diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index fbee148..461e4a1 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ pnpm-debug.log*
 playwright-report/
 test-results/
 
+# worktrees
+.worktrees/
+
 # project-local tool dirs
 .obsidian/
 .vscode/
diff --git a/e2e/accessibility.spec.ts b/e2e/accessibility.spec.ts
index 7a841aa..27798e8 100644
--- a/e2e/accessibility.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/accessibility.spec.ts
@@ -41,3 +41,55 @@ test.describe("Accessibility", () => {
     expect(results.violations).toEqual([]);
   });
 });
+
+test.describe("Accessibility — Light mode", () => {
+  test("homepage in light mode has no axe-core violations", async ({
+    page,
+  }) => {
+    await page.goto("/");
+    await page.waitForLoadState("networkidle");
+
+    // Apply light theme directly — tests that light mode CSS has no a11y violations
+    await page.evaluate(() =>
+      document.documentElement.setAttribute("data-theme", "light"),
+    );
+
+    const theme = await page.evaluate(() =>
+      document.documentElement.getAttribute("data-theme"),
+    );
+    expect(theme).toBe("light");
+
+    await page.evaluate(async () => {
+      await new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+        const distance = 300;
+        const delay = 100;
+        const timer = setInterval(() => {
+          window.scrollBy(0, distance);
+          if (
+            window.scrollY + window.innerHeight >=
+            document.body.scrollHeight
+          ) {
+            clearInterval(timer);
+            window.scrollTo(0, 0);
+            resolve();
+          }
+        }, delay);
+      });
+    });
+    await page.waitForTimeout(500);
+
+    const results = await new AxeBuilder({ page }).analyze();
+
+    if (results.violations.length > 0) {
+      const report = results.violations
+        .map(
+          (v) =>
+            `[${v.impact}] ${v.id}: ${v.description}\n  Nodes: ${v.nodes.map((n) => n.html).join(", ")}`,
+        )
+        .join("\n\n");
+      console.error("Axe violations (light mode):\n" + report);
+    }
+
+    expect(results.violations).toEqual([]);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/components/Contact.astro b/src/components/Contact.astro
index 5952a72..024795f 100644
--- a/src/components/Contact.astro
+++ b/src/components/Contact.astro
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { config } from "../data/config";
 <section id="contact" aria-label="Contact" class="py-24 px-6 border-t border-[#1e1e1e]">
   <div class="max-w-6xl mx-auto">
     <div class="flex justify-between items-center mb-12 font-mono text-xs text-white/50 tracking-widest">
-      <span>// CONTACT</span><span>06 / 06</span>
+      <h2 class="font-mono text-xs text-white/50 tracking-widest">// CONTACT</h2><span>06 / 06</span>
     </div>
     <h2 class="text-6xl font-black tracking-tight leading-none mb-12 uppercase">
       LET'S BUILD SOMETHING<br />GREAT TOGETHER.
diff --git a/src/components/Experience.astro b/src/components/Experience.astro
index 565c88c..6da0595 100644
--- a/src/components/Experience.astro
+++ b/src/components/Experience.astro
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 import { experiences } from "../data/experiences";
 ---
 
-<section id="experience" aria-label="Experience" class="py-24 px-6 border-t border-[#1e1e1e]">
+<section id="experience" aria-label="Experience" class="py-24 px-6 border-t border-(--border)">
   <div class="max-w-6xl mx-auto">
     <div class="flex justify-between items-center mb-12 font-mono text-xs text-white/50 tracking-widest">
       <h2 class="font-mono text-xs text-white/50 tracking-widest">// EXPERIENCE</h2><span>04 / 06</span>
     </div>
-    <ol id="experience-list" class="list-none p-0 m-0 flex flex-col divide-y divide-[#1e1e1e]">
+    <ol id="experience-list" class="list-none p-0 m-0 flex flex-col divide-y divide-(--border)">
       {experiences.map((exp) => (
         <li class="list-none">
           <article class="experience-item py-8">
diff --git a/src/components/Faq.astro b/src/components/Faq.astro
index 649513c..330e725 100644
--- a/src/components/Faq.astro
+++ b/src/components/Faq.astro
@@ -23,12 +23,12 @@ const faqs = [
 ];
 ---
 
-<section id="faq" aria-label="FAQ" class="py-24 px-6 border-t border-[#1e1e1e]">
+<section id="faq" aria-label="FAQ" class="py-24 px-6 border-t border-(--border)">
   <div class="max-w-6xl mx-auto">
     <div class="flex justify-between items-center mb-12 font-mono text-xs text-white/50 tracking-widest">
       <h2 class="font-mono text-xs text-white/50 tracking-widest">// FAQ</h2><span>05 / 06</span>
     </div>
-    <dl class="flex flex-col divide-y divide-[#1e1e1e]">
+    <dl class="flex flex-col divide-y divide-(--border)">
       {
         faqs.map((faq) => (
           <div class="py-6">
diff --git a/src/components/Hero.astro b/src/components/Hero.astro
index ec34cf2..522326f 100644
--- a/src/components/Hero.astro
+++ b/src/components/Hero.astro
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ const colorData = JSON.stringify(colorRows);
       <canvas
         id="ascii-art"
         class="block"
+        style="background: #0a0a0a; border-radius: 8px;"
         aria-label="ASCII portrait of Gabriel Raymondou"></canvas>
       <script is:inline type="application/json" id="ascii-colors" set:html={colorData} />
       <div class="flex gap-4 mt-2 hidden md:flex" aria-hidden="true">
@@ -205,6 +206,10 @@ const colorData = JSON.stringify(colorRows);
     return Math.round(0.299 * r + 0.587 * g + 0.114 * b);
   }
 
+  function getBgColor() {
+    return '#0a0a0a';
+  }
+
   function drawFrame(revealRow: number, glitchProb = 0.5) {
     ctx.clearRect(0, 0, canvas.width, canvas.height);
     ctx.font = FONT;
@@ -216,7 +221,7 @@ const colorData = JSON.stringify(colorRows);
       let x = 0;
       for (const [r, g, b, charCode] of row) {
         if (r + g + b < 20) {
-          ctx.fillStyle = "#0a0a0a";
+          ctx.fillStyle = getBgColor();
         } else if (isDesktop) {
           const l = lum(r, g, b);
           ctx.fillStyle = `rgb(${l},${l},${l})`;
@@ -247,7 +252,7 @@ const colorData = JSON.stringify(colorRows);
         const dist = Math.hypot(x + charWidth / 2 - mouseX, y - mouseY);
         const blend = r + g + b < 20 ? 0 : Math.max(0, 1 - dist / SPOTLIGHT_RADIUS);
         if (blend === 0 && r + g + b < 20) {
-          ctx.fillStyle = "#0a0a0a";
+          ctx.fillStyle = getBgColor();
         } else {
           const l = lum(r, g, b);
           ctx.fillStyle = `rgb(${Math.round(l + (r - l) * blend)},${Math.round(l + (g - l) * blend)},${Math.round(l + (b - l) * blend)})`;
@@ -271,7 +276,7 @@ const colorData = JSON.stringify(colorRows);
       const y = rowIdx * LINE_HEIGHT + FONT_SIZE;
       let x = 0;
       for (const [r, g, b, charCode] of row) {
-        ctx.fillStyle = r + g + b < 20 ? "#0a0a0a" : `rgb(${r},${g},${b})`;
+        ctx.fillStyle = r + g + b < 20 ? getBgColor() : `rgb(${r},${g},${b})`;
         ctx.fillText(String.fromCharCode(charCode), x, y);
         x += charWidth;
       }
@@ -298,10 +303,11 @@ const colorData = JSON.stringify(colorRows);
     });
   }
 
+  let locked = false;
+
   if (isDesktop) {
     let mouse = { x: -9999, y: -9999 };
     let rafId: number | null = null;
-    let locked = false;
 
     canvas.addEventListener("click", () => {
       tween?.kill();
@@ -336,4 +342,13 @@ const colorData = JSON.stringify(colorRows);
       drawFrame(colorRows.length);
     });
   }
+
+  window.addEventListener('theme-changed', () => {
+    if (tween?.isActive()) return;
+    if (locked) {
+      drawFullColor();
+    } else {
+      drawFrame(colorRows.length);
+    }
+  });
 </script>
diff --git a/src/components/Navbar.astro b/src/components/Navbar.astro
index 0d98fe1..f913bf8 100644
--- a/src/components/Navbar.astro
+++ b/src/components/Navbar.astro
@@ -8,12 +8,22 @@
   style="background: transparent;"
 >
   <span class="font-mono text-sm tracking-widest text-white/60">Raigato<span aria-hidden="true"> —</span></span>
-  <a
-    href="#contact"
-    class="font-mono text-xs tracking-widest bg-white text-black px-4 py-2 hover:bg-white/85 transition-all duration-200 uppercase"
-  >
-    GET IN TOUCH →
-  </a>
+  <div class="flex items-center gap-3">
+    <button
+      id="theme-toggle"
+      aria-label="Toggle theme"
+      class="font-mono text-xs tracking-widest px-2 py-1 transition-colors duration-200"
+      style="color: var(--fg);"
+    >
+      [dark_mode]
+    </button>
+    <a
+      href="#contact"
+      class="font-mono text-xs tracking-widest bg-white text-black px-4 py-2 hover:bg-white/85 transition-all duration-200 uppercase"
+    >
+      GET IN TOUCH →
+    </a>
+  </div>
 </nav>
 
 <script>
@@ -22,22 +32,43 @@
   gsap.registerPlugin(ScrollTrigger)
 
   const navbar = document.getElementById('navbar')
+  const toggle = document.getElementById('theme-toggle')
 
   ScrollTrigger.create({
     start: 'top -80px',
     onEnter: () => {
-      gsap.to(navbar, {
-        backgroundColor: 'rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.95)',
-        borderBottom: '1px solid #1e1e1e',
-        duration: 0,
-      })
+      navbar!.style.backgroundColor = 'color-mix(in srgb, var(--bg) 95%, transparent)'
+      navbar!.style.borderBottom = '1px solid var(--border)'
     },
     onLeaveBack: () => {
-      gsap.to(navbar, {
-        backgroundColor: 'transparent',
-        borderBottom: 'none',
-        duration: 0,
-      })
+      navbar!.style.backgroundColor = 'transparent'
+      navbar!.style.borderBottom = 'none'
     },
   })
+
+  toggle?.addEventListener('click', () => {
+    window.addEventListener('theme-transition-complete', () => {
+      if (toggle) {
+        const isLight = document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-theme') === 'light'
+        toggle.textContent = isLight ? '[light_mode]' : '[dark_mode]'
+      }
+    }, { once: true })
+
+    ;(window as Window & { triggerThemeTransition: (cb: () => void) => void }).triggerThemeTransition(() => {
+      const isLight = document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-theme') === 'light'
+      if (isLight) {
+        document.documentElement.removeAttribute('data-theme')
+        localStorage.setItem('theme', 'dark')
+      } else {
+        document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-theme', 'light')
+        localStorage.setItem('theme', 'light')
+      }
+      window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('theme-changed'))
+    })
+  })
+
+  // Set initial label based on saved preference
+  if (localStorage.getItem('theme') === 'light' && toggle) {
+    toggle.textContent = '[light_mode]'
+  }
 </script>
diff --git a/src/components/ThemeTransition.astro b/src/components/ThemeTransition.astro
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3c9573c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/ThemeTransition.astro
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+<script>
+  const ASCII = '!@#$%^&*()[]{}|<>/\\;:░▒▓█▄▀■□▪▫0123456789ABCDEFabcdef'
+
+  declare global {
+    interface Window {
+      triggerThemeTransition: (callback: () => void) => void
+    }
+  }
+
+  window.triggerThemeTransition = function (callback: () => void) {
+    if (window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)').matches) {
+      callback()
+      window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('theme-transition-complete'))
+      return
+    }
+
+    const selectors = 'h1, h2, h3, h4, nav a, button, .font-mono'
+    const targets = [...document.querySelectorAll<HTMLElement>(selectors)].filter((el) => {
+      const text = el.textContent?.trim() ?? ''
+      return text.length > 0 && text.length <= 60 && !el.querySelector(selectors)
+    })
+
+    const originals = targets.map((el) => el.textContent ?? '')
+    const originalHTMLs = targets.map((el) => el.innerHTML)
+    let frame = 0
+    const totalFrames = 20
+    let callbackCalled = false
+
+    const interval = setInterval(() => {
+      frame++
+      const progress = frame / totalFrames
+
+      targets.forEach((el, i) => {
+        const orig = originals[i]
+        const resolveThreshold = totalFrames * 0.7
+        const scrambled = orig
+          .split('')
+          .map((ch, ci) => {
+            if (ch === ' ' || ch === '\n') return ch
+            // Resolve characters from the start once past 70% progress
+            if (
+              frame > resolveThreshold &&
+              ci < Math.floor(((progress - 0.7) / 0.3) * orig.length)
+            )
+              return ch
+            return ASCII[Math.floor(Math.random() * ASCII.length)]
+          })
+          .join('')
+        el.textContent = scrambled
+      })
+
+      if (frame === Math.floor(totalFrames * 0.5) && !callbackCalled) {
+        callbackCalled = true
+        callback()
+      }
+
+      if (frame >= totalFrames) {
+        clearInterval(interval)
+        targets.forEach((el, i) => {
+          el.innerHTML = originalHTMLs[i]
+        })
+        window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('theme-transition-complete'))
+      }
+    }, 30)
+  }
+</script>
diff --git a/src/pages/index.astro b/src/pages/index.astro
index 4baf66b..9a596cf 100644
--- a/src/pages/index.astro
+++ b/src/pages/index.astro
@@ -10,12 +10,19 @@ import Hero from "../components/Hero.astro";
 import Navbar from "../components/Navbar.astro";
 import Projects from "../components/Projects.astro";
 import PostHog from "../components/posthog.astro";
+import ThemeTransition from "../components/ThemeTransition.astro";
 ---
 
 <html lang="en">
   <head>
     <PostHog />
     <meta charset="utf-8" />
+    <script is:inline>
+      (function() {
+        const saved = localStorage.getItem('theme');
+        if (saved === 'light') document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-theme', 'light');
+      })();
+    </script>
     <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" />
     <meta name="google-site-verification" content="hSsAKq4y67A8Oiq6icLQ0ww4fV8MmW93lqWbwbEVv4w" />
     <meta name="robots" content="index, follow" />
@@ -162,5 +169,6 @@ import PostHog from "../components/posthog.astro";
       <Contact />
     </main>
     <Footer />
+    <ThemeTransition />
   </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/src/styles/global.css b/src/styles/global.css
index ca69e62..3e75871 100644
--- a/src/styles/global.css
+++ b/src/styles/global.css
@@ -47,6 +47,75 @@ body {
   }
 }
 
+[data-theme="light"] {
+  --bg: #f8f8f8;
+  --fg: #111111;
+  --fg-muted: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.45);
+  --border: #e0e0e0;
+  --accent-red: #cc0033;
+  --accent-cyan: #008877;
+  --accent-green: #1a6b40;
+
+  /* Override hardcoded border colors */
+  .border-\[\#1e1e1e\],
+  .border-\[\#242424\] {
+    border-color: var(--border);
+  }
+  .divide-\[\#1e1e1e\] > * + * {
+    border-color: var(--border);
+  }
+
+  /* Override white opacity text → dark opacity */
+  .text-white {
+    color: var(--fg);
+  }
+  .text-white\/40 {
+    color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
+  }
+  .text-white\/50 {
+    color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.62);
+  }
+  .text-white\/60 {
+    color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6);
+  }
+  .text-white\/70 {
+    color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7);
+  }
+  .text-white\/80 {
+    color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8);
+  }
+  .hover\:text-white:hover {
+    color: var(--fg);
+  }
+  .hover\:text-white\/70:hover {
+    color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7);
+  }
+
+  /* Override white opacity borders */
+  .border-white\/30 {
+    border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
+  }
+  .hover\:border-white:hover {
+    border-color: var(--fg);
+  }
+  .hover\:border-white\/50:hover,
+  .group:hover .group-hover\:border-white\/50 {
+    border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
+  }
+
+  /* CTA buttons: invert (white bg → dark bg) */
+  .bg-white.text-black {
+    background-color: #111111;
+    color: #f8f8f8;
+  }
+  .hover\:bg-white\/85:hover {
+    background-color: rgba(17, 17, 17, 0.85);
+  }
+  .hover\:bg-white\/90:hover {
+    background-color: rgba(17, 17, 17, 0.9);
+  }
+}
+
 @keyframes blink {
   0%,
   100% {