diff --git a/core/playlists/evaluator.go b/core/playlists/evaluator.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0b237c936
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/playlists/evaluator.go
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+package playlists
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"maps"
+	"slices"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/core/auth"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/log"
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/model"
+)
+
+// SmartPlaylistEvaluator evaluates smart playlists in the background.
+// Call Enqueue to queue a playlist for evaluation. The evaluation happens
+// asynchronously in a background goroutine.
+type SmartPlaylistEvaluator interface {
+	Enqueue(playlistID string)
+}
+
+func NewSmartPlaylistEvaluator(ds model.DataStore) SmartPlaylistEvaluator {
+	e := &smartPlaylistEvaluator{
+		ds:         ds,
+		buffer:     make(map[string]struct{}),
+		wakeSignal: make(chan struct{}, 1),
+	}
+	go e.run()
+	return e
+}
+
+type smartPlaylistEvaluator struct {
+	ds         model.DataStore
+	buffer     map[string]struct{}
+	mutex      sync.Mutex
+	wakeSignal chan struct{}
+}
+
+func (e *smartPlaylistEvaluator) Enqueue(playlistID string) {
+	e.mutex.Lock()
+	defer e.mutex.Unlock()
+	e.buffer[playlistID] = struct{}{}
+	e.sendWakeSignal()
+}
+
+func (e *smartPlaylistEvaluator) sendWakeSignal() {
+	select {
+	case e.wakeSignal <- struct{}{}:
+	default:
+	}
+}
+
+func (e *smartPlaylistEvaluator) run() {
+	for {
+		e.waitSignal(10 * time.Second)
+
+		e.mutex.Lock()
+		if len(e.buffer) == 0 {
+			e.mutex.Unlock()
+			continue
+		}
+
+		batch := slices.Collect(maps.Keys(e.buffer))
+		e.buffer = make(map[string]struct{})
+		e.mutex.Unlock()
+
+		e.processBatch(batch)
+	}
+}
+
+func (e *smartPlaylistEvaluator) waitSignal(timeout time.Duration) {
+	select {
+	case <-time.After(timeout):
+	case <-e.wakeSignal:
+	}
+}
+
+func (e *smartPlaylistEvaluator) processBatch(batch []string) {
+	log.Debug("Evaluating smart playlists in background", "count", len(batch))
+	for _, id := range batch {
+		e.doEvaluate(id)
+	}
+}
+
+func (e *smartPlaylistEvaluator) doEvaluate(id string) {
+	// Use admin context so userFilter() returns all playlists.
+	// Evaluate() internally uses pls.OwnerID for annotation JOINs.
+	ctx := auth.WithAdminUser(context.TODO(), e.ds)
+
+	start := time.Now()
+	err := e.ds.Playlist(ctx).Evaluate(id)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Error("Error evaluating smart playlist in background", "id", id, err)
+		return
+	}
+	log.Debug("Background smart playlist evaluation complete", "id", id, "elapsed", time.Since(start))
+}
+
+// NoopSmartPlaylistEvaluator returns an evaluator that does nothing.
+// Used in CLI scan and test contexts.
+func NoopSmartPlaylistEvaluator() SmartPlaylistEvaluator {
+	return &noopSmartPlaylistEvaluator{}
+}
+
+type noopSmartPlaylistEvaluator struct{}
+
+func (n *noopSmartPlaylistEvaluator) Enqueue(string) {}
diff --git a/core/playlists/evaluator_test.go b/core/playlists/evaluator_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8aad7c814
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/playlists/evaluator_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+package playlists_test
+
+import (
+	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
+	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
+
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/core/playlists"
+)
+
+var _ = Describe("SmartPlaylistEvaluator", func() {
+	Describe("NoopSmartPlaylistEvaluator", func() {
+		It("does not panic when enqueuing", func() {
+			noop := playlists.NoopSmartPlaylistEvaluator()
+			Expect(func() { noop.Enqueue("some-id") }).ToNot(Panic())
+		})
+	})
+})