diff --git a/src/app/(frontend)/awards/page.tsx b/src/app/(frontend)/awards/page.tsx
index c45492c..ad8bb16 100644
--- a/src/app/(frontend)/awards/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(frontend)/awards/page.tsx
@@ -73,8 +73,17 @@ export default async function AwardsPage() {
               {section.items.map((award) => {
                 const awardImage =
                   typeof award.image === "object" && award.image ? (award.image as Media) : null;
+                const backgroundImage =
+                  typeof award.backgroundImage === "object" && award.backgroundImage
+                    ? (award.backgroundImage as Media)
+                    : null;
                 return (
-                  <AwardWithGrantButton key={award.id} award={award} awardImage={awardImage} />
+                  <AwardWithGrantButton
+                    key={award.id}
+                    award={award}
+                    awardImage={awardImage}
+                    backgroundImage={backgroundImage}
+                  />
                 );
               })}
             </div>
diff --git a/src/app/(frontend)/profile/[username]/page.tsx b/src/app/(frontend)/profile/[username]/page.tsx
index a22bff2..5d16ba0 100644
--- a/src/app/(frontend)/profile/[username]/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(frontend)/profile/[username]/page.tsx
@@ -623,7 +623,18 @@ export default async function ProfilePage({ params }: ProfilePageProps) {
               .map((award) => {
                 const awardImage =
                   award.image && typeof award.image === "object" ? (award.image as Media) : null;
-                return <AwardCard key={award.id} awardImage={awardImage} award={award} />;
+                const backgroundImage =
+                  award.backgroundImage && typeof award.backgroundImage === "object"
+                    ? (award.backgroundImage as Media)
+                    : null;
+                return (
+                  <AwardCard
+                    key={award.id}
+                    awardImage={awardImage}
+                    backgroundImage={backgroundImage}
+                    award={award}
+                  />
+                );
               })}
           </div>
         ) : (
diff --git a/src/app/(frontend)/styles.css b/src/app/(frontend)/styles.css
index ef60743..5afc001 100644
--- a/src/app/(frontend)/styles.css
+++ b/src/app/(frontend)/styles.css
@@ -406,38 +406,69 @@
 
 .medal-card::after {
   content: "";
+  z-index: 2;
   background: radial-gradient(circle, transparent, rgb(253 224 71 / 0.1));
   position: absolute;
   inset: 0;
   animation: pulse 5s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.6, 1) infinite;
+  pointer-events: none;
+}
+
+.medal-card > .medal-card-bg,
+.medal-card > .medal-card-scrim {
+  position: absolute !important;
+  inset: 0;
+  z-index: 0 !important;
+}
+
+.medal-card > .medal-card-bg {
+  width: 100%;
+  height: 100%;
+  border-radius: inherit;
+}
+
+.medal-card > .medal-card-scrim {
+  border-radius: inherit;
+  background-color: rgb(0 0 0 / 0.42);
+  box-shadow: inset 0 0 2.25rem rgb(0 0 0 / 0.38);
+}
+
+.medal-card.medal-card-overflow {
+  overflow: visible;
 }
 
 .award-xp-high {
-    background: linear-gradient(110deg, rgb(245 158 11), rgb(254 249 195), rgb(250 204 21), rgb(245 158 11));
-    background-size: 200% auto;
-    background-clip: text;
-    -webkit-background-clip: text;
-    color: transparent;
-    filter: drop-shadow(0 0 0.3rem rgb(250 204 21 / 0.35));
-    animation: award-xp-shimmer 2.5s linear infinite;
+  background: linear-gradient(
+    110deg,
+    rgb(245 158 11),
+    rgb(254 249 195),
+    rgb(250 204 21),
+    rgb(245 158 11)
+  );
+  background-size: 200% auto;
+  background-clip: text;
+  -webkit-background-clip: text;
+  color: transparent;
+  filter: drop-shadow(0 0 0.3rem rgb(250 204 21 / 0.35));
+  animation: award-xp-shimmer 2.5s linear infinite;
 }
 
 @keyframes award-xp-shimmer {
-    to {
-        background-position: 200% center;
-    }
+  to {
+    background-position: 200% center;
+  }
 }
 
 @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
-    .award-xp-high {
-        animation: none;
-    }
+  .award-xp-high {
+    animation: none;
+  }
 }
 
 .commendation-card {
-    align-self: start;
-    gap: 0.5rem;
-    padding: 0.625rem 0.75rem;
+  align-self: start;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+  padding: 0.625rem 0.75rem;
 }
 
 /* Scrollbars — styled to match the dark frontend theme */
diff --git a/src/components/frontend/account/AwardCard.tsx b/src/components/frontend/account/AwardCard.tsx
index e2cf406..0eee1df 100644
--- a/src/components/frontend/account/AwardCard.tsx
+++ b/src/components/frontend/account/AwardCard.tsx
@@ -13,7 +13,11 @@ const getExperiencePointsClass = (experiencePoints: number) => {
   return "text-muted-foreground";
 };
 
-export default function AwardCard(props: { awardImage: Media | null; award: Award }) {
+export default function AwardCard(props: {
+  awardImage: Media | null;
+  award: Award;
+  backgroundImage?: Media | null;
+}) {
   const isCommendation = props.award.type === "commendation" || !props.award.type;
   const commendationColor =
     isCommendation &&
@@ -22,12 +26,14 @@ export default function AwardCard(props: { awardImage: Media | null; award: Awar
       ? props.award.commendationColor
       : null;
 
+  const bgUrl = props.backgroundImage?.url;
+
   return (
     <Item
       variant="outline"
       size={isCommendation ? "sm" : "default"}
-      className={cn("text-center", {
-        "medal-card": props.award.type === "medal",
+      className={cn("relative overflow-hidden text-center", {
+        "medal-card medal-card-overflow": props.award.type === "medal",
         "commendation-card self-start h-fit": isCommendation,
       })}
       style={
@@ -39,7 +45,21 @@ export default function AwardCard(props: { awardImage: Media | null; award: Awar
           : undefined
       }
     >
-      <ItemHeader className="flex flex-col items-center">
+      {bgUrl && (
+        <>
+          <img
+            src={bgUrl}
+            alt=""
+            aria-hidden
+            className="medal-card-bg absolute inset-0 w-full h-full object-cover pointer-events-none select-none"
+          />
+          <div
+            aria-hidden
+            className="medal-card-scrim absolute inset-0 pointer-events-none bg-gradient-to-b from-background/70 via-background/60 to-background/80"
+          />
+        </>
+      )}
+      <ItemHeader className="relative z-10 flex flex-col items-center">
         {props.award.ribbonDesign && (
           <RibbonViewer
             ribbonDesign={props.award.ribbonDesign as RibbonDesign}
@@ -69,7 +89,7 @@ export default function AwardCard(props: { awardImage: Media | null; award: Awar
           </div>
         </div>
       </ItemHeader>
-      <ItemContent>
+      <ItemContent className="relative z-10">
         <ItemDescription
           className={cn("text-center", isCommendation ? "line-clamp-none text-xs" : "line-clamp-3")}
         >
diff --git a/src/components/frontend/account/AwardListingCard.tsx b/src/components/frontend/account/AwardListingCard.tsx
index 0d4ead9..39b9a87 100644
--- a/src/components/frontend/account/AwardListingCard.tsx
+++ b/src/components/frontend/account/AwardListingCard.tsx
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import { AwardIcon, LockIcon } from "lucide-react";
 interface AwardListingCardProps {
   award: Award;
   awardImage?: Media | null;
+  backgroundImage?: Media | null;
   showGrantButton?: boolean;
   onGrantClick?: () => void;
   canGrant?: boolean | null;
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ interface AwardListingCardProps {
 export function AwardListingCard({
   award,
   awardImage,
+  backgroundImage,
   showGrantButton = false,
   onGrantClick,
   canGrant,
@@ -42,16 +44,31 @@ export function AwardListingCard({
     typeof award.ribbonDesign === "object" &&
     Array.isArray((award.ribbonDesign as RibbonDesign).stripes);
   const hasArt = hasRibbonArt || Boolean(awardImage?.url);
+  const bgUrl = backgroundImage?.url;
 
   return (
     <Item
       variant="outline"
       className={cn(
-        "min-w-0 h-full flex flex-col flex-nowrap text-center",
-        isMedal && "justify-center medal-card",
+        "relative overflow-hidden min-w-0 h-full flex flex-col flex-nowrap text-center",
+        isMedal && "justify-center medal-card medal-card-overflow",
       )}
     >
-      <ItemHeader className={cn("flex flex-col items-center gap-2", isMedal && "justify-center")}>
+      {bgUrl && (
+        <>
+          <img
+            src={bgUrl}
+            alt=""
+            aria-hidden
+            className="medal-card-bg absolute inset-0 w-full h-full object-cover pointer-events-none select-none"
+          />
+          <div
+            aria-hidden
+            className="medal-card-scrim absolute inset-0 pointer-events-none bg-gradient-to-b from-background/70 via-background/60 to-background/80"
+          />
+        </>
+      )}
+      <ItemHeader className={cn("relative z-10 flex flex-col items-center gap-2", isMedal && "justify-center")}>
         {hasArt && (
           <div
             className={cn(
@@ -80,7 +97,7 @@ export function AwardListingCard({
         </span>
       </ItemHeader>
 
-      <ItemContent className="flex flex-col gap-2">
+      <ItemContent className="relative z-10 flex flex-col gap-2">
         <ItemDescription className="min-w-0 break-words text-center text-sm leading-relaxed">
           {award.description
             ? convertLexicalToPlaintext({ data: award.description })
@@ -94,7 +111,7 @@ export function AwardListingCard({
       </ItemContent>
 
       {showGrantButton && (
-        <div className="mt-auto w-full">
+        <div className="relative z-10 mt-auto w-full">
           {canGrant === false ? (
             <Button
               variant="outline"
diff --git a/src/components/frontend/account/AwardWithGrantButton.tsx b/src/components/frontend/account/AwardWithGrantButton.tsx
index 9aa30e5..072d59e 100644
--- a/src/components/frontend/account/AwardWithGrantButton.tsx
+++ b/src/components/frontend/account/AwardWithGrantButton.tsx
@@ -11,9 +11,10 @@ import { getGrantStats } from "@/app/(frontend)/awards/grant-context";
 interface AwardWithGrantButtonProps {
   award: Award;
   awardImage?: Media | null;
+  backgroundImage?: Media | null;
 }
 
-export function AwardWithGrantButton({ award, awardImage }: AwardWithGrantButtonProps) {
+export function AwardWithGrantButton({ award, awardImage, backgroundImage }: AwardWithGrantButtonProps) {
   const [open, setOpen] = useState(false);
   const [canGrant, setCanGrant] = useState<boolean | null>(null);
   const [remainingGrants, setRemainingGrants] = useState<number | null | undefined>(undefined);
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ export function AwardWithGrantButton({ award, awardImage }: AwardWithGrantButton
       <AwardListingCard
         award={award}
         awardImage={awardImage}
+        backgroundImage={backgroundImage}
         showGrantButton
         onGrantClick={() => setOpen(true)}
         canGrant={canGrant}