diff --git a/src/components/Header.tsx b/src/components/Header.tsx
index 20a854d..bef6144 100644
--- a/src/components/Header.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Header.tsx
@@ -74,6 +74,10 @@ const Header = ({ navItems }: HeaderProps) => {
     };
   }, []);
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    setIsMobileMenuOpen(false);
+  }, [pathname]);
+
   return (
     <header className="px-4 py-2 md:px-8 flex items-center bg-[#0E0F19] border-b-3 border-[#1F5673] justify-between">
       {/* Logo */}
@@ -90,7 +94,7 @@ const Header = ({ navItems }: HeaderProps) => {
       {/* Right side - Navigation + controls */}
       <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
         {/* Desktop Navigation */}
-        <nav className="hidden xl:flex items-center gap-3">
+        <nav className="hidden lg:flex items-center gap-3">
           {mainNavItems.map((item) => {
             const isActive = pathname === item.href;
             const isDisabled = disabledNavHrefs.has(item.href);
@@ -110,20 +114,7 @@ const Header = ({ navItems }: HeaderProps) => {
                       : "hover:bg-[#00A3E0]/20"
                 }`}
               >
-                <span className="flex items-center gap-2">
-                  <span>{item.label}</span>
-                  {navIconByHref[item.href] ? (
-                    <span
-                      className={`material-symbols-outlined text-[1.4rem]! leading-none ${
-                        isActive
-                          ? "text-black"
-                          : "text-[#00A3E0] group-hover:text-[#EEE5E5]"
-                      }`}
-                    >
-                      {navIconByHref[item.href]}
-                    </span>
-                  ) : null}
-                </span>
+                {item.label}
               </Link>
             );
           })}
@@ -139,7 +130,7 @@ const Header = ({ navItems }: HeaderProps) => {
             <Button
               variant="ghost"
               size="icon"
-              className="xl:hidden size-10 cursor-pointer"
+              className="lg:hidden size-10 cursor-pointer"
             >
               <MdMenu className="size-10 text-[#EEE5E5]" />
               <span className="sr-only">Menu</span>
@@ -147,7 +138,7 @@ const Header = ({ navItems }: HeaderProps) => {
           </DropdownMenuTrigger>
           <DropdownMenuContent
             align="end"
-            className="xl:hidden w-64 translate-y-4 rounded-none border-3 border-[#1F5673] bg-[#0E0F19] p-0"
+            className="lg:hidden w-64 translate-y-4 rounded-none border-3 border-[#1F5673] bg-[#0E0F19] p-0"
           >
             {mainNavItems.map((item, index) => {
               const isActive = pathname === item.href;
diff --git a/src/components/Sponsors.tsx b/src/components/Sponsors.tsx
index 62f7c35..9db4e7e 100644
--- a/src/components/Sponsors.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Sponsors.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 "use client";
 
-import { useState, useEffect, useCallback } from "react";
 import { vipnagorgialla } from "@/components/Vipnagorgialla";
 import { useTranslations } from "next-intl";
 import Image from "next/image";
@@ -83,38 +82,22 @@ const sponsors: Sponsor[] = [
   },
 ];
 
-// Split sponsors into slides (6 per slide)
-const SPONSORS_PER_SLIDE = 6;
-const slides: Sponsor[][] = [];
-for (let i = 0; i < sponsors.length; i += SPONSORS_PER_SLIDE) {
-  slides.push(sponsors.slice(i, i + SPONSORS_PER_SLIDE));
-}
-
 interface SponsorsProps {
   showTitle?: boolean;
   className?: string;
 }
 
+const tickerSponsors = [...sponsors, ...sponsors, ...sponsors, ...sponsors];
+
 export default function Sponsors({
   showTitle = true,
   className = "",
 }: SponsorsProps) {
   const t = useTranslations();
-  const [current, setCurrent] = useState(0);
-
-  const next = useCallback(
-    () => setCurrent((c) => (c + 1) % slides.length),
-    [],
-  );
-
-  useEffect(() => {
-    const id = setInterval(next, 5000);
-    return () => clearInterval(id);
-  }, [next]);
 
   return (
     <div
-      className={`flex flex-col max-w-[1920px] xl:h-[414px] mx-auto ${vipnagorgialla.className} font-bold italic border-[#1F5673] ${className}`}
+      className={`flex flex-col w-full xl:h-[414px] mx-auto ${vipnagorgialla.className} font-bold italic border-[#1F5673] ${className}`}
     >
       {showTitle && (
         <h3 className="text-4xl md:text-5xl dark:text-[#EEE5E5] text-[#2A2C3F] px-12 pt-8 pb-4">
@@ -122,53 +105,44 @@ export default function Sponsors({
         </h3>
       )}
 
-      {/* Carousel container */}
-      <div className="relative xl:flex-1 overflow-x-hidden overflow-y-visible">
-        <div
-          className="flex h-full transition-transform duration-500 ease-in-out"
-          style={{ transform: `translateX(-${current * 100}%)` }}
-        >
-          {slides.map((slideSponsors, slideIndex) => (
-            <div
-              key={slideIndex}
-              className="flex-none w-full xl:h-full grid grid-cols-2 sm:grid-cols-3 place-items-center gap-6 px-6 py-6 xl:flex xl:items-center xl:justify-center xl:gap-12 xl:px-12 xl:py-0"
+      <div className="relative xl:flex-1 overflow-hidden py-8 sm:py-10 xl:py-4 2xl:py-6">
+        <div className="ticker-track flex items-center w-max gap-8 sm:gap-10 md:gap-12 xl:gap-16 2xl:gap-20 px-8 sm:px-10 xl:px-14 2xl:px-20">
+          {tickerSponsors.map((sponsor, index) => (
+            <NextLink
+              key={`${sponsor.alt}-${index}`}
+              href={sponsor.href}
+              target="_blank"
+              className="flex items-center justify-center shrink-0"
+              aria-hidden={index >= sponsors.length}
+              tabIndex={index >= sponsors.length ? -1 : undefined}
             >
-              {slideSponsors.map((sponsor, i) => (
-                <NextLink
-                  key={i}
-                  href={sponsor.href}
-                  target="_blank"
-                  className="flex items-center justify-center w-full"
-                >
-                  <Image
-                    src={sponsor.src}
-                    alt={sponsor.alt}
-                    width={sponsor.width}
-                    height={sponsor.height}
-                    className={`object-contain max-h-[80px] max-w-[120px] sm:max-h-[110px] sm:max-w-[150px] md:max-h-[130px] md:max-w-[180px] lg:max-h-[140px] lg:max-w-[200px] xl:max-h-[180px] xl:max-w-[240px] ${sponsor.className || ""}`}
-                  />
-                </NextLink>
-              ))}
-            </div>
+              <Image
+                src={sponsor.src}
+                alt={sponsor.alt}
+                width={sponsor.width}
+                height={sponsor.height}
+                className={`object-contain max-h-[80px] max-w-[120px] sm:max-h-[110px] sm:max-w-[150px] md:max-h-[130px] md:max-w-[180px] lg:max-h-[140px] lg:max-w-[200px] xl:max-h-[180px] xl:max-w-[240px] 2xl:max-h-[210px] 2xl:max-w-[280px] ${sponsor.className || ""}`}
+              />
+            </NextLink>
           ))}
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      {/* Navigation dots */}
-      <div className="flex justify-center gap-3 py-4">
-        {slides.map((_, i) => (
-          <button
-            key={i}
-            onClick={() => setCurrent(i)}
-            className={`w-3 h-3 rounded-full transition ${
-              i === current
-                ? "bg-[#00A3E0]"
-                : "bg-[#1F5673] hover:bg-[#007CAB]/60"
-            }`}
-            aria-label={`Slide ${i + 1}`}
-          />
-        ))}
-      </div>
+      <style jsx>{`
+        .ticker-track {
+          animation: sponsors-ticker 36s linear infinite;
+          will-change: transform;
+        }
+
+        @keyframes sponsors-ticker {
+          from {
+            transform: translateX(-25%);
+          }
+          to {
+            transform: translateX(0%);
+          }
+        }
+      `}</style>
     </div>
   );
 }
diff --git a/src/components/TeaserCarousel.tsx b/src/components/TeaserCarousel.tsx
index e2da99c..badaafc 100644
--- a/src/components/TeaserCarousel.tsx
+++ b/src/components/TeaserCarousel.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 "use client";
 
-import { useState, useEffect, useCallback } from "react";
+import { useState, useEffect, useCallback, useRef } from "react";
 import Image from "next/image";
 import { Link } from "@/i18n/routing";
 import { vipnagorgialla } from "@/components/Vipnagorgialla";
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ const slides: Slide[] = [
 export default function TeaserCarousel() {
   const t = useTranslations("home.teaser");
   const [current, setCurrent] = useState(0);
+  const intervalRef = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null>(null);
 
   const next = useCallback(
     () => setCurrent((c) => (c + 1) % slides.length),
@@ -71,66 +72,91 @@ export default function TeaserCarousel() {
   );
   const prev = () => setCurrent((c) => (c - 1 + slides.length) % slides.length);
 
-  useEffect(() => {
-    const id = setInterval(next, 5000);
-    return () => clearInterval(id);
+  const restartAutoplay = useCallback(() => {
+    if (intervalRef.current) {
+      clearInterval(intervalRef.current);
+    }
+    intervalRef.current = setInterval(next, 5000);
   }, [next]);
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    restartAutoplay();
+
+    return () => {
+      if (intervalRef.current) {
+        clearInterval(intervalRef.current);
+      }
+    };
+  }, [restartAutoplay]);
+
+  const headingOnRight = Boolean(slides[current]?.flip);
+
   return (
     <div className="border-b-3 border-[#1F5673]">
-      {/* Sliding track */}
+      {/* Slides (fade transition + hero lift effect) */}
       <div className="relative h-[729px] overflow-hidden">
-        <div
-          className="flex h-full transition-transform duration-500 ease-in-out"
-          style={{ transform: `translateX(-${current * 100}%)` }}
-        >
-          {slides.map((slide) => {
-            const title = t(`${slide.key}.title`);
-            const description = t(`${slide.key}.description`);
-            return (
-              <div key={slide.key} className="relative flex-none w-full h-full">
-                {/* Background image */}
-                <Image
-                  src={slide.image}
-                  alt={slide.imageAlt}
-                  fill
-                  className="object-cover object-center"
-                />
-                {/* Overlay */}
-                <div
-                  className={`absolute inset-0 ${slide.fullBrightness ? "" : "bg-gradient-to-r from-[#0E0F19]/90 via-[#0E0F19]/60 to-[#0E0F19]/20"}`}
-                />
+        {slides.map((slide, i) => {
+          const title = t(`${slide.key}.title`);
+          const description = t(`${slide.key}.description`);
+          const isActive = i === current;
 
-                {/* Content */}
+          return (
+            <div
+              key={slide.key}
+              className={`absolute inset-0 transition-opacity duration-700 ease-out ${
+                isActive ? "opacity-100" : "opacity-0 pointer-events-none"
+              }`}
+            >
+              {/* Background image */}
+              <Image
+                src={slide.image}
+                alt={slide.imageAlt}
+                fill
+                className="object-cover object-center"
+              />
+
+              {/* Overlay */}
+              <div
+                className={`absolute inset-0 ${slide.fullBrightness ? "" : "bg-gradient-to-r from-[#0E0F19]/90 via-[#0E0F19]/60 to-[#0E0F19]/20"}`}
+              />
+
+              {/* Content */}
+              <div
+                className={`relative grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 h-full ${slide.flip ? "md:[direction:rtl]" : ""}`}
+              >
                 <div
-                  className={`relative grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 h-full ${slide.flip ? "md:[direction:rtl]" : ""}`}
+                  className={`flex flex-col justify-end px-8 py-8 md:px-12 md:py-10 ${slide.flip ? "md:[direction:ltr]" : ""}`}
+                >
+                  {/* Title + description at bottom */}
+                  <div
+                    className={`flex flex-col gap-3 pb-16 ${slide.flip ? "md:items-end md:text-right md:ml-auto" : ""}`}
+                  >
+                    <Link href={slide.href}>
+                      <h3
+                        className={`${vipnagorgialla.className} font-bold italic text-[clamp(2.5rem,2rem+2.5vw,5rem)] leading-none text-[#EEE5E5] hover:text-[#00A3E0] transition`}
+                      >
+                        {title}
+                      </h3>
+                    </Link>
+                    <p
+                      className={`text-[1.1rem] leading-relaxed md:text-[clamp(0.875rem,0.75rem+0.5vw,1.1rem)] text-[#EEE5E5] max-w-prose ${slide.flip ? "md:text-right" : ""}`}
+                    >
+                      {description}
+                    </p>
+                  </div>
+                </div>
+
+                {/* Hero image */}
+                <div
+                  className={`hidden md:block relative overflow-hidden ${slide.flip ? "md:[direction:ltr]" : ""}`}
                 >
                   <div
-                    className={`flex flex-col justify-between px-8 py-8 md:px-12 md:py-10 ${slide.flip ? "md:[direction:ltr]" : ""}`}
-                  >
-                    {/* Heading at top */}
-                    <h2
-                      className={`${vipnagorgialla.className} font-bold italic text-[clamp(2.5rem,1.5rem+4.5vw,4rem)] md:text-[64px] leading-none tracking-normal uppercase text-[#EEE5E5]`}
-                    >
-                      {highlightLAN(t("heading"))}
-                    </h2>
-                    {/* Title + description at bottom */}
-                    <div className="flex flex-col gap-3 pb-16">
-                      <Link href={slide.href}>
-                        <h3
-                          className={`${vipnagorgialla.className} font-bold italic text-[clamp(2.5rem,2rem+2.5vw,5rem)] leading-none text-[#EEE5E5] hover:text-[#00A3E0] transition`}
-                        >
-                          {title}
-                        </h3>
-                      </Link>
-                      <p className="text-[clamp(0.875rem,0.75rem+0.5vw,1.1rem)] text-[#EEE5E5] max-w-prose">
-                        {description}
-                      </p>
-                    </div>
-                  </div>
-                  {/* Hero image */}
-                  <div
-                    className={`hidden md:block relative ${slide.flip ? "md:[direction:ltr]" : ""}`}
+                    className="absolute inset-0 transition-transform duration-700 ease-out"
+                    style={{
+                      transform: isActive
+                        ? "translateY(0)"
+                        : "translateY(110%)",
+                    }}
                   >
                     <Image
                       src={slide.hero}
@@ -141,20 +167,52 @@ export default function TeaserCarousel() {
                   </div>
                 </div>
               </div>
-            );
-          })}
+            </div>
+          );
+        })}
+
+        {/* Floating heading (mobile) */}
+        <div className="absolute top-5 inset-x-0 px-8 z-20 md:hidden pointer-events-none">
+          <h2
+            className={`${vipnagorgialla.className} font-bold italic text-[clamp(2rem,1.5rem+4.6vw,3rem)] leading-[0.95] tracking-normal uppercase text-[#EEE5E5] whitespace-normal break-words text-left max-w-[12ch]`}
+          >
+            {highlightLAN(t("heading"))}
+          </h2>
+        </div>
+
+        {/* Floating heading (desktop/tablet) */}
+        <div className="absolute top-8 inset-x-0 px-4 sm:px-6 md:px-12 z-20 hidden md:flex pointer-events-none">
+          <div
+            className="transition-[flex-grow] duration-700 ease-out"
+            style={{ flexGrow: headingOnRight ? 1 : 0 }}
+          />
+          <h2
+            className={`${vipnagorgialla.className} font-bold italic text-[64px] leading-none tracking-normal uppercase text-[#EEE5E5] whitespace-normal [overflow-wrap:anywhere] text-center shrink`}
+          >
+            {highlightLAN(t("heading"))}
+          </h2>
+          <div
+            className="transition-[flex-grow] duration-700 ease-out"
+            style={{ flexGrow: headingOnRight ? 0 : 1 }}
+          />
         </div>
 
         {/* Arrow buttons */}
         <button
-          onClick={prev}
+          onClick={() => {
+            prev();
+            restartAutoplay();
+          }}
           className="absolute left-4 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 w-10 h-10 flex items-center justify-center bg-[#0E0F19]/50 hover:bg-[#007CAB] text-[#EEE5E5] transition z-20"
           aria-label="Previous slide"
         >
           <span className="material-symbols-outlined">chevron_left</span>
         </button>
         <button
-          onClick={next}
+          onClick={() => {
+            next();
+            restartAutoplay();
+          }}
           className="absolute right-4 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 w-10 h-10 flex items-center justify-center bg-[#0E0F19]/50 hover:bg-[#007CAB] text-[#EEE5E5] transition z-20"
           aria-label="Next slide"
         >
@@ -166,7 +224,10 @@ export default function TeaserCarousel() {
           {slides.map((_, i) => (
             <button
               key={i}
-              onClick={() => setCurrent(i)}
+              onClick={() => {
+                setCurrent(i);
+                restartAutoplay();
+              }}
               className={`w-3 h-3 rounded-full transition ${
                 i === current
                   ? "bg-[#00A3E0]"
diff --git a/src/middleware.ts b/src/middleware.ts
index 3a5b4ca..5c44442 100644
--- a/src/middleware.ts
+++ b/src/middleware.ts
@@ -12,8 +12,7 @@ export default function middleware(request: NextRequest) {
   if (location) {
     const url = new URL(location);
 
-    // Keep localhost development redirects intact, but drop leaked :3000
-    // on public domains when upstream proxy forwards an internal port.
+    // Keep localhost development redirects intact. If not then DO NOT!
     const isLocalhost =
       url.hostname === "localhost" || url.hostname === "127.0.0.1";