diff --git a/backend/migrations/core/158_slideshow_order_category.js b/backend/migrations/core/158_slideshow_order_category.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..73624704
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/migrations/core/158_slideshow_order_category.js
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+/**
+ * Migration 158: per-event slideshow ordering + category filter (#202).
+ *
+ * - `show_order`      — 'chronological' (default, upload order) | 'random'
+ *                       (client-side shuffle). Lets the Live Slideshow play
+ *                       photos in a varied order during an event.
+ * - `show_category_id`— optional FK into `photo_categories`. When set, the
+ *                       slideshow only shows photos in that category (NULL =
+ *                       all visible photos, the existing behaviour).
+ *
+ * Both additive + guarded. Defaults preserve today's behaviour (chronological,
+ * all photos), so existing slideshows are unchanged.
+ */
+exports.up = async function up(knex) {
+  const hasOrder = await knex.schema.hasColumn('events', 'show_order');
+  if (!hasOrder) {
+    await knex.schema.alterTable('events', (t) => {
+      t.string('show_order', 20).defaultTo('chronological');
+    });
+  }
+  const hasCat = await knex.schema.hasColumn('events', 'show_category_id');
+  if (!hasCat) {
+    await knex.schema.alterTable('events', (t) => {
+      t.integer('show_category_id').nullable();
+    });
+  }
+};
+
+exports.down = async function down(knex) {
+  for (const col of ['show_order', 'show_category_id']) {
+    // eslint-disable-next-line no-await-in-loop
+    if (await knex.schema.hasColumn('events', col)) {
+      // eslint-disable-next-line no-await-in-loop
+      await knex.schema.alterTable('events', (t) => t.dropColumn(col));
+    }
+  }
+};
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/adminEvents/helpers.js b/backend/src/routes/adminEvents/helpers.js
index 01ef769d..9d42655f 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/adminEvents/helpers.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/adminEvents/helpers.js
@@ -307,6 +307,9 @@ async function deleteEventCascade(eventId, adminContext) {
 const SLIDESHOW_TRANSITIONS = ['crossfade', 'cut', 'slide', 'kenburns', 'dipwhite', 'dipblack'];
 // Allowed per-slide color filters.
 const SLIDESHOW_COLORFILTERS = ['none', 'bw', 'sepia', 'warm', 'cool', 'vignette'];
+// Allowed slideshow play orders (#202). 'chronological' = upload order,
+// 'random' = client-side shuffle.
+const SLIDESHOW_ORDERS = ['chronological', 'random'];
 module.exports = {
   validateHeroImageAnchor,
   getStoragePath,
@@ -321,6 +324,7 @@ module.exports = {
   mapEventForApi,
   hasCustomerContactColumns,
   deleteEventCascade,
+  SLIDESHOW_ORDERS,
   SLIDESHOW_TRANSITIONS,
   SLIDESHOW_COLORFILTERS,
 };
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/adminEvents/slideshow.js b/backend/src/routes/adminEvents/slideshow.js
index c22ccb57..d58ad206 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/adminEvents/slideshow.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/adminEvents/slideshow.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ const { parseBooleanInput } = require('../../utils/parsers');
 const { requireEventOwnership } = require('../../middleware/ownership');
 const { requireFeatureFlag } = require('../../middleware/requireFeatureFlag');
 const { getFrontendBaseUrl } = require('../../utils/frontendUrl');
-const { SLIDESHOW_TRANSITIONS, SLIDESHOW_COLORFILTERS } = require('./helpers');
+const { SLIDESHOW_TRANSITIONS, SLIDESHOW_COLORFILTERS, SLIDESHOW_ORDERS } = require('./helpers');
 
 // The watermark LOOK (source/position/opacity/style/size) is global-only
 // (app_settings, Settings → Slideshow); events only carry the show_watermark
@@ -105,7 +105,9 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
     body('show_transition').optional().isIn(SLIDESHOW_TRANSITIONS),
     body('show_transition_ms').optional().isInt({ min: 100, max: 5000 }),
     body('show_watermark').optional({ nullable: true }),
-    body('show_colorfilter').optional().isIn(SLIDESHOW_COLORFILTERS)
+    body('show_colorfilter').optional().isIn(SLIDESHOW_COLORFILTERS),
+    body('show_order').optional().isIn(SLIDESHOW_ORDERS),
+    body('show_category_id').optional({ nullable: true }).isInt({ min: 1 })
   ], async (req, res) => {
     try {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
@@ -130,6 +132,23 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
           : formatBoolean(parseBooleanInput(req.body.show_watermark, false));
       }
       if (req.body.show_colorfilter !== undefined) updates.show_colorfilter = req.body.show_colorfilter;
+      if (req.body.show_order !== undefined) updates.show_order = req.body.show_order;
+      // Category filter (#202). null clears it (all photos). A non-null id must
+      // belong to this event or be a global category — otherwise ignore it so a
+      // stale/foreign id can't leak another event's category selection.
+      if (req.body.show_category_id !== undefined) {
+        if (req.body.show_category_id === null) {
+          updates.show_category_id = null;
+        } else {
+          const catId = parseInt(req.body.show_category_id, 10);
+          const cat = await db('photo_categories')
+            .where({ id: catId })
+            .where(function () { this.where('event_id', event.id).orWhere('is_global', formatBoolean(true)); })
+            .first();
+          if (!cat) return res.status(400).json({ error: 'Category does not belong to this event' });
+          updates.show_category_id = catId;
+        }
+      }
 
       // Knex throws on an empty update; only write if something changed.
       if (Object.keys(updates).length > 0) {
@@ -141,7 +160,9 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
         show_transition: updates.show_transition ?? event.show_transition ?? 'crossfade',
         show_transition_ms: updates.show_transition_ms ?? event.show_transition_ms ?? 800,
         show_watermark: updates.show_watermark ?? event.show_watermark ?? null,
-        show_colorfilter: updates.show_colorfilter ?? event.show_colorfilter ?? 'none'
+        show_colorfilter: updates.show_colorfilter ?? event.show_colorfilter ?? 'none',
+        show_order: updates.show_order ?? event.show_order ?? 'chronological',
+        show_category_id: 'show_category_id' in updates ? updates.show_category_id : (event.show_category_id ?? null)
       });
     } catch (error) {
       errorResponse(res, error, 500, 'Failed to update slideshow settings');
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/gallery.js b/backend/src/routes/gallery.js
index ba62bf1e..cdb082df 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/gallery.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/gallery.js
@@ -243,8 +243,8 @@ router.get('/:slug/info', async (req, res) => {
 
 // Photos a slideshow may display: published, finished, non-hidden. Mirrors the
 // guest filter in GET /:slug/photos so the live count matches the rendered set.
-function slideshowPhotosQuery(eventId) {
-  return db('photos')
+function slideshowPhotosQuery(eventId, categoryId = null) {
+  const q = db('photos')
     .where('photos.event_id', eventId)
     .where(function() {
       this.where('photos.processing_status', 'complete').orWhereNull('photos.processing_status');
@@ -252,6 +252,10 @@ function slideshowPhotosQuery(eventId) {
     .where(function() {
       this.where('photos.visibility', 'visible').orWhereNull('photos.visibility');
     });
+  // Category filter (#202) — keep the /session + /state count in sync with the
+  // photos the kiosk actually renders.
+  if (categoryId) q.where('photos.category_id', categoryId);
+  return q;
 }
 
 // Resolve an active slideshow by slug + token. Returns the event row, or null
@@ -324,6 +328,9 @@ async function slideshowSettings(event) {
     transition: event.show_transition || 'crossfade',
     transition_ms: event.show_transition_ms || 800,
     colorfilter: event.show_colorfilter || 'none',
+    // Play order (#202): 'chronological' | 'random'. The client shuffles when
+    // 'random' so live-appended uploads keep working.
+    order: event.show_order || 'chronological',
     fit: g.fit,
     watermark,
   };
@@ -356,7 +363,7 @@ router.get('/:slug/show/:token/session', handleAsync(async (req, res) => {
   // here so the kiosk's image requests are authorized with zero extra wiring.
   setGalleryAuthCookies(res, sessionToken, event.slug);
 
-  const [{ count }] = await slideshowPhotosQuery(event.id).count('* as count');
+  const [{ count }] = await slideshowPhotosQuery(event.id, event.show_category_id).count('* as count');
 
   res.json({
     token: sessionToken,
@@ -382,7 +389,7 @@ router.get('/:slug/show/:token/state', handleAsync(async (req, res) => {
     throw new NotFoundError('Slideshow');
   }
 
-  const [{ count }] = await slideshowPhotosQuery(event.id).count('* as count');
+  const [{ count }] = await slideshowPhotosQuery(event.id, event.show_category_id).count('* as count');
 
   res.json({
     ...(await slideshowSettings(event)),
@@ -426,6 +433,13 @@ router.get('/:slug/photos', verifyGalleryAccess, resolveGuest, async (req, res)
       });
     }
 
+    // Live Slideshow category filter (#202). Enforced server-side so the kiosk
+    // viewer can't widen the set: when the event pins show_category_id, the
+    // slideshow only sees that category. NULL = all photos (unchanged).
+    if (req.accessLevel === 'slideshow' && req.event.show_category_id) {
+      photosQuery = photosQuery.where('photos.category_id', req.event.show_category_id);
+    }
+
     // Apply sort option
     if (sort === 'capture_date') {
       // Sort by capture date, falling back to uploaded_at if capture date is null
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/admin/SlideshowSettingsCard.tsx b/frontend/src/components/admin/SlideshowSettingsCard.tsx
index ada57c3b..dc30f2dd 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/admin/SlideshowSettingsCard.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/admin/SlideshowSettingsCard.tsx
@@ -16,11 +16,13 @@
  * POST .../slideshow/{generate,disable}.
  */
 import React, { useState } from 'react';
+import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import { toast } from 'react-toastify';
 import { MonitorPlay, Copy, CheckCircle, RotateCw, Trash2, Save } from 'lucide-react';
 import { Button, Card } from '../common';
 import { eventsService } from '../../services/events.service';
+import { categoriesService } from '../../services/categories.service';
 import { DEFAULT_SLIDESHOW_STYLE, type SlideshowStyle } from '../../services/slideshow.service';
 import { SlideshowStyleFields } from './SlideshowStyleFields';
 
@@ -35,6 +37,8 @@ export interface SlideshowSettingsCardProps {
     show_transition_ms?: number;
     show_watermark?: boolean | null;
     show_colorfilter?: string;
+    show_order?: string;
+    show_category_id?: number | null;
   };
   onChanged?: () => void;
 }
@@ -52,6 +56,8 @@ function styleFromInitial(initial: SlideshowSettingsCardProps['initial']): Slide
     transition_ms: initial.show_transition_ms ?? DEFAULT_SLIDESHOW_STYLE.transition_ms,
     watermark: watermarkMode(initial.show_watermark),
     colorfilter: (initial.show_colorfilter as SlideshowStyle['colorfilter']) ?? DEFAULT_SLIDESHOW_STYLE.colorfilter,
+    order: (initial.show_order as SlideshowStyle['order']) ?? DEFAULT_SLIDESHOW_STYLE.order,
+    category_id: initial.show_category_id ?? null,
   };
 }
 
@@ -68,6 +74,14 @@ export const SlideshowSettingsCard: React.FC<SlideshowSettingsCardProps> = ({
 
   const link = token ? `${window.location.origin}/gallery/${slug}/show/${token}` : '';
 
+  // Event categories for the slideshow content filter (#202). Global + this
+  // event's own categories; empty for events without any → picker hides.
+  const { data: categories = [] } = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ['event-categories', eventId],
+    queryFn: () => categoriesService.getEventCategories(eventId),
+    staleTime: 60_000,
+  });
+
   const generate = async () => {
     setBusy(true);
     try {
@@ -129,6 +143,8 @@ export const SlideshowSettingsCard: React.FC<SlideshowSettingsCardProps> = ({
         // is global-only (Settings → Slideshow); we only send the mode here.
         show_watermark: style.watermark === 'inherit' ? null : style.watermark === 'on',
         show_colorfilter: style.colorfilter,
+        show_order: style.order,
+        show_category_id: style.category_id,
       });
       toast.success(t('slideshow.settingsSaved', 'Slideshow settings saved'));
       onChanged?.();
@@ -208,7 +224,7 @@ export const SlideshowSettingsCard: React.FC<SlideshowSettingsCardProps> = ({
 
             {/* Live style settings */}
             <div className="pt-2 border-t border-neutral-200 dark:border-neutral-700">
-              <SlideshowStyleFields value={style} onChange={setStyle} />
+              <SlideshowStyleFields value={style} onChange={setStyle} categories={categories} />
             </div>
             <p className="text-xs text-neutral-500 dark:text-neutral-400">
               {t('slideshow.liveHint', 'Changes apply to a running slideshow within a few seconds — no need to regenerate the link.')}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/admin/SlideshowStyleFields.tsx b/frontend/src/components/admin/SlideshowStyleFields.tsx
index adcdc095..d31948a9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/admin/SlideshowStyleFields.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/admin/SlideshowStyleFields.tsx
@@ -15,12 +15,17 @@ import {
   SLIDESHOW_TRANSITIONS,
   SLIDESHOW_COLORFILTERS,
   SLIDESHOW_WATERMARK_MODES,
+  SLIDESHOW_ORDERS,
   type SlideshowStyle,
 } from '../../services/slideshow.service';
+import type { PhotoCategory } from '../../services/categories.service';
 
 export interface SlideshowStyleFieldsProps {
   value: SlideshowStyle;
   onChange: (next: SlideshowStyle) => void;
+  /** Event categories for the content filter (#202). Omitted/empty → the
+   *  category picker is hidden (e.g. events without any categories). */
+  categories?: PhotoCategory[];
 }
 
 const inputClass =
@@ -29,7 +34,7 @@ const labelClass = 'block text-sm font-medium text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral
 
 const titleCase = (s: string) => s.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + s.slice(1);
 
-export const SlideshowStyleFields: React.FC<SlideshowStyleFieldsProps> = ({ value, onChange }) => {
+export const SlideshowStyleFields: React.FC<SlideshowStyleFieldsProps> = ({ value, onChange, categories = [] }) => {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   const set = (patch: Partial<SlideshowStyle>) => onChange({ ...value, ...patch });
 
@@ -92,6 +97,39 @@ export const SlideshowStyleFields: React.FC<SlideshowStyleFieldsProps> = ({ valu
         </select>
       </div>
 
+      {/* Play order + content filter (#202) */}
+      <div className="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-2 gap-3">
+        <div>
+          <label className={labelClass}>{t('slideshow.orderLabel', 'Play order')}</label>
+          <select
+            value={value.order}
+            onChange={(e) => set({ order: e.target.value as SlideshowStyle['order'] })}
+            className={inputClass}
+          >
+            {SLIDESHOW_ORDERS.map((o) => (
+              <option key={o} value={o}>
+                {t(`slideshow.order.${o}`, o === 'random' ? 'Random (shuffle)' : 'Chronological')}
+              </option>
+            ))}
+          </select>
+        </div>
+        {categories.length > 0 && (
+          <div>
+            <label className={labelClass}>{t('slideshow.categoryLabel', 'Show only category')}</label>
+            <select
+              value={value.category_id ?? ''}
+              onChange={(e) => set({ category_id: e.target.value === '' ? null : parseInt(e.target.value, 10) })}
+              className={inputClass}
+            >
+              <option value="">{t('slideshow.categoryAll', 'All photos')}</option>
+              {categories.map((c) => (
+                <option key={c.id} value={c.id}>{c.name}</option>
+              ))}
+            </select>
+          </div>
+        )}
+      </div>
+
       {/* Watermark — MODE only. The look (logo/position/opacity/style/size)
           lives in Settings → Slideshow, so it isn't duplicated here. */}
       <div className="pt-2 border-t border-neutral-200 dark:border-neutral-700">
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/de.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/de.json
index 900d89c6..43eaf7b5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/de.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/de.json
@@ -3476,6 +3476,13 @@
       "cool": "Kühl",
       "vignette": "Vignette"
     },
+    "orderLabel": "Reihenfolge",
+    "order": {
+      "chronological": "Chronologisch",
+      "random": "Zufällig (mischen)"
+    },
+    "categoryLabel": "Nur Kategorie zeigen",
+    "categoryAll": "Alle Fotos",
     "watermarkToggle": "Logo-Wasserzeichen anzeigen",
     "watermarkDescription": "Blendet ein weißes, halbtransparentes Logo in einer Ecke ein (wie ein Senderlogo im TV).",
     "watermarkSourceLabel": "Logo",
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en.json
index 6840b5db..f65fdd0e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en.json
@@ -3604,6 +3604,13 @@
       "cool": "Cool",
       "vignette": "Vignette"
     },
+    "orderLabel": "Play order",
+    "order": {
+      "chronological": "Chronological",
+      "random": "Random (shuffle)"
+    },
+    "categoryLabel": "Show only category",
+    "categoryAll": "All photos",
     "watermarkToggle": "Show logo watermark",
     "watermarkDescription": "Overlay a white, semi-transparent logo in a corner (like a TV station ident).",
     "watermarkSourceLabel": "Logo",
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/gallery/SlideshowPage.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/gallery/SlideshowPage.tsx
index 540491b3..d0277009 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/gallery/SlideshowPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/gallery/SlideshowPage.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ const DEFAULT_SETTINGS: SlideshowSettings = {
   transition: 'crossfade',
   transition_ms: 800,
   colorfilter: 'none',
+  order: 'chronological',
   fit: 'cover',
   watermark: null,
 };
@@ -65,6 +66,17 @@ function watermarkCorner(position: string): React.CSSProperties {
 
 type Phase = 'splash' | 'running' | 'ended';
 
+// Fisher–Yates shuffle for the 'random' play order (#202). Used once on the
+// initial photo set; live-appended uploads keep landing at the end.
+function shuffle<T>(arr: T[]): T[] {
+  const a = [...arr];
+  for (let i = a.length - 1; i > 0; i--) {
+    const j = Math.floor(Math.random() * (i + 1));
+    [a[i], a[j]] = [a[j], a[i]];
+  }
+  return a;
+}
+
 export function SlideshowPage() {
   const { slug = '', token = '' } = useParams<{ slug: string; token: string }>();
   const { t } = useTranslation();
@@ -159,13 +171,15 @@ export function SlideshowPage() {
       storeGalleryToken(slug, session.token);
       setActiveGallerySlug(slug);
       setEventName(session.event.event_name || '');
-      setSettings(session.settings || DEFAULT_SETTINGS);
+      const settings = session.settings || DEFAULT_SETTINGS;
+      setSettings(settings);
 
       // Load the list and DECODE the first slide (and the next) before we flip
       // to running, so playback starts on an already-rasterised image instead
       // of struggling on the first transition.
       const data = await galleryService.getGalleryPhotos(slug);
-      const list = data.photos || [];
+      // 'random' shuffles the initial set once; new uploads still append (#202).
+      const list = settings.order === 'random' ? shuffle(data.photos || []) : (data.photos || []);
       setPhotos(list);
       await preloadDecode(list[0]);
       void preloadDecode(list[1]);
diff --git a/frontend/src/services/events.service.ts b/frontend/src/services/events.service.ts
index 6edd52e9..6d4e62f3 100644
--- a/frontend/src/services/events.service.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/services/events.service.ts
@@ -158,6 +158,8 @@ export const eventsService = {
       show_transition_ms?: number;
       show_watermark?: boolean | null;
       show_colorfilter?: string;
+      show_order?: string;
+      show_category_id?: number | null;
     }
   ): Promise<Record<string, unknown>> {
     const response = await api.patch(`/admin/events/${id}/slideshow`, settings);
diff --git a/frontend/src/services/slideshow.service.ts b/frontend/src/services/slideshow.service.ts
index 81bb028e..3cd40e97 100644
--- a/frontend/src/services/slideshow.service.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/services/slideshow.service.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ export const SLIDESHOW_WATERMARK_STYLES: SlideshowWatermarkStyle[] = ['white', '
 // (admin Settings → Slideshow); 'on'/'off' = explicit override.
 export type SlideshowWatermarkMode = 'inherit' | 'on' | 'off';
 export const SLIDESHOW_WATERMARK_MODES: SlideshowWatermarkMode[] = ['inherit', 'on', 'off'];
+// Play order (#202): 'chronological' = upload order; 'random' = client shuffle.
+export type SlideshowOrder = 'chronological' | 'random';
+export const SLIDESHOW_ORDERS: SlideshowOrder[] = ['chronological', 'random'];
 
 export const SLIDESHOW_TRANSITIONS: SlideshowTransition[] = ['crossfade', 'cut', 'slide', 'kenburns', 'dipwhite', 'dipblack'];
 export const SLIDESHOW_COLORFILTERS: SlideshowColorFilter[] = ['none', 'bw', 'sepia', 'warm', 'cool', 'vignette'];
@@ -37,6 +40,9 @@ export interface SlideshowStyle {
   transition_ms: number;
   watermark: SlideshowWatermarkMode;
   colorfilter: SlideshowColorFilter;
+  // Play order + optional category filter (#202). category_id null = all photos.
+  order: SlideshowOrder;
+  category_id: number | null;
 }
 
 export const DEFAULT_SLIDESHOW_STYLE: SlideshowStyle = {
@@ -45,6 +51,8 @@ export const DEFAULT_SLIDESHOW_STYLE: SlideshowStyle = {
   transition_ms: 800,
   watermark: 'inherit',
   colorfilter: 'none',
+  order: 'chronological',
+  category_id: null,
 };
 
 // Global slideshow defaults (admin Settings → Slideshow). The single source of
@@ -81,6 +89,10 @@ export interface SlideshowSettings {
   transition: SlideshowTransition;
   transition_ms: number;
   colorfilter: SlideshowColorFilter;
+  // Play order the kiosk applies (#202): 'random' shuffles client-side so
+  // live-appended uploads keep working. The category filter is enforced
+  // server-side, so it isn't echoed here.
+  order: SlideshowOrder;
   fit: SlideshowFit;
   watermark: SlideshowWatermark | null;
 }