diff --git a/backend/explore/explore.go b/backend/explore/explore.go
index f085e67..f84c95f 100644
--- a/backend/explore/explore.go
+++ b/backend/explore/explore.go
@@ -112,6 +112,23 @@ func (e *Service) SearchRecordings(query string) ([]MBRecording, error) {
 	return e.mb.SearchRecordings(e.ctx, query, mbSearchLimit)
 }
 
+// SearchLocal queries only the local FTS5 index and returns results
+// instantly with no network calls.  Returns nil if the index isn't
+// ready.  The frontend calls this in parallel with Search() to show
+// instant results while the full pipeline runs.
+func (e *Service) SearchLocal(query string) *MBSearchResult {
+	indexHits := e.index.Search(query, 30) //nolint:mnd
+	if len(indexHits) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	var result MBSearchResult
+	mergeIndexHits(&result, indexHits)
+	filterAndCap(&result)
+
+	return &result
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // MusicBrainz lookup
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/explore-view/explore-view.ts b/frontend/src/components/explore-view/explore-view.ts
index 571cda8..037b3bd 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/explore-view/explore-view.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/components/explore-view/explore-view.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { LitElement, html, css, nothing } from 'lit';
 import { customElement, state, query as litQuery } from 'lit/decorators.js';
 import { designTokens } from '../../styles/tokens.css';
-import { Search, GetThumbnails, GetArtistImageURL, CheckLibraryMBIDs } from '@go/explore/Service';
+import { Search, SearchLocal, GetThumbnails, GetArtistImageURL, CheckLibraryMBIDs } from '@go/explore/Service';
 import type { ThumbnailRequest } from '@go/explore/Service';
 import type {
     MBSearchResult,
@@ -520,6 +520,29 @@ export class ExploreView extends LitElement {
         const startTime = performance.now();
         console.log(`[explore] search started: "${query}"`);
 
+        // Phase 1: show local index hits instantly (no network).
+        try {
+            const local = await SearchLocal(query);
+            if (version !== this.searchVersion) return;
+            if (local && (local.artists?.length || local.releaseGroups?.length || local.recordings?.length)) {
+                this.results = local;
+                this.loading = false;
+                this.loadThumbnails();
+                this.loadArtistImages();
+                this.checkLibrary();
+                const elapsed = (performance.now() - startTime).toFixed(0);
+                console.log(
+                    `[explore] local results: "${query}" in ${elapsed}ms — ` +
+                        `artists=${local.artists?.length ?? 0}, ` +
+                        `albums=${local.releaseGroups?.length ?? 0}, ` +
+                        `tracks=${local.recordings?.length ?? 0}`,
+                );
+            }
+        } catch {
+            // Local search failed — continue to full search.
+        }
+
+        // Phase 2: full pipeline (MB + LB + reranking).
         try {
             const result = await Search(query);
 
diff --git a/frontend/wailsjs/go/explore/Service.d.ts b/frontend/wailsjs/go/explore/Service.d.ts
index 1ba3e4e..028dc17 100755
--- a/frontend/wailsjs/go/explore/Service.d.ts
+++ b/frontend/wailsjs/go/explore/Service.d.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ export function Search(arg1:string):Promise<explore.MBSearchResult>;
 
 export function SearchArtists(arg1:string):Promise<Array<explore.MBArtist>>;
 
+export function SearchLocal(arg1:string):Promise<explore.MBSearchResult>;
+
 export function SearchRecordings(arg1:string):Promise<Array<explore.MBRecording>>;
 
 export function SearchReleaseGroups(arg1:string):Promise<Array<explore.MBReleaseGroup>>;
diff --git a/frontend/wailsjs/go/explore/Service.js b/frontend/wailsjs/go/explore/Service.js
index 217a451..f1a1f46 100755
--- a/frontend/wailsjs/go/explore/Service.js
+++ b/frontend/wailsjs/go/explore/Service.js
@@ -66,6 +66,10 @@ export function SearchArtists(arg1) {
   return window['go']['explore']['Service']['SearchArtists'](arg1);
 }
 
+export function SearchLocal(arg1) {
+  return window['go']['explore']['Service']['SearchLocal'](arg1);
+}
+
 export function SearchRecordings(arg1) {
   return window['go']['explore']['Service']['SearchRecordings'](arg1);
 }