diff --git a/resources/js/meet-room.js b/resources/js/meet-room.js
index 1ec419a..7981630 100644
--- a/resources/js/meet-room.js
+++ b/resources/js/meet-room.js
@@ -675,6 +675,31 @@ function meetRoom() {
             return Boolean(person.user_ref && this.presenterRefs.includes(person.user_ref));
         },
 
+        /** Stable key for spotlight and panel assignment (user_ref when logged in, else participant uuid). */
+        spotlightKey(person) {
+            if (!person) {
+                return '';
+            }
+
+            return person.user_ref || person.uuid || '';
+        },
+
+        matchesSpotlightKey(key, person) {
+            if (!key || !person) {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            return key === person.user_ref || key === person.uuid;
+        },
+
+        findSpeakerBySpotlightKey(key) {
+            if (!key) {
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            return this.speakerParticipants().find((person) => this.matchesSpotlightKey(key, person)) || null;
+        },
+
         speakerParticipants() {
             return this.inCallParticipants().filter((person) => this.isSpeakerPerson(person));
         },
@@ -712,9 +737,9 @@ function meetRoom() {
         },
 
         resolveSpotlightParticipantUuid() {
-            const spotlightRef = this.resolveSpotlightSpeakerRef();
-            if (spotlightRef) {
-                const match = this.speakerParticipants().find((person) => person.user_ref === spotlightRef);
+            const spotlightKey = this.resolveSpotlightKey();
+            if (spotlightKey) {
+                const match = this.findSpeakerBySpotlightKey(spotlightKey);
                 if (match) {
                     return match.uuid;
                 }
@@ -732,7 +757,7 @@ function meetRoom() {
         },
 
         panelStripParticipants() {
-            const onPanelRefs = new Set(this.getActivePanelSpeakerRefs());
+            const onPanelKeys = new Set(this.getActivePanelSpeakerKeys());
 
             return this.inCallParticipants()
                 .filter((person) => {
@@ -740,7 +765,9 @@ function meetRoom() {
                         return true;
                     }
 
-                    return !person.user_ref || !onPanelRefs.has(person.user_ref);
+                    const key = this.spotlightKey(person);
+
+                    return !key || !onPanelKeys.has(key);
                 })
                 .sort((a, b) => this.compareStripParticipants(a, b));
         },
@@ -800,26 +827,31 @@ function meetRoom() {
             strip.appendChild(item);
         },
 
-        resolveSpotlightSpeakerRef() {
+        resolveSpotlightKey() {
             const speakers = this.speakerParticipants();
 
-            if (this.spotlightSpeakerRef && speakers.some((person) => person.user_ref === this.spotlightSpeakerRef)) {
-                return this.spotlightSpeakerRef;
+            if (this.spotlightSpeakerRef) {
+                const match = this.findSpeakerBySpotlightKey(this.spotlightSpeakerRef);
+                if (match) {
+                    return this.spotlightKey(match);
+                }
             }
 
-            return speakers[0]?.user_ref || null;
+            const fallback = this.speakerParticipantsSorted()[0];
+
+            return fallback ? this.spotlightKey(fallback) : '';
         },
 
-        getActivePanelSpeakerRefs() {
+        getActivePanelSpeakerKeys() {
             if (!this.panelDiscussions || this.stageLayout !== 'panel') {
                 return this.speakerParticipants()
-                    .map((person) => person.user_ref)
+                    .map((person) => this.spotlightKey(person))
                     .filter(Boolean);
             }
 
             if (!this.activePanelId) {
                 return this.speakerParticipants()
-                    .map((person) => person.user_ref)
+                    .map((person) => this.spotlightKey(person))
                     .filter(Boolean);
             }
 
@@ -873,12 +905,12 @@ function meetRoom() {
                     return null;
                 }
 
-                const spotlightRef = this.resolveSpotlightSpeakerRef();
-                if (person?.user_ref && spotlightRef && person.user_ref === spotlightRef) {
+                const spotlightKey = this.resolveSpotlightKey();
+                if (spotlightKey && this.matchesSpotlightKey(spotlightKey, person)) {
                     return spotlight;
                 }
 
-                if (!spotlightRef && this.speakerParticipantsSorted()[0]?.uuid === identity) {
+                if (!spotlightKey && this.speakerParticipantsSorted()[0]?.uuid === identity) {
                     return spotlight;
                 }
 
@@ -890,8 +922,9 @@ function meetRoom() {
                     return null;
                 }
 
-                const refs = this.getActivePanelSpeakerRefs();
-                if (!person?.user_ref || !refs.includes(person.user_ref)) {
+                const keys = this.getActivePanelSpeakerKeys();
+                const personKey = this.spotlightKey(person);
+                if (!personKey || !keys.includes(personKey)) {
                     return null;
                 }
 
@@ -968,7 +1001,7 @@ function meetRoom() {
             }
 
             if (grid) {
-                grid.dataset.panelCount = String(this.getActivePanelSpeakerRefs().length || this.speakerCount());
+                grid.dataset.panelCount = String(this.getActivePanelSpeakerKeys().length || this.speakerCount());
             }
 
             this.renderAudienceStrip();
@@ -1008,12 +1041,12 @@ function meetRoom() {
             }
         },
 
-        async setSpotlight(userRef) {
-            if (!userRef) {
+        async setSpotlight(speakerKey) {
+            if (!speakerKey) {
                 return;
             }
 
-            this.spotlightSpeakerRef = userRef;
+            this.spotlightSpeakerRef = speakerKey;
             this.stageLayout = 'plenary';
             this.applyStageLayout();
 
@@ -1026,7 +1059,7 @@ function meetRoom() {
                 headers: this.headers(),
                 body: JSON.stringify({
                     stage_layout: 'plenary',
-                    spotlight_speaker_ref: userRef,
+                    spotlight_speaker_ref: speakerKey,
                 }),
             });
         },
@@ -1052,16 +1085,16 @@ function meetRoom() {
             this.panelDiscussions = true;
         },
 
-        togglePanelSpeaker(panel, userRef) {
-            if (!panel || !userRef) {
+        togglePanelSpeaker(panel, speakerKey) {
+            if (!panel || !speakerKey) {
                 return;
             }
 
             const refs = panel.speaker_refs || [];
-            if (refs.includes(userRef)) {
-                panel.speaker_refs = refs.filter((ref) => ref !== userRef);
+            if (refs.includes(speakerKey)) {
+                panel.speaker_refs = refs.filter((ref) => ref !== speakerKey);
             } else {
-                panel.speaker_refs = [...refs, userRef];
+                panel.speaker_refs = [...refs, speakerKey];
             }
         },
 
@@ -2384,7 +2417,16 @@ function meetRoom() {
                 return 'Multiple speakers shown together in a split-screen grid.';
             }
 
-            return '';
+            const spotlight = this.findSpeakerBySpotlightKey(this.resolveSpotlightKey());
+            if (spotlight) {
+                return `${spotlight.display_name} is on stage. Other speakers appear in the strip below.`;
+            }
+
+            return 'Choose who fills the stage from Stage layout or Spotlight on a speaker.';
+        },
+
+        spotlightSpeakerName() {
+            return this.findSpeakerBySpotlightKey(this.resolveSpotlightKey())?.display_name || '';
         },
 
         activePanelName() {
@@ -2403,6 +2445,7 @@ function meetRoom() {
                 panels: JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(this.panels)),
                 activePanelId: this.activePanelId,
                 panelDiscussions: this.panelDiscussions,
+                spotlightSpeakerRef: this.spotlightSpeakerRef,
             };
             this.panelSetupOpen = true;
         },
@@ -2413,6 +2456,7 @@ function meetRoom() {
                 this.panels = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(this._stageSnapshot.panels));
                 this.activePanelId = this._stageSnapshot.activePanelId;
                 this.panelDiscussions = this._stageSnapshot.panelDiscussions;
+                this.spotlightSpeakerRef = this._stageSnapshot.spotlightSpeakerRef || '';
                 this.applyStageLayout();
             }
 
diff --git a/resources/views/meet/room/show.blade.php b/resources/views/meet/room/show.blade.php
index 671f8ba..3ebef27 100644
--- a/resources/views/meet/room/show.blade.php
+++ b/resources/views/meet/room/show.blade.php
@@ -640,8 +640,8 @@
                             <span x-show="!isSpeaking(person.uuid)" class="block text-xs text-slate-400" x-text="roleLabel(person.role)"></span>
                         </span>
                         <span class="flex shrink-0 items-center gap-1">
-                            <button x-show="usesStageLayout && isHost && person.user_ref && spotlightSpeakerRef !== person.user_ref"
-                                    type="button" @click="setSpotlight(person.user_ref)"
+                            <button x-show="usesStageLayout && isHost && isSpeakerPerson(person) && !matchesSpotlightKey(resolveSpotlightKey(), person)"
+                                    type="button" @click="setSpotlight(spotlightKey(person))"
                                     class="rounded-lg bg-indigo-600 px-2 py-1 text-[10px] font-medium text-white hover:bg-indigo-500">
                                 Spotlight
                             </button>
@@ -722,6 +722,25 @@
                     </button>
                 </div>
 
+                <p x-show="stageLayout === 'plenary'" x-cloak class="mt-3 rounded-lg border border-sky-500/30 bg-sky-500/10 px-3 py-2 text-xs text-sky-100">
+                    Plenary shows one speaker on the main stage. Everyone else appears in the strip below.
+                </p>
+
+                <div x-show="stageLayout === 'plenary'" x-cloak class="mt-5 space-y-2">
+                    <p class="text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wide text-slate-400">On stage</p>
+                    <div class="flex flex-wrap gap-2">
+                        <template x-for="speaker in speakerParticipantsSorted()" :key="'plenary-' + speaker.uuid">
+                            <button type="button" @click="setSpotlight(spotlightKey(speaker))"
+                                    class="rounded-full px-3 py-1.5 text-xs font-medium transition-colors"
+                                    :class="matchesSpotlightKey(resolveSpotlightKey(), speaker)
+                                        ? 'bg-sky-600 text-white ring-1 ring-sky-400/60'
+                                        : 'bg-slate-800 text-slate-300 hover:bg-slate-700'">
+                                <span x-text="speaker.display_name"></span>
+                            </button>
+                        </template>
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+
                 <p x-show="stageLayout === 'panel'" x-cloak class="mt-3 rounded-lg border border-violet-500/30 bg-violet-500/10 px-3 py-2 text-xs text-violet-100">
                     Switching to panel discussion changes the live stage to a multi-speaker grid for everyone in the room.
                 </p>
@@ -744,10 +763,10 @@
                             <div class="mt-3 flex flex-wrap gap-2">
                                 <template x-for="speaker in speakerParticipantsSorted()" :key="panel.id + '-' + speaker.uuid">
                                     <label class="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 rounded-full px-2.5 py-1 text-xs"
-                                           :class="panel.speaker_refs.includes(speaker.user_ref) ? 'bg-violet-600/30 text-violet-100 ring-1 ring-violet-500/50' : 'bg-slate-800 text-slate-300'">
+                                           :class="panel.speaker_refs.includes(spotlightKey(speaker)) ? 'bg-violet-600/30 text-violet-100 ring-1 ring-violet-500/50' : 'bg-slate-800 text-slate-300'">
                                         <input type="checkbox" class="sr-only"
-                                               :checked="panel.speaker_refs.includes(speaker.user_ref)"
-                                               @change="togglePanelSpeaker(panel, speaker.user_ref)">
+                                               :checked="panel.speaker_refs.includes(spotlightKey(speaker))"
+                                               @change="togglePanelSpeaker(panel, spotlightKey(speaker))">
                                         <span x-text="speaker.display_name"></span>
                                     </label>
                                 </template>
diff --git a/tests/Feature/MeetWebTest.php b/tests/Feature/MeetWebTest.php
index ef5f64a..67df16b 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/MeetWebTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/MeetWebTest.php
@@ -1048,6 +1048,66 @@ class MeetWebTest extends TestCase
         $this->assertCount(1, $room->setting('panels'));
     }
 
+    public function test_host_can_spotlight_guest_panelist_by_participant_uuid(): void
+    {
+        $room = Room::create([
+            'owner_ref' => $this->user->public_id,
+            'organization_id' => $this->organization->id,
+            'host_user_ref' => $this->user->public_id,
+            'title' => 'Summit keynote',
+            'type' => 'webinar',
+            'status' => 'live',
+            'scheduled_at' => now()->addHour(),
+            'timezone' => 'UTC',
+            'settings' => array_merge(config('meet.default_settings'), [
+                'stage_layout' => 'plenary',
+            ]),
+        ]);
+
+        $session = Session::create([
+            'owner_ref' => $this->user->public_id,
+            'room_id' => $room->id,
+            'media_room_name' => 'meet-'.$room->uuid,
+            'status' => 'live',
+            'started_at' => now(),
+        ]);
+
+        $hostParticipant = \App\Models\Participant::create([
+            'owner_ref' => $this->user->public_id,
+            'session_id' => $session->id,
+            'user_ref' => $this->user->public_id,
+            'display_name' => $this->user->name,
+            'role' => 'host',
+            'status' => 'joined',
+            'joined_at' => now(),
+        ]);
+
+        $guestSpeaker = \App\Models\Participant::create([
+            'owner_ref' => $this->user->public_id,
+            'session_id' => $session->id,
+            'display_name' => 'Guest Speaker',
+            'email' => 'speaker@example.com',
+            'role' => 'panelist',
+            'status' => 'joined',
+            'joined_at' => now(),
+        ]);
+
+        $this->actingAs($this->user)
+            ->withSession(["meet.participant.{$session->uuid}" => $hostParticipant->uuid])
+            ->postJson('/room/'.$session->uuid.'/stage', [
+                'stage_layout' => 'plenary',
+                'spotlight_speaker_ref' => $guestSpeaker->uuid,
+            ])
+            ->assertOk()
+            ->assertJson([
+                'stage_layout' => 'plenary',
+                'spotlight_speaker_ref' => $guestSpeaker->uuid,
+            ]);
+
+        $room->refresh();
+        $this->assertSame($guestSpeaker->uuid, $room->setting('spotlight_speaker_ref'));
+    }
+
     public function test_poll_includes_stage_config_for_conference(): void
     {
         $room = Room::create([