diff --git a/docs/minnect-feed-redesign.spec.md b/docs/minnect-feed-redesign.spec.md
index 48c3c4e..f29e0de 100644
--- a/docs/minnect-feed-redesign.spec.md
+++ b/docs/minnect-feed-redesign.spec.md
@@ -130,7 +130,8 @@ A compact spotlight that moves on its own. Nobody has to click or swipe. These a
 - Every 2.8 seconds the next expert moves to the center with a 1.1s ease.
 - Below: the name in serif, the byline, the rating and review count. The caption fades up on each change.
 - Progress dots: the active one is a crimson bar. A counter ("3 / 10") sits in the panel header.
-- Hover pauses the rotation. `prefers-reduced-motion` stops autoplay.
+- Hover, or keyboard focus inside the carousel, pauses the rotation. `prefers-reduced-motion` stops autoplay.
+- Live region (WAI-ARIA carousel pattern): `aria-live="off"` while autoplay is rotating, so slides are not announced every 2.8 seconds; `aria-live="polite"` when rotation is paused (hover or focus) or stopped (reduced motion, or a single expert).
 
 ### Trending minnects
 
@@ -198,7 +199,7 @@ All sheets slide up from the bottom (450ms) over a dimmed, slightly blurred back
 
 - Every control is a real `<button>`, `<a>` or `<input>` with a label. Icon-only buttons have `aria-label`.
 - The like button uses `aria-pressed` and labels its count. Comments toggles use `aria-expanded`.
-- The carousel region is `aria-live="polite"`. The non-center items are `aria-hidden`.
+- The carousel region follows the WAI-ARIA carousel pattern: `aria-live="off"` while autoplay rotates, `aria-live="polite"` while rotation is paused by hover or keyboard focus, or stopped by reduced motion. Keyboard focus inside the carousel pauses it. The non-center items are `aria-hidden`.
 - Visible focus ring on every control, `--ink` colored.
 - Touch targets at least 44px on mobile.
 
diff --git a/src/components/FeaturedCarousel.tsx b/src/components/FeaturedCarousel.tsx
index 771fb2f..3f3ea72 100644
--- a/src/components/FeaturedCarousel.tsx
+++ b/src/components/FeaturedCarousel.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { useEffect, useRef, useState, type CSSProperties } from "react";
 import type { DiscoverExpert } from "@/lib/discover";
 import { initials } from "@/lib/feed-model";
 import { toneFor } from "./HexAvatar";
-import { featuredSlot, startFeaturedAutoplay, type FeaturedAutoplay } from "./featured-carousel-model";
+import { featuredLiveMode, featuredSlot, startFeaturedAutoplay, type FeaturedAutoplay } from "./featured-carousel-model";
 
 const REDUCED_MOTION = "(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)";
 
@@ -53,12 +53,22 @@ export function FeaturedCarousel({ experts, size = 96 }: FeaturedCarouselProps)
   const [index, setIndex] = useState(0);
   const reduced = useReducedMotion();
   const autoplay = useRef<FeaturedAutoplay | null>(null);
-  const hovered = useRef(false);
+  const [hovered, setHovered] = useState(false);
+  const [focused, setFocused] = useState(false);
+  const paused = hovered || focused;
+  const pausedRef = useRef(false);
+  pausedRef.current = paused;
+  const rotating = count > 1 && !reduced;
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (paused) autoplay.current?.pause();
+    else autoplay.current?.resume();
+  }, [paused]);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (count < 2 || reduced) return;
     const ctl = startFeaturedAutoplay({ count, start: index % count, onChange: setIndex });
-    if (hovered.current) ctl.pause();
+    if (pausedRef.current) ctl.pause();
     autoplay.current = ctl;
     return () => { ctl.stop(); autoplay.current = null; };
     // The index only seeds a restart; ticking must not recreate the timer.
@@ -74,8 +84,11 @@ export function FeaturedCarousel({ experts, size = 96 }: FeaturedCarouselProps)
     <section
       className="tile panel rail rail-featured featured"
       aria-labelledby="featured-title"
-      onMouseEnter={() => { hovered.current = true; autoplay.current?.pause(); }}
-      onMouseLeave={() => { hovered.current = false; autoplay.current?.resume(); }}
+      onMouseEnter={() => setHovered(true)}
+      onMouseLeave={() => setHovered(false)}
+      onFocus={() => setFocused(true)}
+      onBlur={(e) => { if (!e.currentTarget.contains(e.relatedTarget as Node | null)) setFocused(false); }}
+      data-paused={paused ? "true" : undefined}
     >
       <div className="panel-head">
         <h2 id="featured-title" className="type-title type-title-strong featured-title">
@@ -83,7 +96,7 @@ export function FeaturedCarousel({ experts, size = 96 }: FeaturedCarouselProps)
         </h2>
         <span className="type-eyebrow featured-count" data-testid="featured-count">{`${current + 1} / ${count}`}</span>
       </div>
-      <div className="featured-cf" style={style} aria-live="polite" data-index={current}>
+      <div className="featured-cf" style={style} aria-live={featuredLiveMode({ rotating, paused })} data-index={current}>
         {experts.map((e, i) => {
           const slot = featuredSlot(i, current, count);
           return (
diff --git a/src/components/featured-carousel-model.ts b/src/components/featured-carousel-model.ts
index fe088c3..fb5e12e 100644
--- a/src/components/featured-carousel-model.ts
+++ b/src/components/featured-carousel-model.ts
@@ -56,3 +56,13 @@ export function startFeaturedAutoplay(opts: {
     stop() { if (timer) clearInterval(timer); },
   };
 }
+
+/**
+ * WAI-ARIA carousel pattern: a rotating carousel must not announce every
+ * slide, so the region is `off` while autoplay runs and `polite` when the
+ * person has paused it (hover, focus) or it never rotates (reduced motion,
+ * a single expert).
+ */
+export function featuredLiveMode(opts: { rotating: boolean; paused: boolean }): "off" | "polite" {
+  return opts.rotating && !opts.paused ? "off" : "polite";
+}
diff --git a/tests/featured-carousel.test.ts b/tests/featured-carousel.test.ts
index bb3c192..6739d3a 100644
--- a/tests/featured-carousel.test.ts
+++ b/tests/featured-carousel.test.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 import { createElement } from "react";
 import { renderToStaticMarkup } from "react-dom/server";
 import { FeaturedCarousel } from "@/components/FeaturedCarousel";
-import { FEATURED_INTERVAL_MS, featuredSlot, startFeaturedAutoplay } from "@/components/featured-carousel-model";
+import { FEATURED_INTERVAL_MS, featuredLiveMode, featuredSlot, startFeaturedAutoplay } from "@/components/featured-carousel-model";
 import type { DiscoverExpert } from "@/lib/discover";
 
 const expert = (i: number): DiscoverExpert => ({
@@ -72,9 +72,9 @@ describe("startFeaturedAutoplay", () => {
 });
 
 describe("FeaturedCarousel markup", () => {
-  it("has a polite live region, hides non-center items and shows the counter and dots", () => {
+  it("starts with the live region off while it rotates, and hides non-center items and shows the counter and dots", () => {
     const out = renderToStaticMarkup(createElement(FeaturedCarousel, { experts: experts(8) }));
-    expect(out).toContain('aria-live="polite"');
+    expect(out).toContain('aria-live="off"');
     expect(out.match(/data-testid="featured-item"/g)).toHaveLength(8);
     expect(out.match(/aria-hidden="true" data-testid="featured-item"/g)).toHaveLength(7);
     expect(out).toContain("featured-c0");
@@ -91,5 +91,19 @@ describe("FeaturedCarousel markup", () => {
     const out = renderToStaticMarkup(createElement(FeaturedCarousel, { experts: experts(1) }));
     expect(out).not.toContain("featured-dot ");
     expect(out).toContain(">1 / 1<");
+    expect(out).toContain('aria-live="polite"');
+  });
+});
+
+describe("featuredLiveMode (WAI-ARIA carousel live region)", () => {
+  it("is off while autoplay rotates", () => {
+    expect(featuredLiveMode({ rotating: true, paused: false })).toBe("off");
+  });
+  it("is polite while paused by hover or focus", () => {
+    expect(featuredLiveMode({ rotating: true, paused: true })).toBe("polite");
+  });
+  it("is polite when rotation is stopped (reduced motion or one expert)", () => {
+    expect(featuredLiveMode({ rotating: false, paused: false })).toBe("polite");
+    expect(featuredLiveMode({ rotating: false, paused: true })).toBe("polite");
   });
 });