diff --git a/db/db.go b/db/db.go
index 0945d1a00..ac795cd5c 100644
--- a/db/db.go
+++ b/db/db.go
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ import (
 	"embed"
 	"fmt"
 	"runtime"
+	"strings"
 
+	"github.com/maruel/natural"
 	"github.com/mattn/go-sqlite3"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf"
 	_ "github.com/navidrome/navidrome/db/migrations"
@@ -31,7 +33,12 @@ func Db() *sql.DB {
 	return singleton.GetInstance(func() *sql.DB {
 		sql.Register(Driver, &sqlite3.SQLiteDriver{
 			ConnectHook: func(conn *sqlite3.SQLiteConn) error {
-				return conn.RegisterFunc("SEEDEDRAND", hasher.HashFunc(), false)
+				if err := conn.RegisterFunc("SEEDEDRAND", hasher.HashFunc(), false); err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				return conn.RegisterCollation("NATURALSORT", func(a, b string) int {
+					return natural.Compare(strings.ToLower(a), strings.ToLower(b))
+				})
 			},
 		})
 		Path = conf.Server.DbPath
diff --git a/db/migrations/20260216200000_add_natural_sort_collation_indexes.sql b/db/migrations/20260216200000_add_natural_sort_collation_indexes.sql
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a92234ba6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrations/20260216200000_add_natural_sort_collation_indexes.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+-- +goose Up
+
+-- Change order_*/sort_* column collation from NOCASE to NATURALSORT.
+-- This way bare ORDER BY on these columns automatically uses natural sorting,
+-- without needing explicit COLLATE NATURALSORT in every query.
+PRAGMA writable_schema = ON;
+UPDATE sqlite_master
+SET sql = replace(sql, 'collate NOCASE', 'collate NATURALSORT')
+WHERE type = 'table' AND name IN ('artist', 'album', 'media_file', 'playlist', 'radio');
+PRAGMA writable_schema = OFF;
+
+-- Recreate indexes on order_* and sort expression fields to use NATURALSORT collation.
+-- This enables natural number ordering (e.g., "Album 2" before "Album 10").
+
+-- Artist indexes
+drop index if exists artist_order_artist_name;
+create index artist_order_artist_name
+    on artist (order_artist_name collate NATURALSORT);
+
+drop index if exists artist_sort_name;
+create index artist_sort_name
+    on artist (coalesce(nullif(sort_artist_name,''),order_artist_name) collate NATURALSORT);
+
+-- Album indexes
+drop index if exists album_order_album_name;
+create index album_order_album_name
+    on album (order_album_name collate NATURALSORT);
+
+drop index if exists album_order_album_artist_name;
+create index album_order_album_artist_name
+    on album (order_album_artist_name collate NATURALSORT);
+
+drop index if exists album_alphabetical_by_artist;
+create index album_alphabetical_by_artist
+    on album (compilation, order_album_artist_name collate NATURALSORT, order_album_name collate NATURALSORT);
+
+drop index if exists album_sort_name;
+create index album_sort_name
+    on album (coalesce(nullif(sort_album_name,''),order_album_name) collate NATURALSORT);
+
+drop index if exists album_sort_album_artist_name;
+create index album_sort_album_artist_name
+    on album (coalesce(nullif(sort_album_artist_name,''),order_album_artist_name) collate NATURALSORT);
+
+-- Media file indexes
+drop index if exists media_file_order_title;
+create index media_file_order_title
+    on media_file (order_title collate NATURALSORT);
+
+drop index if exists media_file_order_album_name;
+create index media_file_order_album_name
+    on media_file (order_album_name collate NATURALSORT);
+
+drop index if exists media_file_order_artist_name;
+create index media_file_order_artist_name
+    on media_file (order_artist_name collate NATURALSORT);
+
+drop index if exists media_file_sort_title;
+create index media_file_sort_title
+    on media_file (coalesce(nullif(sort_title,''),order_title) collate NATURALSORT);
+
+drop index if exists media_file_sort_artist_name;
+create index media_file_sort_artist_name
+    on media_file (coalesce(nullif(sort_artist_name,''),order_artist_name) collate NATURALSORT);
+
+drop index if exists media_file_sort_album_name;
+create index media_file_sort_album_name
+    on media_file (coalesce(nullif(sort_album_name,''),order_album_name) collate NATURALSORT);
+
+-- Playlist and radio indexes: recreate to match new NATURALSORT column collation
+drop index if exists playlist_name;
+create index playlist_name
+    on playlist (name collate NATURALSORT);
+
+drop index if exists radio_name;
+create index radio_name
+    on radio (name collate NATURALSORT);
+
+-- +goose Down
+
+-- Restore NOCASE column collation
+PRAGMA writable_schema = ON;
+UPDATE sqlite_master
+SET sql = replace(sql, 'collate NATURALSORT', 'collate NOCASE')
+WHERE type = 'table' AND name IN ('artist', 'album', 'media_file', 'playlist', 'radio');
+PRAGMA writable_schema = OFF;
+
+-- Restore NOCASE collation indexes
+
+-- Artist indexes
+drop index if exists artist_order_artist_name;
+create index artist_order_artist_name
+    on artist (order_artist_name);
+
+drop index if exists artist_sort_name;
+create index artist_sort_name
+    on artist (coalesce(nullif(sort_artist_name,''),order_artist_name) collate NOCASE);
+
+-- Album indexes
+drop index if exists album_order_album_name;
+create index album_order_album_name
+    on album (order_album_name);
+
+drop index if exists album_order_album_artist_name;
+create index album_order_album_artist_name
+    on album (order_album_artist_name);
+
+drop index if exists album_alphabetical_by_artist;
+create index album_alphabetical_by_artist
+    on album (compilation, order_album_artist_name, order_album_name);
+
+drop index if exists album_sort_name;
+create index album_sort_name
+    on album (coalesce(nullif(sort_album_name,''),order_album_name) collate NOCASE);
+
+drop index if exists album_sort_album_artist_name;
+create index album_sort_album_artist_name
+    on album (coalesce(nullif(sort_album_artist_name,''),order_album_artist_name) collate NOCASE);
+
+-- Media file indexes
+drop index if exists media_file_order_title;
+create index media_file_order_title
+    on media_file (order_title);
+
+drop index if exists media_file_order_album_name;
+create index media_file_order_album_name
+    on media_file (order_album_name);
+
+drop index if exists media_file_order_artist_name;
+create index media_file_order_artist_name
+    on media_file (order_artist_name);
+
+drop index if exists media_file_sort_title;
+create index media_file_sort_title
+    on media_file (coalesce(nullif(sort_title,''),order_title) collate NOCASE);
+
+drop index if exists media_file_sort_artist_name;
+create index media_file_sort_artist_name
+    on media_file (coalesce(nullif(sort_artist_name,''),order_artist_name) collate NOCASE);
+
+drop index if exists media_file_sort_album_name;
+create index media_file_sort_album_name
+    on media_file (coalesce(nullif(sort_album_name,''),order_album_name) collate NOCASE);
+
+-- Restore playlist and radio indexes
+drop index if exists playlist_name;
+create index playlist_name
+    on playlist (name);
+
+drop index if exists radio_name;
+create index radio_name
+    on radio (name);
diff --git a/persistence/collation_test.go b/persistence/collation_test.go
index bb1276577..61a28c106 100644
--- a/persistence/collation_test.go
+++ b/persistence/collation_test.go
@@ -17,45 +17,45 @@ import (
 var _ = Describe("Collation", func() {
 	conn := db.Db()
 	DescribeTable("Column collation",
-		func(table, column string) {
-			Expect(checkCollation(conn, table, column)).To(Succeed())
+		func(table, column, expectedCollation string) {
+			Expect(checkCollation(conn, table, column, expectedCollation)).To(Succeed())
 		},
-		Entry("artist.order_artist_name", "artist", "order_artist_name"),
-		Entry("artist.sort_artist_name", "artist", "sort_artist_name"),
-		Entry("album.order_album_name", "album", "order_album_name"),
-		Entry("album.order_album_artist_name", "album", "order_album_artist_name"),
-		Entry("album.sort_album_name", "album", "sort_album_name"),
-		Entry("album.sort_album_artist_name", "album", "sort_album_artist_name"),
-		Entry("media_file.order_title", "media_file", "order_title"),
-		Entry("media_file.order_album_name", "media_file", "order_album_name"),
-		Entry("media_file.order_artist_name", "media_file", "order_artist_name"),
-		Entry("media_file.sort_title", "media_file", "sort_title"),
-		Entry("media_file.sort_album_name", "media_file", "sort_album_name"),
-		Entry("media_file.sort_artist_name", "media_file", "sort_artist_name"),
-		Entry("playlist.name", "playlist", "name"),
-		Entry("radio.name", "radio", "name"),
-		Entry("user.name", "user", "name"),
+		Entry("artist.order_artist_name", "artist", "order_artist_name", "NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("artist.sort_artist_name", "artist", "sort_artist_name", "NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("album.order_album_name", "album", "order_album_name", "NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("album.order_album_artist_name", "album", "order_album_artist_name", "NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("album.sort_album_name", "album", "sort_album_name", "NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("album.sort_album_artist_name", "album", "sort_album_artist_name", "NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("media_file.order_title", "media_file", "order_title", "NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("media_file.order_album_name", "media_file", "order_album_name", "NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("media_file.order_artist_name", "media_file", "order_artist_name", "NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("media_file.sort_title", "media_file", "sort_title", "NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("media_file.sort_album_name", "media_file", "sort_album_name", "NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("media_file.sort_artist_name", "media_file", "sort_artist_name", "NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("playlist.name", "playlist", "name", "NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("radio.name", "radio", "name", "NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("user.name", "user", "name", "NOCASE"),
 	)
 
 	DescribeTable("Index collation",
 		func(table, column string) {
 			Expect(checkIndexUsage(conn, table, column)).To(Succeed())
 		},
-		Entry("artist.order_artist_name", "artist", "order_artist_name collate nocase"),
-		Entry("artist.sort_artist_name", "artist", "coalesce(nullif(sort_artist_name,''),order_artist_name) collate nocase"),
-		Entry("album.order_album_name", "album", "order_album_name collate nocase"),
-		Entry("album.order_album_artist_name", "album", "order_album_artist_name collate nocase"),
-		Entry("album.sort_album_name", "album", "coalesce(nullif(sort_album_name,''),order_album_name) collate nocase"),
-		Entry("album.sort_album_artist_name", "album", "coalesce(nullif(sort_album_artist_name,''),order_album_artist_name) collate nocase"),
-		Entry("media_file.order_title", "media_file", "order_title collate nocase"),
-		Entry("media_file.order_album_name", "media_file", "order_album_name collate nocase"),
-		Entry("media_file.order_artist_name", "media_file", "order_artist_name collate nocase"),
-		Entry("media_file.sort_title", "media_file", "coalesce(nullif(sort_title,''),order_title) collate nocase"),
-		Entry("media_file.sort_album_name", "media_file", "coalesce(nullif(sort_album_name,''),order_album_name) collate nocase"),
-		Entry("media_file.sort_artist_name", "media_file", "coalesce(nullif(sort_artist_name,''),order_artist_name) collate nocase"),
+		Entry("artist.order_artist_name", "artist", "order_artist_name collate NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("artist.sort_artist_name", "artist", "coalesce(nullif(sort_artist_name,''),order_artist_name) collate NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("album.order_album_name", "album", "order_album_name collate NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("album.order_album_artist_name", "album", "order_album_artist_name collate NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("album.sort_album_name", "album", "coalesce(nullif(sort_album_name,''),order_album_name) collate NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("album.sort_album_artist_name", "album", "coalesce(nullif(sort_album_artist_name,''),order_album_artist_name) collate NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("media_file.order_title", "media_file", "order_title collate NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("media_file.order_album_name", "media_file", "order_album_name collate NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("media_file.order_artist_name", "media_file", "order_artist_name collate NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("media_file.sort_title", "media_file", "coalesce(nullif(sort_title,''),order_title) collate NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("media_file.sort_album_name", "media_file", "coalesce(nullif(sort_album_name,''),order_album_name) collate NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("media_file.sort_artist_name", "media_file", "coalesce(nullif(sort_artist_name,''),order_artist_name) collate NATURALSORT"),
 		Entry("media_file.path", "media_file", "path collate nocase"),
-		Entry("playlist.name", "playlist", "name collate nocase"),
-		Entry("radio.name", "radio", "name collate nocase"),
+		Entry("playlist.name", "playlist", "name collate NATURALSORT"),
+		Entry("radio.name", "radio", "name collate NATURALSORT"),
 		Entry("user.user_name", "user", "user_name collate nocase"),
 	)
 })
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ order by %[2]s`, table, column))
 	return errors.New("no rows returned")
 }
 
-func checkCollation(conn *sql.DB, table string, column string) error {
+func checkCollation(conn *sql.DB, table, column, expectedCollation string) error {
 	rows, err := conn.Query(fmt.Sprintf("SELECT sql FROM sqlite_master WHERE type='table' AND tbl_name='%s'", table))
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -113,12 +113,12 @@ func checkCollation(conn *sql.DB, table string, column string) error {
 		if !re.MatchString(res) {
 			return fmt.Errorf("column '%s' not found in table '%s'", column, table)
 		}
-		re = regexp.MustCompile(fmt.Sprintf(`(?i)\b%s\b.*collate\s+NOCASE`, column))
+		re = regexp.MustCompile(fmt.Sprintf(`(?i)\b%s\b.*collate\s+%s`, column, expectedCollation))
 		if re.MatchString(res) {
 			return nil
 		}
 	} else {
 		return fmt.Errorf("table '%s' not found", table)
 	}
-	return fmt.Errorf("column '%s' in table '%s' does not have NOCASE collation", column, table)
+	return fmt.Errorf("column '%s' in table '%s' does not have %s collation", column, table, expectedCollation)
 }
diff --git a/persistence/helpers.go b/persistence/helpers.go
index fd6a9a4cd..3f58b3480 100644
--- a/persistence/helpers.go
+++ b/persistence/helpers.go
@@ -82,11 +82,11 @@ func (e existsCond) ToSql() (string, []any, error) {
 
 var sortOrderRegex = regexp.MustCompile(`order_([a-z_]+)`)
 
-// Convert the order_* columns to an expression using sort_* columns. Example:
-// sort_album_name -> (coalesce(nullif(sort_album_name,”),order_album_name) collate nocase)
+// mapSortOrder converts order_* columns to an expression using sort_* columns with NATURALSORT collation. Example:
+// order_album_name -> (coalesce(nullif(sort_album_name,”),order_album_name) collate NATURALSORT)
 // It finds order column names anywhere in the substring
 func mapSortOrder(tableName, order string) string {
 	order = strings.ToLower(order)
-	repl := fmt.Sprintf("(coalesce(nullif(%[1]s.sort_$1,''),%[1]s.order_$1) collate nocase)", tableName)
+	repl := fmt.Sprintf("(coalesce(nullif(%[1]s.sort_$1,''),%[1]s.order_$1) collate NATURALSORT)", tableName)
 	return sortOrderRegex.ReplaceAllString(order, repl)
 }
diff --git a/persistence/helpers_test.go b/persistence/helpers_test.go
index 85893ef55..dfb7c3f21 100644
--- a/persistence/helpers_test.go
+++ b/persistence/helpers_test.go
@@ -94,13 +94,13 @@ var _ = Describe("Helpers", func() {
 			sort := "ORDER_ALBUM_NAME asc"
 			mapped := mapSortOrder("album", sort)
 			Expect(mapped).To(Equal(`(coalesce(nullif(album.sort_album_name,''),album.order_album_name)` +
-				` collate nocase) asc`))
+				` collate NATURALSORT) asc`))
 		})
 		It("changes multiple order columns to sort expressions", func() {
 			sort := "compilation, order_title asc, order_album_artist_name desc, year desc"
 			mapped := mapSortOrder("album", sort)
-			Expect(mapped).To(Equal(`compilation, (coalesce(nullif(album.sort_title,''),album.order_title) collate nocase) asc,` +
-				` (coalesce(nullif(album.sort_album_artist_name,''),album.order_album_artist_name) collate nocase) desc, year desc`))
+			Expect(mapped).To(Equal(`compilation, (coalesce(nullif(album.sort_title,''),album.order_title) collate NATURALSORT) asc,` +
+				` (coalesce(nullif(album.sort_album_artist_name,''),album.order_album_artist_name) collate NATURALSORT) desc, year desc`))
 		})
 	})
 })
diff --git a/persistence/sql_base_repository.go b/persistence/sql_base_repository.go
index fd263d37b..64968670c 100644
--- a/persistence/sql_base_repository.go
+++ b/persistence/sql_base_repository.go
@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ func (r *sqlRepository) registerModel(instance any, filters map[string]filterFun
 //
 // If PreferSortTags is enabled, it will map the order fields to the corresponding sort expression,
 // which gives precedence to sort tags.
-// Ex: order_title => (coalesce(nullif(sort_title,”),order_title) collate nocase)
-// To avoid performance issues, indexes should be created for these sort expressions
+// Ex: order_title => (coalesce(nullif(sort_title,""), order_title) collate NATURALSORT)
+// To avoid performance issues, indexes should be created for these sort expressions.
 //
 // NOTE: if an individual item has spaces, it should be wrapped in parentheses. For example,
 // you should write "(lyrics != '[]')". This prevents the item being split unexpectedly.