diff --git a/migrations/Version20260810120000.php b/migrations/Version20260810120000.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e8d6d4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/Version20260810120000.php
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace DoctrineMigrations;
+
+use Doctrine\DBAL\Schema\Schema;
+use Doctrine\Migrations\AbstractMigration;
+
+final class Version20260810120000 extends AbstractMigration
+{
+    public function getDescription(): string
+    {
+        return 'Add lobby_message table for pre-game lobby chat';
+    }
+
+    public function up(Schema $schema): void
+    {
+        $this->addSql('CREATE TABLE lobby_message (id INT AUTO_INCREMENT NOT NULL, session_id INT NOT NULL, player_id INT NOT NULL, content VARCHAR(500) NOT NULL, created_at DATETIME NOT NULL, INDEX IDX_LOBBY_MESSAGE_SESSION (session_id), INDEX IDX_LOBBY_MESSAGE_PLAYER (player_id), PRIMARY KEY(id)) DEFAULT CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE `utf8mb4_unicode_ci` ENGINE = InnoDB');
+        $this->addSql('ALTER TABLE lobby_message ADD CONSTRAINT FK_LOBBY_MESSAGE_SESSION FOREIGN KEY (session_id) REFERENCES session (id)');
+        $this->addSql('ALTER TABLE lobby_message ADD CONSTRAINT FK_LOBBY_MESSAGE_PLAYER FOREIGN KEY (player_id) REFERENCES player (id)');
+    }
+
+    public function down(Schema $schema): void
+    {
+        $this->addSql('ALTER TABLE lobby_message DROP FOREIGN KEY FK_LOBBY_MESSAGE_SESSION');
+        $this->addSql('ALTER TABLE lobby_message DROP FOREIGN KEY FK_LOBBY_MESSAGE_PLAYER');
+        $this->addSql('DROP TABLE lobby_message');
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Game/Controller/GameController.php b/src/Game/Controller/GameController.php
index bc504a5..d9929cc 100644
--- a/src/Game/Controller/GameController.php
+++ b/src/Game/Controller/GameController.php
@@ -141,12 +141,21 @@ final class GameController extends AbstractController
             return $this->redirectToRoute('game', ['session' => $session->getId()]);
         }
 
+        if ($request->isMethod('POST') && $request->request->has('send_message')) {
+            $dashboardService->postLobbyMessage($session, $user, (string) $request->request->get('content', ''));
+            return $this->redirectToRoute('game', ['session' => $session->getId()]);
+        }
+
         // Lazily pick up readiness changes from other players since our last request
         $dashboardService->checkAllPlayersReady($session);
 
         if ($session->getStatus() === SessionStatus::CREATED) {
-            $this->addFlash('info', 'This session is still waiting for more players to join.');
-            return $this->redirectToRoute('game_dashboard');
+            return $this->render('game/lobby.html.twig', [
+                'session' => $session,
+                'messages' => $dashboardService->getLobbyMessages($session),
+                'player' => $player,
+                'mercure_public_url' => $this->mercurePublicUrl,
+            ]);
         }
 
         if ($session->getStatus() === SessionStatus::WON) {
diff --git a/src/Game/Entity/LobbyMessage.php b/src/Game/Entity/LobbyMessage.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7dedd7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Game/Entity/LobbyMessage.php
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace App\Game\Entity;
+
+use App\Game\Repository\LobbyMessageRepository;
+use Doctrine\ORM\Mapping as ORM;
+
+#[ORM\Entity(repositoryClass: LobbyMessageRepository::class)]
+#[ORM\Table(name: 'lobby_message')]
+class LobbyMessage
+{
+    #[ORM\Id]
+    #[ORM\GeneratedValue]
+    #[ORM\Column]
+    private ?int $id = null;
+
+    #[ORM\ManyToOne(targetEntity: Session::class)]
+    #[ORM\JoinColumn(nullable: false)]
+    private ?Session $session = null;
+
+    #[ORM\ManyToOne(targetEntity: Player::class)]
+    #[ORM\JoinColumn(nullable: false)]
+    private ?Player $player = null;
+
+    #[ORM\Column(length: 500)]
+    private ?string $content = null;
+
+    #[ORM\Column(type: 'datetime')]
+    private ?\DateTimeInterface $createdAt = null;
+
+    public function __construct()
+    {
+        $this->createdAt = new \DateTime();
+    }
+
+    public function getId(): ?int
+    {
+        return $this->id;
+    }
+
+    public function getSession(): ?Session
+    {
+        return $this->session;
+    }
+
+    public function setSession(?Session $session): static
+    {
+        $this->session = $session;
+
+        return $this;
+    }
+
+    public function getPlayer(): ?Player
+    {
+        return $this->player;
+    }
+
+    public function setPlayer(?Player $player): static
+    {
+        $this->player = $player;
+
+        return $this;
+    }
+
+    public function getContent(): ?string
+    {
+        return $this->content;
+    }
+
+    public function setContent(string $content): static
+    {
+        $this->content = $content;
+
+        return $this;
+    }
+
+    public function getCreatedAt(): ?\DateTimeInterface
+    {
+        return $this->createdAt;
+    }
+
+    public function setCreatedAt(\DateTimeInterface $createdAt): static
+    {
+        $this->createdAt = $createdAt;
+
+        return $this;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Game/Repository/LobbyMessageRepository.php b/src/Game/Repository/LobbyMessageRepository.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f2a51a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Game/Repository/LobbyMessageRepository.php
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace App\Game\Repository;
+
+use App\Game\Entity\LobbyMessage;
+use App\Game\Entity\Session;
+use Doctrine\Bundle\DoctrineBundle\Repository\ServiceEntityRepository;
+use Doctrine\Persistence\ManagerRegistry;
+
+/**
+ * @extends ServiceEntityRepository<LobbyMessage>
+ */
+class LobbyMessageRepository extends ServiceEntityRepository
+{
+    public function __construct(ManagerRegistry $registry)
+    {
+        parent::__construct($registry, LobbyMessage::class);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @return LobbyMessage[]
+     */
+    public function findForSession(Session $session, int $limit = 100): array
+    {
+        return $this->createQueryBuilder('m')
+            ->andWhere('m.session = :session')
+            ->setParameter('session', $session)
+            ->orderBy('m.createdAt', 'ASC')
+            ->setMaxResults($limit)
+            ->getQuery()
+            ->getResult();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Game/Service/GameDashboardService.php b/src/Game/Service/GameDashboardService.php
index 6da63d6..a0ebb4a 100644
--- a/src/Game/Service/GameDashboardService.php
+++ b/src/Game/Service/GameDashboardService.php
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ declare(strict_types=1);
 namespace App\Game\Service;
 
 use App\Game\Entity\Game;
+use App\Game\Entity\LobbyMessage;
 use App\Game\Entity\Player;
 use App\Game\Entity\Session;
 use App\Game\Entity\SessionSetting;
@@ -11,6 +12,7 @@ use App\Game\Enum\GameStatus;
 use App\Game\Enum\SessionSettingType;
 use App\Game\Enum\SessionStatus;
 use App\Game\Repository\GameRepository;
+use App\Game\Repository\LobbyMessageRepository;
 use App\Game\Repository\SessionRepository;
 use App\Tech\Entity\User;
 use Doctrine\ORM\EntityManagerInterface;
@@ -21,10 +23,12 @@ use Symfony\Component\Mercure\Update;
 final class GameDashboardService
 {
     private const READY_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = 60;
+    private const LOBBY_MESSAGE_MAX_LENGTH = 500;
 
     public function __construct(
         private readonly GameRepository $gameRepository,
         private readonly SessionRepository $sessionRepository,
+        private readonly LobbyMessageRepository $lobbyMessageRepository,
         private readonly EntityManagerInterface $entityManager,
         private readonly HubInterface $hub,
     ) {
@@ -122,6 +126,8 @@ final class GameDashboardService
 
         $this->entityManager->flush();
 
+        $this->publishLobbyEvent($session, 'player_joined');
+
         if (count($session->getPlayers()) === $session->getGame()->getNumberOfPlayers()) {
             $this->startSession($session);
         }
@@ -283,9 +289,60 @@ final class GameDashboardService
         $this->entityManager->persist($session);
         $this->entityManager->flush();
 
+        $this->publishLobbyEvent($session, 'session_started');
+
         return true;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @return LobbyMessage[]
+     */
+    public function getLobbyMessages(Session $session): array
+    {
+        return $this->lobbyMessageRepository->findForSession($session);
+    }
+
+    public function postLobbyMessage(Session $session, User $user, string $content): ?LobbyMessage
+    {
+        if ($session->getStatus() !== SessionStatus::CREATED) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        $player = null;
+        foreach ($session->getPlayers() as $sessionPlayer) {
+            if ($sessionPlayer->getUser() === $user) {
+                $player = $sessionPlayer;
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (!$player) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        $content = trim($content);
+        if ($content === '') {
+            return null;
+        }
+        $content = mb_substr($content, 0, self::LOBBY_MESSAGE_MAX_LENGTH);
+
+        $message = new LobbyMessage();
+        $message->setSession($session);
+        $message->setPlayer($player);
+        $message->setContent($content);
+
+        $this->entityManager->persist($message);
+        $this->entityManager->flush();
+
+        $this->publishLobbyEvent($session, 'lobby_message', [
+            'username' => $user->getUserIdentifier(),
+            'content' => $content,
+            'createdAt' => $message->getCreatedAt()->format(DATE_ATOM),
+        ]);
+
+        return $message;
+    }
+
     public function toggleReady(Session $session, User $user): bool
     {
         if ($session->getStatus() !== SessionStatus::READY) {
@@ -393,10 +450,15 @@ final class GameDashboardService
     }
 
     private function publishPlayerReady(Session $session, int $screen, bool $ready): void
+    {
+        $this->publishLobbyEvent($session, 'player_ready', ['player' => $screen, 'ready' => $ready]);
+    }
+
+    private function publishLobbyEvent(Session $session, string $type, array $extra = []): void
     {
         try {
             $topic = '/game/hub/' . $session->getId();
-            $this->hub->publish(new Update($topic, json_encode(['type' => 'player_ready', 'player' => $screen, 'ready' => $ready])));
+            $this->hub->publish(new Update($topic, json_encode(array_merge(['type' => $type], $extra))));
         } catch (\Exception $e) {
             // Mercure might be down, but we don't want to crash the game
         }
diff --git a/templates/game/lobby.html.twig b/templates/game/lobby.html.twig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..427fd49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/game/lobby.html.twig
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+{% extends 'layout/site.html.twig' %}
+
+{% block title %}Waiting for players - {{ session.game.name }}{% endblock %}
+
+{% block body %}
+<div class="row justify-content-center">
+    <div class="col-md-8">
+        <div class="card shadow-sm mb-4">
+            <div class="card-header bg-primary text-white">
+                <h3 class="card-title mb-0">Waiting for more players to join</h3>
+            </div>
+            <div class="card-body">
+                <h4>{{ session.game.name }}</h4>
+                <p>Share the invite code with your friends. Feel free to chat below while you wait &mdash; no need to reload the page.</p>
+
+                <div class="alert alert-info">
+                    <strong>Players joined:</strong> {{ session.players|length }} / {{ session.game.numberOfPlayers }}
+                </div>
+
+                <ul class="list-group mb-3">
+                    {% for sessionPlayer in session.players %}
+                        <li class="list-group-item">{{ sessionPlayer.user.username }}</li>
+                    {% endfor %}
+                </ul>
+
+                {% if session.players|length >= session.game.numberOfPlayers %}
+                    <form method="post" action="{{ path('game_dashboard') }}" class="mb-3">
+                        <input type="hidden" name="session_id" value="{{ session.id }}">
+                        <button type="submit" name="start_session" class="btn btn-success">Start Session</button>
+                    </form>
+                {% endif %}
+
+                <a href="{{ path('game_dashboard') }}" class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm">Back to Dashboard</a>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+
+        <div class="card shadow-sm">
+            <div class="card-header">
+                <h5 class="mb-0">Lobby chat</h5>
+            </div>
+            <div class="card-body">
+                <div id="lobby-chat-log" class="mb-3 d-flex flex-column gap-2" style="max-height: 320px; overflow-y: auto;">
+                    {% for message in messages %}
+                        <div class="lobby-message">
+                            <strong>{{ message.player.user.username }}</strong>
+                            <span class="text-muted small">{{ message.createdAt|date('H:i') }}</span>
+                            <div>{{ message.content }}</div>
+                        </div>
+                    {% else %}
+                        <p class="text-muted mb-0" id="lobby-chat-empty">No messages yet. Say hi!</p>
+                    {% endfor %}
+                </div>
+
+                {% if player %}
+                    <form method="post" class="d-flex gap-2">
+                        <input type="text" name="content" class="form-control" placeholder="Type a message&hellip;" maxlength="500" required autocomplete="off">
+                        <button type="submit" name="send_message" class="btn btn-primary">Send</button>
+                    </form>
+                {% else %}
+                    <p class="text-muted mb-0">Only players in this session can chat.</p>
+                {% endif %}
+            </div>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+</div>
+
+<div id="game-lobby-config"
+     data-mercure-public-url="{{ mercure_public_url|e('html_attr') }}"
+     data-topic="/game/hub/{{ session.id|e('html_attr') }}"
+     style="display:none">
+</div>
+{% endblock %}
diff --git a/tests/Game/GameDashboardServiceTest.php b/tests/Game/GameDashboardServiceTest.php
index 32dc4fe..87cc1c4 100644
--- a/tests/Game/GameDashboardServiceTest.php
+++ b/tests/Game/GameDashboardServiceTest.php
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ use App\Game\Entity\SessionSetting;
 use App\Game\Enum\GameStatus;
 use App\Game\Enum\SessionStatus;
 use App\Game\Enum\SessionSettingType;
+use App\Game\Repository\LobbyMessageRepository;
 use App\Game\Service\GameDashboardService;
 use App\Tech\Entity\User;
 use Doctrine\ORM\EntityManagerInterface;
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ class GameDashboardServiceTest extends TestCase
     private $entityManager;
     private $gameRepository;
     private $sessionRepository;
+    private $lobbyMessageRepository;
     private $hub;
     private $service;
 
@@ -31,14 +33,15 @@ class GameDashboardServiceTest extends TestCase
         $this->entityManager = $this->createMock(EntityManagerInterface::class);
         $this->gameRepository = $this->createMock(GameRepository::class);
         $this->sessionRepository = $this->createMock(SessionRepository::class);
+        $this->lobbyMessageRepository = $this->createMock(LobbyMessageRepository::class);
         $this->hub = $this->createMock(HubInterface::class);
 
         $this->service = new GameDashboardService(
             $this->gameRepository,
             $this->sessionRepository,
+            $this->lobbyMessageRepository,
             $this->entityManager,
             $this->hub,
-            'http://localhost/topic'
         );
     }