diff --git a/.env-sample b/.env-sample
index 5aff92d..867ee46 100644
--- a/.env-sample
+++ b/.env-sample
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ DATABASE_TYPE=sqlite # Options: sqlite, postgresql - If you have enabled auto-sc
 DATABASE_URL=username:password@hostname:port # For PostgreSQL
 DATABASE_PATH=data/comet.db # Only relevant for SQLite
 DATABASE_BATCH_SIZE=20000 # The batch size for the database import and export operations
+DATABASE_READ_REPLICA_URLS='' # Optional JSON array of PostgreSQL read-only URLs, e.g. '["user:pass@replica-1/db", "user:pass@replica-2/db"]'
 
 # ============================== #
 # Cache Settings (Seconds)       #
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f9f03f1..ee34921 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 # Changelog
 
+<!-- markdownlint-disable MD024 -->
+
+## [Unreleased]
+
+### Features
+
+* add optional PostgreSQL read replica routing with transparent primary fallback
+
 ## [2.31.0](https://github.com/g0ldyy/comet/compare/v2.30.0...v2.31.0) (2025-12-08)
 
 
diff --git a/comet/core/db_router.py b/comet/core/db_router.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1dc1d3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/comet/core/db_router.py
@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+import asyncio
+import contextvars
+from contextlib import contextmanager
+from typing import List, Optional, Sequence
+
+from databases import Database
+
+from comet.core.logger import logger
+
+
+class ReplicaAwareDatabase:
+    """Routes read queries to replicas while keeping writes on the primary."""
+
+    def __init__(self, primary: Database, replicas: Optional[Sequence[Database]] = None):
+        self._primary = primary
+        self._configured_replicas = list(replicas or [])
+        self._active_replicas: List[Database] = []
+        self._replica_index = 0
+        self._transaction_depth = contextvars.ContextVar(
+            "comet_db_replica_tx_depth", default=0
+        )
+        self._force_primary_context = contextvars.ContextVar(
+            "comet_db_replica_force_primary", default=False
+        )
+
+    @property
+    def has_replicas(self) -> bool:
+        return bool(self._active_replicas)
+
+    @property
+    def is_connected(self) -> bool:
+        return self._primary.is_connected
+
+    async def connect(self):
+        await self._primary.connect()
+
+        healthy_replicas: List[Database] = []
+        for replica in self._configured_replicas:
+            try:
+                await replica.connect()
+            except Exception as exc:  # pragma: no cover - defensive logging
+                logger.log(
+                    "DATABASE",
+                    f"Read replica connection failed ({getattr(replica, 'url', 'replica')}): {exc}",
+                )
+            else:
+                healthy_replicas.append(replica)
+
+        self._active_replicas = healthy_replicas
+
+        if self._active_replicas:
+            logger.log(
+                "DATABASE",
+                f"Read replicas enabled ({len(self._active_replicas)} healthy)",
+            )
+
+    async def disconnect(self):
+        for db in [self._primary, *self._configured_replicas]:
+            if not db.is_connected:
+                continue
+            try:
+                await db.disconnect()
+            except Exception as exc:  # pragma: no cover - defensive logging
+                logger.log("DATABASE", f"Error disconnecting database: {exc}")
+
+    def transaction(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        primary_transaction = self._primary.transaction(*args, **kwargs)
+        return _ReplicaAwareTransaction(self, primary_transaction)
+
+    async def execute(self, query, values=None):
+        return await self._primary.execute(query, values)
+
+    async def execute_many(self, query, values):
+        return await self._primary.execute_many(query, values)
+
+    async def fetch_all(self, query, values=None, *, force_primary: bool = False):
+        return await self._run_read("fetch_all", force_primary, query, values)
+
+    async def fetch_one(self, query, values=None, *, force_primary: bool = False):
+        return await self._run_read("fetch_one", force_primary, query, values)
+
+    async def fetch_val(
+        self, query, values=None, column: int = 0, *, force_primary: bool = False
+    ):
+        return await self._run_read("fetch_val", force_primary, query, values, column)
+
+    def _should_use_primary(self, explicit_force: bool) -> bool:
+        if explicit_force or self._force_primary_context.get():
+            return True
+
+        if not self._active_replicas:
+            return True
+
+        if self._transaction_depth.get() > 0:
+            return True
+
+        return False
+
+    def _next_replica(self) -> Database:
+        replica = self._active_replicas[self._replica_index % len(self._active_replicas)]
+        self._replica_index = (self._replica_index + 1) % len(self._active_replicas)
+        return replica
+
+    async def _run_read(self, method_name: str, force_primary: bool, *args):
+        target = (
+            self._primary
+            if self._should_use_primary(force_primary)
+            else self._next_replica()
+        )
+
+        method = getattr(target, method_name)
+        try:
+            return await method(*args)
+        except asyncio.CancelledError:  # pragma: no cover - propagate cancellations
+            raise
+        except Exception as exc:
+            if target is not self._primary and self._primary.is_connected:
+                logger.log(
+                    "DATABASE",
+                    f"Replica {method_name} failed, retrying on primary: {exc}",
+                )
+                fallback = getattr(self._primary, method_name)
+                return await fallback(*args)
+            raise
+
+    @contextmanager
+    def force_primary(self):
+        token = self._force_primary_context.set(True)
+        try:
+            yield self
+        finally:
+            self._force_primary_context.reset(token)
+
+    def __getattr__(self, item):
+        return getattr(self._primary, item)
+
+
+class _ReplicaAwareTransaction:
+    def __init__(self, router: ReplicaAwareDatabase, transaction_cm):
+        self._router = router
+        self._transaction_cm = transaction_cm
+        self._token = None
+
+    async def __aenter__(self):
+        current_depth = self._router._transaction_depth.get()
+        self._token = self._router._transaction_depth.set(current_depth + 1)
+        return await self._transaction_cm.__aenter__()
+
+    async def __aexit__(self, exc_type, exc, tb):
+        try:
+            return await self._transaction_cm.__aexit__(exc_type, exc, tb)
+        finally:
+            if self._token is not None:
+                self._router._transaction_depth.reset(self._token)
diff --git a/comet/core/models.py b/comet/core/models.py
index 9036b4b..ef3f7bd 100644
--- a/comet/core/models.py
+++ b/comet/core/models.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from typing import List, Optional, Union
 
 import RTN
 from databases import Database
-from pydantic import BaseModel, field_validator
+from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, field_validator
 from pydantic_settings import BaseSettings, SettingsConfigDict
 from RTN import DefaultRanking, SettingsModel
 from RTN.models import (AudioRankModel, CustomRank, CustomRanksConfig,
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ from RTN.models import (AudioRankModel, CustomRank, CustomRanksConfig,
                         OptionsConfig, QualityRankModel, ResolutionConfig,
                         RipsRankModel)
 
+from comet.core.db_router import ReplicaAwareDatabase
+
 
 class AppSettings(BaseSettings):
     model_config = SettingsConfigDict(
@@ -32,6 +34,7 @@ class AppSettings(BaseSettings):
     DATABASE_URL: Optional[str] = "username:password@hostname:port"
     DATABASE_PATH: Optional[str] = "data/comet.db"
     DATABASE_BATCH_SIZE: Optional[int] = 20000
+    DATABASE_READ_REPLICA_URLS: List[str] = Field(default_factory=list)
     METADATA_CACHE_TTL: Optional[int] = 2592000  # 30 days
     TORRENT_CACHE_TTL: Optional[int] = 1296000  # 15 days
     LIVE_TORRENT_CACHE_TTL: Optional[int] = 1296000  # 15 days
@@ -673,13 +676,31 @@ web_config = {
     ],
 }
 
+
+def _build_database_instance(raw_url: str) -> Database:
+    driver = "sqlite" if settings.DATABASE_TYPE == "sqlite" else "postgresql+asyncpg"
+    prefix = "/" if settings.DATABASE_TYPE == "sqlite" else ""
+    return Database(f"{driver}://{prefix}{raw_url}")
+
+
 database_url = (
     settings.DATABASE_PATH
     if settings.DATABASE_TYPE == "sqlite"
     else settings.DATABASE_URL
 )
-database = Database(
-    f"{'sqlite' if settings.DATABASE_TYPE == 'sqlite' else 'postgresql+asyncpg'}://{'/' if settings.DATABASE_TYPE == 'sqlite' else ''}{database_url}"
+
+replica_instances: List[Database] = []
+if settings.DATABASE_TYPE != "sqlite" and settings.DATABASE_READ_REPLICA_URLS:
+    for replica_url in settings.DATABASE_READ_REPLICA_URLS:
+        if replica_url:
+            replica_instances.append(_build_database_instance(replica_url))
+elif settings.DATABASE_TYPE == "sqlite" and settings.DATABASE_READ_REPLICA_URLS:
+    logger.log(
+        "DATABASE", "Read replicas are ignored for sqlite deployments"
+    )
+
+database = ReplicaAwareDatabase(
+    _build_database_instance(database_url), replicas=replica_instances
 )
 
 trackers = [
diff --git a/comet/services/lock.py b/comet/services/lock.py
index 5ab3474..358202b 100644
--- a/comet/services/lock.py
+++ b/comet/services/lock.py
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ class DistributedLock:
                     row = await database.fetch_one(
                         "SELECT instance_id FROM scrape_locks WHERE lock_key = :lock_key",
                         {"lock_key": self.lock_key},
+                        force_primary=True,
                     )
                     success = row and row["instance_id"] == self.instance_id
 
@@ -125,6 +126,7 @@ async def is_scrape_in_progress(media_id: str):
         row = await database.fetch_one(
             "SELECT instance_id FROM scrape_locks WHERE lock_key = :lock_key",
             {"lock_key": media_id},
+            force_primary=True,
         )
         return row is not None
     except Exception as e: