diff --git a/src/__tests__/auth/user-menu.test.tsx b/src/__tests__/auth/user-menu.test.tsx
index 78a12c1..050587f 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/auth/user-menu.test.tsx
+++ b/src/__tests__/auth/user-menu.test.tsx
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ describe('UserMenu', () => {
     })
   })
 
-  it('has settings link in dropdown', async () => {
+  it('has account settings link in dropdown', async () => {
     mockUseAuth.mockReturnValue(createMockAuthContext())
     const user = userEvent.setup()
 
@@ -100,10 +100,37 @@ describe('UserMenu', () => {
     await user.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /user menu/i }))
 
     await waitFor(() => {
-      expect(screen.getByRole('menuitem', { name: /settings/i })).toBeInTheDocument()
+      expect(screen.getByRole('menuitem', { name: /account settings/i })).toBeInTheDocument()
     })
   })
 
+  it('shows admin panel link for admin users', async () => {
+    mockUseAuth.mockReturnValue(createMockAuthContext({ user: { ...mockUser, role: 'admin' } }))
+    const user = userEvent.setup()
+
+    render(<UserMenu />)
+    await user.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /user menu/i }))
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      const adminLink = screen.getByRole('menuitem', { name: /admin panel/i })
+      expect(adminLink).toBeInTheDocument()
+      expect(adminLink).toHaveAttribute('href', '/admin')
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('hides admin panel link for non-admin users', async () => {
+    mockUseAuth.mockReturnValue(createMockAuthContext())
+    const user = userEvent.setup()
+
+    render(<UserMenu />)
+    await user.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /user menu/i }))
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(screen.getByRole('menuitem', { name: /account settings/i })).toBeInTheDocument()
+    })
+    expect(screen.queryByRole('menuitem', { name: /admin panel/i })).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+
   it('has logout option in dropdown', async () => {
     mockUseAuth.mockReturnValue(createMockAuthContext())
     const user = userEvent.setup()
diff --git a/src/components/auth/user-menu.tsx b/src/components/auth/user-menu.tsx
index 91ee081..5123ae3 100644
--- a/src/components/auth/user-menu.tsx
+++ b/src/components/auth/user-menu.tsx
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 import Link from 'next/link'
 import Image from 'next/image'
-import { User, SignOut, GearSix } from '@phosphor-icons/react'
+import { User, SignOut, GearSix, ShieldCheck } from '@phosphor-icons/react'
 import { useAuth } from '@/hooks/use-auth'
 import {
   DropdownMenu,
@@ -80,10 +80,19 @@ export function UserMenu() {
         <DropdownMenuItem asChild>
           <Link href="/settings" className="flex items-center gap-2">
             <GearSix size={16} aria-hidden="true" />
-            Settings
+            Account settings
           </Link>
         </DropdownMenuItem>
 
+        {user.role === 'admin' && (
+          <DropdownMenuItem asChild>
+            <Link href="/admin" className="flex items-center gap-2">
+              <ShieldCheck size={16} aria-hidden="true" />
+              Admin Panel
+            </Link>
+          </DropdownMenuItem>
+        )}
+
         <DropdownMenuSeparator />
 
         <DropdownMenuItem
diff --git a/src/context/auth-context.tsx b/src/context/auth-context.tsx
index 81a1e6e..44b6be6 100644
--- a/src/context/auth-context.tsx
+++ b/src/context/auth-context.tsx
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ export function AuthProvider({ children }: AuthProviderProps) {
       handle: session.handle,
       displayName: session.displayName,
       avatarUrl: session.avatarUrl,
+      role: session.role,
     })
     setCrossPostScopesGranted(session.crossPostScopesGranted ?? false)
   }, [])
diff --git a/src/hooks/use-require-auth.test.ts b/src/hooks/use-require-auth.test.ts
index 4a784c2..ed4c2dd 100644
--- a/src/hooks/use-require-auth.test.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/use-require-auth.test.ts
@@ -74,7 +74,13 @@ describe('useRequireAuth', () => {
 
   it('executes action when authenticated', () => {
     mockedUseAuth.mockReturnValue({
-      user: { did: 'did:plc:test', handle: 'test.bsky.social', displayName: null, avatarUrl: null },
+      user: {
+        did: 'did:plc:test',
+        handle: 'test.bsky.social',
+        displayName: null,
+        avatarUrl: null,
+        role: 'user' as const,
+      },
       isAuthenticated: true,
       isLoading: false,
       crossPostScopesGranted: false,
diff --git a/src/lib/api/types.ts b/src/lib/api/types.ts
index 4d8d67c..b6c12c2 100644
--- a/src/lib/api/types.ts
+++ b/src/lib/api/types.ts
@@ -214,6 +214,8 @@ export interface CommunityStats {
 
 // --- Auth ---
 
+export type UserRole = 'user' | 'moderator' | 'admin'
+
 export interface AuthSession {
   accessToken: string
   expiresAt: string
@@ -221,6 +223,7 @@ export interface AuthSession {
   handle: string
   displayName: string | null
   avatarUrl: string | null
+  role: UserRole
   crossPostScopesGranted?: boolean
 }
 
@@ -229,6 +232,7 @@ export interface AuthUser {
   handle: string
   displayName: string | null
   avatarUrl: string | null
+  role: UserRole
 }
 
 // --- Notifications ---
diff --git a/src/mocks/data.ts b/src/mocks/data.ts
index 5087e5b..4323d62 100644
--- a/src/mocks/data.ts
+++ b/src/mocks/data.ts
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ export const mockAuthSession: AuthSession = {
   handle: 'alice.bsky.social',
   displayName: 'Alice',
   avatarUrl: 'https://cdn.bsky.social/avatar/alice.jpg',
+  role: 'user',
 }
 
 export const mockAuthUser: AuthUser = {
@@ -84,6 +85,7 @@ export const mockAuthUser: AuthUser = {
   handle: 'alice.bsky.social',
   displayName: 'Alice',
   avatarUrl: 'https://cdn.bsky.social/avatar/alice.jpg',
+  role: 'user',
 }
 
 // --- Categories ---
diff --git a/src/test/mock-auth.tsx b/src/test/mock-auth.tsx
index c0dfdc7..5a96526 100644
--- a/src/test/mock-auth.tsx
+++ b/src/test/mock-auth.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export const mockUser: AuthUser = {
   handle: 'alice.bsky.social',
   displayName: 'Alice',
   avatarUrl: 'https://cdn.bsky.social/avatar/alice.jpg',
+  role: 'user',
 }
 
 export function createMockAuthContext(overrides: Partial<AuthContextValue> = {}): AuthContextValue {