diff --git a/apps/web/src/app/l/[joinCode]/page.tsx b/apps/web/src/app/l/[joinCode]/page.tsx
index 60a325a7..d7a58c22 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/app/l/[joinCode]/page.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/app/l/[joinCode]/page.tsx
@@ -117,6 +117,9 @@ export default async function LiveDetailPage({ params }: PageProps) {
   const when = session.published_at ?? session.created_at;
   const nonce = (await headers()).get('x-nonce') ?? undefined;
   const snippet = iframeSnippet(session.join_code, { title: session.subject });
+  // A stream is credited to its channel when it has one — see the name link
+  // below — so the avatar follows the same precedence.
+  const avatarUrl = session.channel_avatar_url ?? session.host_avatar_url;
 
   return (
     <div className="flex min-h-screen flex-col">
@@ -177,13 +180,9 @@ export default async function LiveDetailPage({ params }: PageProps) {
           </h1>
 
           <div className="mt-3 flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-gray-600">
-            {session.host_avatar_url ? (
+            {avatarUrl ? (
               // eslint-disable-next-line @next/next/no-img-element
-              <img
-                src={session.host_avatar_url}
-                alt=""
-                className="h-7 w-7 rounded-full object-cover"
-              />
+              <img src={avatarUrl} alt="" className="h-7 w-7 rounded-full object-cover" />
             ) : (
               <div className="flex h-7 w-7 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-gray-200">
                 <UserIcon className="h-4 w-4 text-gray-400" />
diff --git a/packages/shared-types/src/database.ts b/packages/shared-types/src/database.ts
index 006ec0ff..c88f91a7 100644
--- a/packages/shared-types/src/database.ts
+++ b/packages/shared-types/src/database.ts
@@ -226,6 +226,7 @@ export interface PublicSessionDetail {
   liked: boolean;
   channel_handle: string | null;
   channel_name: string | null;
+  channel_avatar_url: string | null;
   /** Playback URL of the latest finished recording, when available. */
   recording_url: string | null;
 }
diff --git a/supabase/migrations/20260829120000_public_session_channel_avatar.sql b/supabase/migrations/20260829120000_public_session_channel_avatar.sql
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..11b0e858
--- /dev/null
+++ b/supabase/migrations/20260829120000_public_session_channel_avatar.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+-- The live page (/l/<join_code>) credits a stream to its channel — the name it
+-- links is ch.name, falling back to the host's profile only when the session
+-- has no channel. The avatar beside that name did not follow the same rule: it
+-- only ever read profiles.avatar_url, which nothing in the app writes, so every
+-- public live rendered the grey placeholder even when the channel had artwork.
+--
+-- Expose the channel's avatar alongside the host's so the page can mirror the
+-- precedence its name link already uses.
+
+DROP FUNCTION IF EXISTS public.get_public_session(text);
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION public.get_public_session(p_join_code text)
+RETURNS TABLE(
+  id uuid, join_code text, subject text, description text, banner_url text,
+  status session_status, is_live boolean, viewer_count bigint,
+  published_at timestamptz, created_at timestamptz,
+  host_username text, host_display_name text, host_avatar_url text,
+  like_count bigint, comment_count bigint, liked boolean,
+  channel_handle text, channel_name text, channel_avatar_url text,
+  recording_url text
+)
+LANGUAGE plpgsql STABLE SECURITY DEFINER SET search_path TO 'public' AS $function$
+DECLARE live_ttl CONSTANT interval := interval '90 seconds';
+BEGIN
+  RETURN QUERY
+  SELECT s.id, s.join_code, s.subject, s.description, s.banner_url, s.status,
+    (s.current_host_id IS NOT NULL AND s.host_last_seen_at > NOW() - live_ttl) AS is_live,
+    (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM public.session_participants sp WHERE sp.session_id = s.id AND sp.left_at IS NULL),
+    s.published_at, s.created_at, p.username, p.display_name, p.avatar_url,
+    (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM public.session_likes sl WHERE sl.session_id = s.id),
+    (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM public.session_comments sc WHERE sc.session_id = s.id),
+    (auth.uid() IS NOT NULL AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM public.session_likes sl WHERE sl.session_id = s.id AND sl.user_id = auth.uid())),
+    ch.handle, ch.name, ch.avatar_url,
+    (SELECT r.playback_url FROM public.recordings r
+      WHERE r.session_id = s.id AND r.status = 'ready' AND r.playback_url IS NOT NULL
+      ORDER BY r.created_at DESC LIMIT 1)
+  FROM public.sessions s
+  JOIN public.profiles p ON p.id = s.creator_id
+  LEFT JOIN public.channels ch ON ch.id = s.channel_id
+  WHERE s.is_public = TRUE AND lower(s.join_code) = lower(btrim(COALESCE(p_join_code, ''))) LIMIT 1;
+END; $function$;
+GRANT EXECUTE ON FUNCTION public.get_public_session(text) TO anon, authenticated;