diff --git a/admin/src/App.css b/admin/src/App.css
index 590a28f..b38f991 100644
--- a/admin/src/App.css
+++ b/admin/src/App.css
@@ -31,6 +31,23 @@
   padding: 14px 16px 92px; /* bottom padding clears the 70px tab bar */
 }
 
+/* A built screen supplies its own header and 92px-padded scroll column. */
+.admin-panel--screen {
+  padding: 0;
+}
+
+.visually-hidden {
+  position: absolute;
+  width: 1px;
+  height: 1px;
+  margin: -1px;
+  padding: 0;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  clip: rect(0 0 0 0);
+  white-space: nowrap;
+  border: 0;
+}
+
 .admin-placeholder {
   margin: 0;
   padding: 13px;
diff --git a/admin/src/App.test.tsx b/admin/src/App.test.tsx
index 077faa7..61233c1 100644
--- a/admin/src/App.test.tsx
+++ b/admin/src/App.test.tsx
@@ -1,9 +1,17 @@
-import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 import { cleanup, fireEvent, render, screen } from "@testing-library/react";
 import App from "./App";
 
 describe("NestQuest Admin shell", () => {
-  afterEach(cleanup);
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    // The Today tab fetches the admin snapshot; keep the shell tests offline.
+    vi.stubGlobal("fetch", vi.fn(() => new Promise<Response>(() => {})));
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    cleanup();
+    vi.unstubAllGlobals();
+  });
 
   it("renders the title and all four tab labels", () => {
     render(<App />);
@@ -14,12 +22,10 @@ describe("NestQuest Admin shell", () => {
     }
   });
 
-  it("starts on the Today placeholder and switches on tab click", () => {
+  it("starts on the Today screen and switches on tab click", () => {
     render(<App />);
 
-    expect(screen.getByRole("tabpanel").textContent).toContain(
-      "Today placeholder",
-    );
+    expect(screen.getByRole("heading", { name: "Today" })).toBeTruthy();
 
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("tab", { name: "History" }));
 
diff --git a/admin/src/App.tsx b/admin/src/App.tsx
index 6d491c3..10c120d 100644
--- a/admin/src/App.tsx
+++ b/admin/src/App.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { useState } from "react";
 import "./App.css";
+import TodayTab from "./today/TodayTab";
 
 const TABS = [
   { id: "today", label: "Today" },
@@ -12,22 +13,29 @@ type TabId = (typeof TABS)[number]["id"];
 
 export default function App() {
   const [active, setActive] = useState<TabId>("today");
+  // Built screens own their header (ADMIN-SPEC §1); the generic shell header
+  // stays for placeholder tabs and is visually hidden otherwise.
+  const hasScreen = active === "today";
 
   return (
     <div className="admin-shell">
-      <header className="admin-header">
+      <header className={hasScreen ? "admin-header visually-hidden" : "admin-header"}>
         <h1 className="admin-title">NestQuest Admin</h1>
         <p className="admin-subline">Admin console</p>
       </header>
       <main
-        className="admin-panel"
+        className={hasScreen ? "admin-panel admin-panel--screen" : "admin-panel"}
         role="tabpanel"
         aria-labelledby={`tab-${active}`}
       >
-        <p className="admin-placeholder">
-          {TABS.find((tab) => tab.id === active)?.label} placeholder — screens
-          arrive in later tasks.
-        </p>
+        {active === "today" ? (
+          <TodayTab />
+        ) : (
+          <p className="admin-placeholder">
+            {TABS.find((tab) => tab.id === active)?.label} placeholder — screens
+            arrive in later tasks.
+          </p>
+        )}
       </main>
       <nav className="admin-tabbar" aria-label="Admin sections">
         {TABS.map((tab) => (
diff --git a/admin/src/api/snapshot.ts b/admin/src/api/snapshot.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9fa0186
--- /dev/null
+++ b/admin/src/api/snapshot.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/**
+ * Typed client for GET /api/v1/admin/snapshot — today's household snapshot
+ * that drives the admin Today tab.
+ */
+import { apiFetch } from "./client";
+
+export type InstanceWindow = "morning" | "afternoon" | "evening";
+export type InstanceState = "open" | "completed" | "missed";
+
+export interface SnapshotInstance {
+  id: number;
+  definition_id: number;
+  child_id: number;
+  title: string;
+  icon: string | null;
+  window: InstanceWindow;
+  /** Local wall-clock "HH:MM", or null when the definition has no due time. */
+  due_time: string | null;
+  state: InstanceState;
+  overdue: boolean;
+  /** UTC ISO timestamp of the completion event, when completed. */
+  completed_at: string | null;
+  on_time: boolean | null;
+}
+
+export interface SnapshotChild {
+  child_id: number;
+  child_name: string;
+  present: boolean;
+  /** "YYYY-MM-DD" of the next present day, or null. */
+  next_present: string | null;
+  due_today: number;
+  completed_today: number;
+  remaining_today: number;
+  completion_pct: number;
+  instances: SnapshotInstance[];
+}
+
+export interface AdminSnapshot {
+  /** "YYYY-MM-DD" in the household's local zone. */
+  today_iso: string;
+  /** 1-based day in the custody cycle. */
+  cycle_day: number;
+  children: SnapshotChild[];
+}
+
+export const SNAPSHOT_PATH = "/api/v1/admin/snapshot";
+
+export async function fetchSnapshot(): Promise<AdminSnapshot> {
+  const response = await apiFetch(SNAPSHOT_PATH);
+  if (!response.ok) {
+    throw new Error(`Snapshot request failed (HTTP ${response.status}).`);
+  }
+  return (await response.json()) as AdminSnapshot;
+}
diff --git a/admin/src/index.css b/admin/src/index.css
index c23ad87..f1512aa 100644
--- a/admin/src/index.css
+++ b/admin/src/index.css
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 :root {
   --nq-brand-blue: #3b3ab8;
   --nq-brand-purple: #a035cc;
+  --nq-brand-gradient: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--nq-brand-blue), var(--nq-brand-purple));
+  --nq-brand-gradient-h: linear-gradient(90deg, var(--nq-brand-blue), var(--nq-brand-purple));
 
   --nq-a-page: #f4f4f6;
   --nq-a-surface: #ffffff;
@@ -16,8 +18,27 @@
   --nq-a-ink-secondary: #52525e;
   --nq-a-ink-tertiary: #70707e;
 
+  --nq-a-success: #15803d;
+  --nq-a-danger: #dc2626;
+  --nq-a-danger-strong: #b91c1c;
+  --nq-a-info-bg: #dbeafe;
+  --nq-a-info-ink: #1e3a8a;
+  --nq-a-info-icon: #1d4ed8;
+
   --nq-a-font: Nunito, system-ui, sans-serif;
+  --nq-a-size-screen: 24px;
+  --nq-a-size-stat: 22px;
+  --nq-a-size-meta: 11px;
+
+  --nq-a-density-gap: 10px;
+  --nq-a-density-card-pad: 13px;
+  --nq-a-density-row-pad: 11px 13px;
+  --nq-a-density-radius: 8px;
+
   --nq-a-tabbar-height: 70px;
+  --nq-a-tap-min: 44px;
+  --nq-a-radius-pill: 9999px;
+  --nq-a-progress-height: 6px;
 }
 
 * {
diff --git a/admin/src/today/TodayTab.css b/admin/src/today/TodayTab.css
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5c202ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/admin/src/today/TodayTab.css
@@ -0,0 +1,300 @@
+/* Today tab — compact density (design/ADMIN-SPEC.md §2). Mobile-first at the
+   390x844 reference; on wider viewports the column is capped and centred. */
+
+.today-screen {
+  width: 100%;
+  max-width: 640px;
+  margin: 0 auto;
+}
+
+/* §2.1 header */
+.today-header {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  gap: 12px;
+  background: var(--nq-a-surface);
+  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--nq-a-border);
+  padding: 14px 16px;
+}
+
+.today-title {
+  margin: 0;
+  font-size: var(--nq-a-size-screen);
+  font-weight: 800;
+  letter-spacing: -0.02em;
+}
+
+.today-sub {
+  margin: 2px 0 0;
+  min-height: 1.4em;
+  font-size: 12px;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  color: var(--nq-a-ink-secondary);
+}
+
+.today-icon-button {
+  flex: none;
+  display: grid;
+  place-items: center;
+  width: 36px;
+  height: 36px;
+  padding: 0;
+  border: 1px solid var(--nq-a-border);
+  border-radius: var(--nq-a-density-radius);
+  background: var(--nq-a-surface);
+  color: var(--nq-a-ink-secondary);
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+/* Scroll column: 14px 16px, bottom 92px (set inline, ADMIN-SPEC §1). */
+.today-scroll {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: var(--nq-a-density-gap);
+  padding: 14px 16px;
+}
+
+.today-card {
+  background: var(--nq-a-surface);
+  border: 1px solid var(--nq-a-border);
+  border-radius: var(--nq-a-density-radius);
+}
+
+.today-list {
+  margin: 0;
+  padding: 0;
+  list-style: none;
+}
+
+.today-list > li + li {
+  border-top: 1px solid var(--nq-a-divider);
+}
+
+/* §2.2 stat row */
+.today-stats {
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
+  gap: 8px;
+}
+
+.today-stat {
+  padding: 12px;
+  background: var(--nq-a-surface);
+  border: 1px solid var(--nq-a-border);
+  border-radius: var(--nq-a-density-radius);
+}
+
+.today-stat-value {
+  font-size: var(--nq-a-size-stat);
+  font-weight: 800;
+  line-height: 1.1;
+}
+
+.today-stat-value--done {
+  color: var(--nq-brand-blue);
+}
+
+.today-stat-value--remaining {
+  color: var(--nq-a-ink);
+}
+
+.today-stat-value--overdue {
+  color: var(--nq-a-danger);
+}
+
+.today-stat-label {
+  margin-top: 2px;
+  font-size: 10px;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.08em;
+  color: var(--nq-a-ink-secondary);
+}
+
+/* §2.3 child rows */
+.today-child {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 10px;
+  min-height: var(--nq-a-tap-min);
+  padding: var(--nq-a-density-row-pad);
+}
+
+.today-avatar {
+  flex: none;
+  display: grid;
+  place-items: center;
+  width: 30px;
+  height: 30px;
+  border-radius: 7px;
+  background: var(--nq-brand-gradient);
+  color: #fff;
+  font-size: 13px;
+  font-weight: 800;
+}
+
+.today-child--away .today-avatar {
+  background: #9898a8;
+}
+
+.today-child-text {
+  flex: 1;
+  min-width: 0;
+}
+
+.today-child-name {
+  font-size: 14px;
+  font-weight: 700;
+}
+
+.today-child-meta {
+  font-size: var(--nq-a-size-meta);
+  font-weight: 600;
+  color: var(--nq-a-ink-secondary);
+}
+
+.today-child-meta--done {
+  color: var(--nq-a-success);
+}
+
+.today-progress {
+  flex: none;
+  width: 82px;
+  height: var(--nq-a-progress-height);
+  border-radius: var(--nq-a-radius-pill);
+  background: var(--nq-a-divider);
+  overflow: hidden;
+}
+
+.today-progress-fill {
+  height: 100%;
+  border-radius: inherit;
+  background: var(--nq-brand-gradient-h);
+}
+
+/* §2.5 needs attention */
+.today-section-label {
+  margin: 6px 0 -2px;
+  font-size: 11px;
+  font-weight: 700;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.08em;
+  color: var(--nq-a-ink-secondary);
+}
+
+.today-event {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 10px;
+  min-height: var(--nq-a-tap-min);
+  padding: var(--nq-a-density-row-pad);
+}
+
+.today-event-glyph {
+  flex: none;
+  display: flex;
+  color: var(--nq-a-success);
+}
+
+.today-event-glyph--overdue {
+  color: var(--nq-a-danger);
+}
+
+.today-event-text {
+  flex: 1;
+  min-width: 0;
+}
+
+.today-event-title {
+  font-size: 13px;
+  font-weight: 700;
+}
+
+.today-event-meta {
+  font-size: var(--nq-a-size-meta);
+  font-weight: 600;
+  color: var(--nq-a-ink-secondary);
+}
+
+.today-event-meta--overdue {
+  color: var(--nq-a-danger);
+}
+
+.today-action {
+  flex: none;
+  min-height: var(--nq-a-tap-min);
+  padding: 0 4px;
+  border: 0;
+  background: none;
+  font-family: inherit;
+  font-size: 12.5px;
+  font-weight: 700;
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+.today-action--done {
+  color: var(--nq-brand-blue);
+}
+
+.today-action--undo {
+  color: var(--nq-brand-purple);
+}
+
+.today-empty {
+  padding: var(--nq-a-density-card-pad);
+  font-size: 13px;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  color: var(--nq-a-ink-secondary);
+}
+
+/* §2.6 permission note */
+.today-note {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: flex-start;
+  gap: 8px;
+  padding: 10px 12px;
+  border-radius: var(--nq-a-density-radius);
+  background: var(--nq-a-info-bg);
+  color: var(--nq-a-info-ink);
+  font-size: 11.5px;
+  font-weight: 600;
+}
+
+.today-note-glyph {
+  flex: none;
+  display: flex;
+  color: var(--nq-a-info-icon);
+}
+
+/* Loading / error */
+.today-status {
+  padding: 24px 13px;
+  background: var(--nq-a-surface);
+  border: 1px solid var(--nq-a-border);
+  border-radius: var(--nq-a-density-radius);
+  text-align: center;
+  font-size: 13.5px;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  color: var(--nq-a-ink-secondary);
+}
+
+.today-status--error {
+  color: var(--nq-a-danger-strong);
+}
+
+.today-status--error p {
+  margin: 0 0 10px;
+}
+
+.today-retry {
+  padding: 8px 16px;
+  border: 1px solid var(--nq-a-border);
+  border-radius: var(--nq-a-density-radius);
+  background: var(--nq-a-surface);
+  color: var(--nq-a-ink);
+  font-family: inherit;
+  font-size: 13px;
+  font-weight: 700;
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
diff --git a/admin/src/today/TodayTab.test.tsx b/admin/src/today/TodayTab.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a8b7040
--- /dev/null
+++ b/admin/src/today/TodayTab.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,223 @@
+import { afterAll, afterEach, beforeAll, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { cleanup, fireEvent, render, screen, within } from "@testing-library/react";
+import TodayTab, { PERMISSION_NOTE } from "./TodayTab";
+import type { AdminSnapshot, SnapshotInstance } from "../api/snapshot";
+import { storeTokens } from "../auth/oidc";
+
+function instance(overrides: Partial<SnapshotInstance>): SnapshotInstance {
+  return {
+    id: 0,
+    definition_id: 1,
+    child_id: 1,
+    title: "Quest",
+    icon: null,
+    window: "morning",
+    due_time: null,
+    state: "open",
+    overdue: false,
+    completed_at: null,
+    on_time: null,
+    ...overrides,
+  };
+}
+
+const SNAPSHOT: AdminSnapshot = {
+  today_iso: "2026-09-23",
+  cycle_day: 5,
+  children: [
+    {
+      child_id: 1,
+      child_name: "Declan",
+      present: true,
+      next_present: null,
+      due_today: 7,
+      completed_today: 3,
+      remaining_today: 4,
+      completion_pct: 43,
+      instances: [
+        instance({ id: 11, title: "Brush teeth", due_time: "07:30", overdue: true }),
+        instance({
+          id: 12,
+          title: "Make bed",
+          state: "completed",
+          completed_at: "2026-09-23T11:04:00Z",
+          on_time: true,
+        }),
+        instance({ id: 13, title: "Homework", window: "afternoon", due_time: "16:00" }),
+        // Overdue but already completed: not counted as overdue.
+        instance({
+          id: 14,
+          title: "Pack bag",
+          state: "completed",
+          overdue: true,
+          completed_at: "2026-09-23T10:00:00Z",
+          on_time: false,
+        }),
+      ],
+    },
+    {
+      child_id: 2,
+      child_name: "Maeve",
+      present: true,
+      next_present: null,
+      due_today: 4,
+      completed_today: 4,
+      remaining_today: 0,
+      completion_pct: 100,
+      instances: [],
+    },
+    {
+      child_id: 3,
+      child_name: "Rory",
+      present: false,
+      next_present: "2026-10-01",
+      due_today: 0,
+      completed_today: 0,
+      remaining_today: 0,
+      completion_pct: 0,
+      instances: [],
+    },
+  ],
+};
+
+function jsonResponse(body: unknown, status = 200): Response {
+  return new Response(JSON.stringify(body), {
+    status,
+    headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+  });
+}
+
+let fetchMock: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
+
+async function renderReady() {
+  fetchMock.mockResolvedValue(jsonResponse(SNAPSHOT));
+  render(<TodayTab />);
+  await screen.findByText("Declan");
+}
+
+describe("TodayTab", () => {
+  beforeAll(() => {
+    // A negative-offset zone: `new Date("2026-09-23")` would read as Sep 22 here.
+    vi.stubEnv("TZ", "America/Los_Angeles");
+  });
+
+  afterAll(() => {
+    vi.unstubAllEnvs();
+  });
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    sessionStorage.clear();
+    storeTokens({ access_token: "at-123", expires_in: 600 });
+    fetchMock = vi.fn();
+    vi.stubGlobal("fetch", fetchMock);
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    cleanup();
+    vi.unstubAllGlobals();
+  });
+
+  it("fetches the admin snapshot with the Bearer token", async () => {
+    await renderReady();
+    const [url, init] = fetchMock.mock.calls[0];
+    expect(String(url)).toMatch(/\/api\/v1\/admin\/snapshot$/);
+    expect(init.headers.Authorization).toBe("Bearer at-123");
+  });
+
+  it("header shows the weekday, date and cycle day", async () => {
+    await renderReady();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("heading", { name: "Today" })).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByText("Wednesday, September 23 · cycle day 5 of 14")).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Settings" })).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+
+  it("stat row shows done, remaining and overdue totals", async () => {
+    await renderReady();
+    expect(screen.getByTestId("stat-done").textContent).toBe("7Done");
+    expect(screen.getByTestId("stat-remaining").textContent).toBe("4Remaining");
+    expect(screen.getByTestId("stat-overdue").textContent).toBe("1Overdue");
+  });
+
+  it("present child row shows progress meta and fill", async () => {
+    await renderReady();
+    const row = screen.getByTestId("child-1");
+    expect(within(row).getByText("3 of 7 · 1 overdue")).toBeTruthy();
+    const bar = within(row).getByRole("progressbar");
+    expect(bar.getAttribute("aria-valuenow")).toBe("43");
+    expect((bar.firstElementChild as HTMLElement).style.width).toBe("43%");
+    expect(row.className).not.toContain("today-child--away");
+  });
+
+  it("all-done child renders the success state", async () => {
+    await renderReady();
+    const meta = within(screen.getByTestId("child-2")).getByText("4 of 4 · all done");
+    expect(meta.className).toContain("today-child-meta--done");
+  });
+
+  it("away child shows the return date and the flat avatar", async () => {
+    await renderReady();
+    const row = screen.getByTestId("child-3");
+    expect(within(row).getByText("Away · returns Oct 1")).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(row.className).toContain("today-child--away");
+    expect(within(row).getByTestId("child-avatar").textContent).toBe("R");
+  });
+
+  it("needs-attention lists overdue and completed rows with their actions", async () => {
+    await renderReady();
+    const list = screen.getByRole("list", { name: "Needs attention" });
+    const overdue = within(list).getByTestId("attention-11");
+    expect(within(overdue).getByText("Brush teeth · Declan")).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(within(overdue).getByText("Overdue since 7:30 AM")).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(within(overdue).getByRole("button", { name: "Mark done" })).toBeTruthy();
+
+    const completed = within(list).getByTestId("attention-12");
+    expect(within(completed).getByText("Make bed · Declan")).toBeTruthy();
+    // 11:04Z is 4:04 AM in Los Angeles (PDT).
+    expect(within(completed).getByText("Completed 4:04 AM")).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(within(completed).getByRole("button", { name: "Undo" })).toBeTruthy();
+
+    // Open, not-overdue instances do not need attention.
+    expect(within(list).queryByTestId("attention-13")).toBeNull();
+    // No actor in the payload, so no "from panel".
+    expect(list.textContent).not.toContain("from panel");
+  });
+
+  it("permission note carries the exact copy", async () => {
+    await renderReady();
+    expect(PERMISSION_NOTE).toBe(
+      "Undo is admin-only. A panel tap can never reverse a completion.",
+    );
+    expect(screen.getByTestId("permission-note").textContent).toBe(PERMISSION_NOTE);
+  });
+
+  it("scroll column ends with 92px bottom padding", async () => {
+    await renderReady();
+    expect(screen.getByTestId("today-scroll").style.paddingBottom).toBe("92px");
+  });
+
+  it("shows a loading state while the snapshot is in flight", () => {
+    fetchMock.mockReturnValue(new Promise<Response>(() => {}));
+    render(<TodayTab />);
+    expect(screen.getByTestId("today-loading").textContent).toContain("Loading");
+    expect(screen.getByTestId("today-scroll").style.paddingBottom).toBe("92px");
+  });
+
+  it("shows an error state on a failed fetch and retries", async () => {
+    fetchMock.mockResolvedValueOnce(new Response("boom", { status: 500 }));
+    render(<TodayTab />);
+    const error = await screen.findByTestId("today-error");
+    expect(error.getAttribute("role")).toBe("alert");
+    expect(error.textContent).toContain("could not be loaded");
+
+    fetchMock.mockResolvedValueOnce(jsonResponse(SNAPSHOT));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Try again" }));
+    expect(await screen.findByText("Declan")).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+
+  it("shows the refusal message when the API answers 403", async () => {
+    fetchMock.mockResolvedValueOnce(new Response("", { status: 403 }));
+    render(<TodayTab />);
+    const error = await screen.findByTestId("today-error");
+    expect(error.textContent).toContain("nestquest-admins");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/admin/src/today/TodayTab.tsx b/admin/src/today/TodayTab.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..64e2d5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/admin/src/today/TodayTab.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,277 @@
+/**
+ * Today tab — compact density (design/ADMIN-SPEC.md §2.1–2.3, §2.5–2.6).
+ */
+import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
+import {
+  fetchSnapshot,
+  type AdminSnapshot,
+  type SnapshotChild,
+  type SnapshotInstance,
+} from "../api/snapshot";
+import { ApiForbiddenError } from "../api/client";
+import {
+  formatClockTime,
+  formatDueTime,
+  formatLongDate,
+  formatShortDate,
+} from "./format";
+import {
+  AlertCircleGlyph,
+  CheckCircleGlyph,
+  InfoGlyph,
+  SettingsGlyph,
+} from "./glyphs";
+import "./TodayTab.css";
+
+const CYCLE_LENGTH_DAYS = 14;
+
+/** ADMIN-SPEC §1: every scroll column ends with 92px so content clears the tab bar. */
+export const SCROLL_BOTTOM_PADDING = "92px";
+
+export const PERMISSION_NOTE =
+  "Undo is admin-only. A panel tap can never reverse a completion.";
+
+type LoadState =
+  | { kind: "loading" }
+  | { kind: "error"; message: string }
+  | { kind: "ready"; snapshot: AdminSnapshot };
+
+function isOverdueOpen(instance: SnapshotInstance): boolean {
+  return instance.overdue && instance.state === "open";
+}
+
+function ScreenHeader({ sub }: { sub: string }) {
+  return (
+    <header className="today-header">
+      <div>
+        <h2 className="today-title">Today</h2>
+        <p className="today-sub">{sub}</p>
+      </div>
+      {/* Settings screen is a later task; the control is not wired yet. */}
+      <button type="button" className="today-icon-button" aria-label="Settings">
+        <SettingsGlyph />
+      </button>
+    </header>
+  );
+}
+
+function StatRow({ snapshot }: { snapshot: AdminSnapshot }) {
+  const done = snapshot.children.reduce((sum, c) => sum + c.completed_today, 0);
+  const remaining = snapshot.children.reduce((sum, c) => sum + c.remaining_today, 0);
+  const overdue = snapshot.children.reduce(
+    (sum, c) => sum + c.instances.filter(isOverdueOpen).length,
+    0,
+  );
+  const stats = [
+    { key: "done", label: "Done", value: done },
+    { key: "remaining", label: "Remaining", value: remaining },
+    { key: "overdue", label: "Overdue", value: overdue },
+  ];
+  return (
+    <div className="today-stats">
+      {stats.map((stat) => (
+        <div key={stat.key} className="today-stat" data-testid={`stat-${stat.key}`}>
+          <div className={`today-stat-value today-stat-value--${stat.key}`}>
+            {stat.value}
+          </div>
+          <div className="today-stat-label">{stat.label}</div>
+        </div>
+      ))}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+function ChildRow({ child }: { child: SnapshotChild }) {
+  const overdue = child.instances.filter(isOverdueOpen).length;
+  const allDone = child.due_today > 0 && child.completed_today === child.due_today;
+  let meta: string;
+  let metaClass = "today-child-meta";
+  if (!child.present) {
+    meta = child.next_present
+      ? `Away · returns ${formatShortDate(child.next_present)}`
+      : "Away";
+  } else if (allDone) {
+    meta = `${child.completed_today} of ${child.due_today} · all done`;
+    metaClass += " today-child-meta--done";
+  } else {
+    meta = `${child.completed_today} of ${child.due_today} · ${overdue} overdue`;
+  }
+  const pct = Math.max(0, Math.min(100, child.completion_pct));
+  // ADMIN-SPEC §2.3 also asks for a lowercase `override` pill when an absence
+  // comes from a presence override. The snapshot carries no field saying
+  // where an absence came from, so the pill is omitted rather than guessed.
+  return (
+    <li
+      className={child.present ? "today-child" : "today-child today-child--away"}
+      data-testid={`child-${child.child_id}`}
+    >
+      <span className="today-avatar" data-testid="child-avatar" aria-hidden="true">
+        {child.child_name.charAt(0).toUpperCase()}
+      </span>
+      <div className="today-child-text">
+        <div className="today-child-name">{child.child_name}</div>
+        <div className={metaClass}>{meta}</div>
+      </div>
+      <div
+        className="today-progress"
+        role="progressbar"
+        aria-label={`${child.child_name} progress`}
+        aria-valuemin={0}
+        aria-valuemax={100}
+        aria-valuenow={pct}
+      >
+        <div className="today-progress-fill" style={{ width: `${pct}%` }} />
+      </div>
+    </li>
+  );
+}
+
+interface AttentionItem {
+  instance: SnapshotInstance;
+  childName: string;
+}
+
+function attentionItems(snapshot: AdminSnapshot): AttentionItem[] {
+  const all = snapshot.children.flatMap((child) =>
+    child.instances.map((instance) => ({ instance, childName: child.child_name })),
+  );
+  const overdue = all.filter((item) => isOverdueOpen(item.instance));
+  const completed = all
+    .filter((item) => item.instance.state === "completed" && item.instance.completed_at)
+    .sort((a, b) =>
+      (b.instance.completed_at ?? "").localeCompare(a.instance.completed_at ?? ""),
+    );
+  return [...overdue, ...completed];
+}
+
+function AttentionRow({ item }: { item: AttentionItem }) {
+  const { instance, childName } = item;
+  const overdue = isOverdueOpen(instance);
+  // TODO(e57facc2): wire "Mark done" / "Undo" mutations and live updates.
+  // The admin plane has no complete route yet, so both actions are inert here.
+  return (
+    <li className="today-event" data-testid={`attention-${instance.id}`}>
+      <span
+        className={overdue ? "today-event-glyph today-event-glyph--overdue" : "today-event-glyph"}
+      >
+        {overdue ? <AlertCircleGlyph /> : <CheckCircleGlyph />}
+      </span>
+      <div className="today-event-text">
+        <div className="today-event-title">
+          {instance.title} · {childName}
+        </div>
+        {overdue ? (
+          <div className="today-event-meta today-event-meta--overdue">
+            {instance.due_time
+              ? `Overdue since ${formatDueTime(instance.due_time)}`
+              : "Overdue"}
+          </div>
+        ) : (
+          // The snapshot carries no completion actor, so "from panel" is not printed.
+          <div className="today-event-meta">
+            Completed {formatClockTime(instance.completed_at as string)}
+          </div>
+        )}
+      </div>
+      <button
+        type="button"
+        className={overdue ? "today-action today-action--done" : "today-action today-action--undo"}
+      >
+        {overdue ? "Mark done" : "Undo"}
+      </button>
+    </li>
+  );
+}
+
+function PermissionNote() {
+  return (
+    <div className="today-note" data-testid="permission-note">
+      <span className="today-note-glyph">
+        <InfoGlyph />
+      </span>
+      <span>{PERMISSION_NOTE}</span>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+export default function TodayTab() {
+  const [state, setState] = useState<LoadState>({ kind: "loading" });
+  const [attempt, setAttempt] = useState(0);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let cancelled = false;
+    setState({ kind: "loading" });
+    fetchSnapshot()
+      .then((snapshot) => {
+        if (!cancelled) setState({ kind: "ready", snapshot });
+      })
+      .catch((error: unknown) => {
+        if (cancelled) return;
+        const message =
+          error instanceof ApiForbiddenError
+            ? error.message
+            : "Today's snapshot could not be loaded. Check your connection and try again.";
+        setState({ kind: "error", message });
+      });
+    return () => {
+      cancelled = true;
+    };
+  }, [attempt]);
+
+  let sub = "";
+  let body;
+  if (state.kind === "loading") {
+    body = (
+      <div className="today-status" role="status" data-testid="today-loading">
+        Loading today…
+      </div>
+    );
+  } else if (state.kind === "error") {
+    body = (
+      <div className="today-status today-status--error" role="alert" data-testid="today-error">
+        <p>{state.message}</p>
+        <button type="button" className="today-retry" onClick={() => setAttempt((n) => n + 1)}>
+          Try again
+        </button>
+      </div>
+    );
+  } else {
+    const { snapshot } = state;
+    sub = `${formatLongDate(snapshot.today_iso)} · cycle day ${snapshot.cycle_day} of ${CYCLE_LENGTH_DAYS}`;
+    const attention = attentionItems(snapshot);
+    body = (
+      <>
+        <StatRow snapshot={snapshot} />
+        <ul className="today-card today-list" aria-label="Children">
+          {snapshot.children.map((child) => (
+            <ChildRow key={child.child_id} child={child} />
+          ))}
+        </ul>
+        <h3 className="today-section-label">Needs attention</h3>
+        {attention.length > 0 ? (
+          <ul className="today-card today-list" aria-label="Needs attention">
+            {attention.map((item) => (
+              <AttentionRow key={item.instance.id} item={item} />
+            ))}
+          </ul>
+        ) : (
+          <div className="today-card today-empty">Nothing needs attention.</div>
+        )}
+        <PermissionNote />
+      </>
+    );
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div className="today-screen">
+      <ScreenHeader sub={sub} />
+      <div
+        className="today-scroll"
+        data-testid="today-scroll"
+        style={{ paddingBottom: SCROLL_BOTTOM_PADDING }}
+      >
+        {body}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/admin/src/today/format.ts b/admin/src/today/format.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..80537c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/admin/src/today/format.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+/**
+ * Date/time formatting for the Today tab.
+ *
+ * Calendar dates ("YYYY-MM-DD") are parsed by their components and formatted
+ * in UTC, so the printed day never shifts with the viewer's offset — unlike
+ * `new Date("YYYY-MM-DD")`, which is UTC midnight and reads as the previous
+ * day in negative-offset zones.
+ */
+
+const LOCALE = "en-US";
+
+function calendarDate(iso: string): Date {
+  const match = /^(\d{4})-(\d{2})-(\d{2})$/.exec(iso);
+  if (!match) throw new Error(`Invalid calendar date: ${iso}`);
+  const [, year, month, day] = match;
+  return new Date(Date.UTC(Number(year), Number(month) - 1, Number(day)));
+}
+
+function format(date: Date, options: Intl.DateTimeFormatOptions): string {
+  // Newer ICU puts a narrow no-break space before AM/PM; normalise it.
+  return new Intl.DateTimeFormat(LOCALE, options)
+    .format(date)
+    .replace(/ /g, " ");
+}
+
+/** "Wednesday, September 23" */
+export function formatLongDate(iso: string): string {
+  const date = calendarDate(iso);
+  const weekday = format(date, { weekday: "long", timeZone: "UTC" });
+  const monthDay = format(date, { month: "long", day: "numeric", timeZone: "UTC" });
+  return `${weekday}, ${monthDay}`;
+}
+
+/** "Sep 23" */
+export function formatShortDate(iso: string): string {
+  return format(calendarDate(iso), { month: "short", day: "numeric", timeZone: "UTC" });
+}
+
+/** "09:00" -> "9:00 AM" (a wall-clock time, no zone conversion). */
+export function formatDueTime(hhmm: string): string {
+  const match = /^(\d{2}):(\d{2})/.exec(hhmm);
+  if (!match) return hhmm;
+  const date = new Date(Date.UTC(2000, 0, 1, Number(match[1]), Number(match[2])));
+  return format(date, { hour: "numeric", minute: "2-digit", timeZone: "UTC" });
+}
+
+/** A UTC ISO timestamp shown as the viewer's local time, "7:04 AM". */
+export function formatClockTime(isoTimestamp: string): string {
+  return format(new Date(isoTimestamp), { hour: "numeric", minute: "2-digit" });
+}
diff --git a/admin/src/today/glyphs.tsx b/admin/src/today/glyphs.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..742eea5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/admin/src/today/glyphs.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+/**
+ * Inline stroke glyphs for the Today tab (Lucide-style 24px grid). The
+ * shipped Lucide subset is task b50b048f; these keep this screen CDN-free
+ * until then.
+ */
+import type { ReactNode } from "react";
+
+function Glyph({ size, children }: { size: number; children: ReactNode }) {
+  return (
+    <svg
+      width={size}
+      height={size}
+      viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+      fill="none"
+      stroke="currentColor"
+      strokeWidth={2}
+      strokeLinecap="round"
+      strokeLinejoin="round"
+      aria-hidden="true"
+      focusable="false"
+    >
+      {children}
+    </svg>
+  );
+}
+
+export function SettingsGlyph({ size = 18 }: { size?: number }) {
+  return (
+    <Glyph size={size}>
+      <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="3" />
+      <path d="M12 2v3M12 19v3M2 12h3M19 12h3M4.9 4.9l2.1 2.1M17 17l2.1 2.1M4.9 19.1 7 17M17 7l2.1-2.1" />
+    </Glyph>
+  );
+}
+
+export function InfoGlyph({ size = 16 }: { size?: number }) {
+  return (
+    <Glyph size={size}>
+      <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="10" />
+      <path d="M12 16v-4M12 8h.01" />
+    </Glyph>
+  );
+}
+
+export function AlertCircleGlyph({ size = 18 }: { size?: number }) {
+  return (
+    <Glyph size={size}>
+      <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="10" />
+      <path d="M12 8v4M12 16h.01" />
+    </Glyph>
+  );
+}
+
+export function CheckCircleGlyph({ size = 18 }: { size?: number }) {
+  return (
+    <Glyph size={size}>
+      <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="10" />
+      <path d="m9 12 2 2 4-4" />
+    </Glyph>
+  );
+}