diff --git a/src/modules/activities/components/ActivityCard.vue b/src/modules/activities/components/ActivityCard.vue
index 5eb919c..6247635 100644
--- a/src/modules/activities/components/ActivityCard.vue
+++ b/src/modules/activities/components/ActivityCard.vue
@@ -62,19 +62,46 @@ const isPast = computed(() => {
   if (!end || isNaN(end.getTime())) return false
   return end.getTime() < Date.now()
 })
+
+// Pending / rejected events get a washed-out look so the user
+// sees at a glance the event isn't live, not just the small badge.
+const isNonApproved = computed(
+  () => !!props.activity.lnbitsStatus && props.activity.lnbitsStatus !== 'approved',
+)
 </script>
 
 <template>
   <Card
-    class="overflow-hidden cursor-pointer hover:shadow-lg transition-shadow duration-200 flex flex-col"
+    class="relative cursor-pointer hover:shadow-lg transition-shadow duration-200"
     @click="emit('click', activity)"
   >
+    <!-- Wash-out wrapper. The pending/rejected status badge below sits
+         OUTSIDE this wrapper so it stays in full color and reads
+         clearly even when the card is dimmed + desaturated. -->
+    <div
+      class="transition-opacity duration-200"
+      :class="[
+        compact ? 'flex flex-row' : 'flex flex-col',
+        isNonApproved ? 'opacity-50 grayscale hover:opacity-90' : '',
+      ]"
+    >
+    <!-- Compact thumbnail — small square preview on the left of the
+         row when the event carries an image. `self-center` keeps it
+         vertically centered against a taller content column so we
+         don't get a top-anchored thumb with dead space below. -->
+    <img
+      v-if="compact && activity.image"
+      :src="activity.image"
+      :alt="activity.title"
+      class="w-20 h-20 object-cover shrink-0 self-center ml-3 rounded-md"
+      loading="lazy"
+    />
     <!-- Image with overlaid badges. Cards without an image (or in
          compact mode) skip the hero area entirely and surface their
          badges inline at the top of the content block — the solid-
          color placeholder + calendar glyph wasn't communicating
          anything the title + details don't already. -->
-    <div v-if="activity.image && !compact" class="relative aspect-[16/9] overflow-hidden">
+    <div v-if="activity.image && !compact" class="relative aspect-[16/9] overflow-hidden rounded-t-lg">
       <img
         :src="activity.image"
         :alt="activity.title"
@@ -110,27 +137,13 @@ const isPast = computed(() => {
         {{ priceDisplay }}
       </Badge>
 
-      <!-- Pending/rejected overlay for the creator's own non-approved
-           drafts. Only present when the activity originated from a
-           local LNbits event (Nostr-sourced activities have no
-           lnbitsStatus). -->
+      <!-- Past badge — shown when the activity has already ended. The
+           pending/rejected status badge that used to share this slot
+           is now an absolute overlay on Card root, above the wash-out,
+           so we still suppress Past when isNonApproved (the status
+           badge is more actionable in that case). -->
       <Badge
-        v-if="activity.lnbitsStatus && activity.lnbitsStatus !== 'approved'"
-        :variant="activity.lnbitsStatus === 'rejected' ? 'destructive' : 'secondary'"
-        class="absolute bottom-2 left-2 text-xs capitalize"
-      >
-        {{ activity.lnbitsStatus === 'rejected' ? 'Rejected' : 'Pending review' }}
-      </Badge>
-
-      <!-- Past badge — shown when the activity has already ended.
-           Only relevant on the feed when the "Past events" filter
-           chip is toggled on (otherwise these cards aren't rendered);
-           on the detail page the card view isn't used. Suppressed
-           when a pending/rejected status badge is taking the same
-           slot — that case is the creator's own past draft, which is
-           vanishingly rare and the status hint is more actionable. -->
-      <Badge
-        v-if="isPast && !(activity.lnbitsStatus && activity.lnbitsStatus !== 'approved')"
+        v-if="isPast && !isNonApproved"
         variant="outline"
         class="absolute bottom-2 left-2 text-xs gap-1 bg-background/80 backdrop-blur"
       >
@@ -158,14 +171,7 @@ const isPast = computed(() => {
           Yours
         </Badge>
         <Badge
-          v-if="activity.lnbitsStatus && activity.lnbitsStatus !== 'approved'"
-          :variant="activity.lnbitsStatus === 'rejected' ? 'destructive' : 'secondary'"
-          class="text-xs capitalize"
-        >
-          {{ activity.lnbitsStatus === 'rejected' ? 'Rejected' : 'Pending review' }}
-        </Badge>
-        <Badge
-          v-if="isPast && !(activity.lnbitsStatus && activity.lnbitsStatus !== 'approved')"
+          v-if="isPast && !isNonApproved"
           variant="outline"
           class="text-xs gap-1"
         >
@@ -251,5 +257,22 @@ const isPast = computed(() => {
         </div>
       </div>
     </CardContent>
+    </div>
+
+    <!-- Status badge — absolutely positioned on Card root so it sits
+         ABOVE the wash-out wrapper and keeps its full color.
+         Pending + rejected both lean on the destructive token so the
+         non-approved state reads as "needs attention" in every theme;
+         the label text differentiates the two specific states.
+         Bottom-right with a slight downward spill so it anchors
+         visually without competing with the category chip in the
+         badge row (full cards) or the thumbnail (compact cards). -->
+    <Badge
+      v-if="isNonApproved"
+      variant="destructive"
+      class="absolute -bottom-1 right-2 z-10 text-xs capitalize shadow"
+    >
+      {{ activity.lnbitsStatus === 'rejected' ? 'Rejected' : 'Pending review' }}
+    </Badge>
   </Card>
 </template>
diff --git a/src/modules/activities/components/ActivityList.vue b/src/modules/activities/components/ActivityList.vue
index 1e59110..36e7177 100644
--- a/src/modules/activities/components/ActivityList.vue
+++ b/src/modules/activities/components/ActivityList.vue
@@ -52,10 +52,12 @@ const { t } = useI18n()
   </div>
 
   <!-- Activity grid — compact mode collapses to a single column of
-       tight rows; default mode is the responsive card grid. -->
+       tight rows; default mode is the responsive card grid. The
+       compact gap is bumped a notch so the status badge spilling
+       past the card's bottom edge has room to sit between cards. -->
   <div
     v-else
-    :class="compact ? 'flex flex-col gap-2' : 'grid gap-4 sm:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3'"
+    :class="compact ? 'flex flex-col gap-4' : 'grid gap-4 sm:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3'"
   >
     <ActivityCard
       v-for="activity in activities"