diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 98d703d..09181c4 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -613,7 +613,8 @@
 
 <!-- NOW PLAYING OVERLAY -->
 <div class="np-overlay" id="np-overlay">
-  <div class="np-bg" id="np-bg"></div>
+  <div class="np-bg" id="np-bg-a"></div>
+  <div class="np-bg" id="np-bg-b" style="opacity:0"></div>
   <div class="np-inner">
     <div class="np-topbar">
       <button class="np-close" onclick="closeNowPlaying()" title="Schließen">
diff --git a/src/player.js b/src/player.js
index e1eda95..6019c1b 100644
--- a/src/player.js
+++ b/src/player.js
@@ -57,17 +57,28 @@ export function updatePlayerUI(s) {
   _syncNpDirect(s);
 }
 
+let _npBgCurr = 'a';
+function _crossfadeNpBg(cv) {
+  const currEl = document.getElementById(`np-bg-${_npBgCurr}`);
+  const nextId = _npBgCurr === 'a' ? 'b' : 'a';
+  const nextEl = document.getElementById(`np-bg-${nextId}`);
+  if (!currEl || !nextEl) return;
+  nextEl.style.backgroundImage = cv ? `url('${cv}')` : 'none';
+  nextEl.style.opacity = '1';
+  currEl.style.opacity = '0';
+  _npBgCurr = nextId;
+}
+
 export function _syncNpDirect(s) {
   if(!S.npOpen || !s) return;
   const cv = coverUrl(s.coverArt, 400);
   const cover = document.getElementById('np-cover');
-  const bg    = document.getElementById('np-bg');
   if (cover) {
     const existingImg = cover.querySelector('img');
     if (cv && existingImg) existingImg.src = cv;
     else if (cover) cover.innerHTML = cv ? `<img src="${cv}" style="width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover">` : '<div class="no-art">♪</div>';
   }
-  if(bg) bg.style.backgroundImage = cv ? `url('${cv}')` : 'none';
+  _crossfadeNpBg(cv);
   const t = document.getElementById('np-title'); if(t) t.textContent = s.title || '—';
   const an = document.getElementById('np-artist-name');
   if(an) {
diff --git a/styles.css b/styles.css
index 8451930..844c881 100644
--- a/styles.css
+++ b/styles.css
@@ -508,13 +508,13 @@ nav{flex:1;overflow-y:auto;padding:4px 10px}
 }
 .np-overlay.open{transform:translateY(0)}
 
-/* Blurred album art as background */
+/* Blurred album art as background — two layers for crossfade */
 .np-bg{
   position:absolute;inset:-40px;
   background-size:cover;background-position:center;
   filter:blur(60px) brightness(.35) saturate(1.4);
   transform:scale(1.1);
-  transition:background-image .6s ease;
+  transition:opacity .55s ease;
   z-index:0;
 }