friends.json
+++ b/locales/nl/friends.json
@@ -15,5 +15,7 @@
 	"view.friends": "",
 	"view.teamMembers": "",
 	"view.all": "",
-	"teamMembers.empty": ""
+	"teamMembers.empty": "",
+	"unseenRequests_one": "",
+	"unseenRequests_other": ""
 }
diff --git a/locales/pl/friends.json b/locales/pl/friends.json
index 8a17841ab..3c4372853 100644
--- a/locales/pl/friends.json
+++ b/locales/pl/friends.json
@@ -15,5 +15,9 @@
 	"view.friends": "",
 	"view.teamMembers": "",
 	"view.all": "",
-	"teamMembers.empty": ""
+	"teamMembers.empty": "",
+	"unseenRequests_one": "",
+	"unseenRequests_few": "",
+	"unseenRequests_many": "",
+	"unseenRequests_other": ""
 }
diff --git a/locales/pt-BR/friends.json b/locales/pt-BR/friends.json
index 8a17841ab..4e1a0b924 100644
--- a/locales/pt-BR/friends.json
+++ b/locales/pt-BR/friends.json
@@ -15,5 +15,8 @@
 	"view.friends": "",
 	"view.teamMembers": "",
 	"view.all": "",
-	"teamMembers.empty": ""
+	"teamMembers.empty": "",
+	"unseenRequests_one": "",
+	"unseenRequests_many": "",
+	"unseenRequests_other": ""
 }
diff --git a/locales/ru/friends.json b/locales/ru/friends.json
index 8a17841ab..3c4372853 100644
--- a/locales/ru/friends.json
+++ b/locales/ru/friends.json
@@ -15,5 +15,9 @@
 	"view.friends": "",
 	"view.teamMembers": "",
 	"view.all": "",
-	"teamMembers.empty": ""
+	"teamMembers.empty": "",
+	"unseenRequests_one": "",
+	"unseenRequests_few": "",
+	"unseenRequests_many": "",
+	"unseenRequests_other": ""
 }