diff --git a/js/channelPlaylists.js b/js/channelPlaylists.js
index 971670fc..2be0dcb6 100644
--- a/js/channelPlaylists.js
+++ b/js/channelPlaylists.js
@@ -4,14 +4,21 @@
 // renders a row of cards linking to the playlist view. Kept out of
 // channelProfile.js (that file is at its size cap) and wired in via a one-line
 // hook, mirroring channelZapTotal.js. Gated by FEATURE_PLAYLISTS — with the flag
-// off (default) it renders nothing and does no fetch, so it's invisible until
-// the whole playlist UI ships.
+// off it renders nothing and does no fetch.
+//
+// Also listens for `bitvid:playlists-changed` (dispatched by the "Add to
+// playlist" picker) so the section refreshes right after you add/create a
+// playlist, instead of needing a manual page reload.
 
 import { fetchCreatorPlaylists } from "./playlists/playlistFacade.js";
 import { FEATURE_PLAYLISTS } from "./constants.js";
 import { devLogger } from "./utils/logger.js";
 
 let currentToken = 0;
+let currentHex = "";
+let currentClient;
+let currentDoc = null;
+let listenerAttached = false;
 
 function clearChildren(el) {
   while (el.firstChild) {
@@ -63,8 +70,71 @@ function renderPlaylistCard(doc, playlist) {
   return card;
 }
 
+// Fetch + render the currently-wired channel's playlists. Safe to call any time
+// (event refresh, initial wire); a nav token drops a stale fetch.
+async function refresh() {
+  const doc = currentDoc || globalThis.document;
+  const section =
+    doc && typeof doc.getElementById === "function"
+      ? doc.getElementById("channelPlaylistsSection")
+      : null;
+  const grid = doc?.getElementById?.("channelPlaylistsGrid") || null;
+  if (!section || !grid) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (!FEATURE_PLAYLISTS || !currentHex) {
+    section.classList.add("hidden");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const token = currentToken;
+  let playlists = [];
+  try {
+    playlists = await fetchCreatorPlaylists(
+      currentHex,
+      currentClient ? { client: currentClient } : {},
+    );
+  } catch (error) {
+    devLogger.warn("[channelPlaylists] Failed to load playlists:", error);
+    playlists = [];
+  }
+
+  // A newer navigation superseded this fetch.
+  if (token !== currentToken) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (!playlists.length) {
+    section.classList.add("hidden");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  clearChildren(grid);
+  const frag = doc.createDocumentFragment();
+  for (const playlist of playlists) {
+    frag.appendChild(renderPlaylistCard(doc, playlist));
+  }
+  grid.appendChild(frag);
+  section.classList.remove("hidden");
+}
+
+function onPlaylistsChanged(event) {
+  const changed = (event?.detail?.pubkey || "").trim().toLowerCase();
+  if (!currentHex || changed !== currentHex) {
+    return;
+  }
+  // Refresh now, then again shortly after — relays need a beat to serve the
+  // event we just published back, so the first fetch can miss it.
+  refresh();
+  setTimeout(() => {
+    refresh();
+  }, 2000);
+}
+
 export function teardownChannelPlaylists() {
   currentToken += 1;
+  currentHex = "";
 }
 
 /**
@@ -78,51 +148,16 @@ export async function wireChannelPlaylists(
   { document: doc = globalThis.document, client } = {},
 ) {
   teardownChannelPlaylists();
-  const token = currentToken;
+  currentHex = typeof pubkey === "string" ? pubkey.trim().toLowerCase() : "";
+  currentClient = client;
+  currentDoc = doc || globalThis.document;
 
-  const section =
-    doc && typeof doc.getElementById === "function"
-      ? doc.getElementById("channelPlaylistsSection")
-      : null;
-  const grid = doc?.getElementById?.("channelPlaylistsGrid") || null;
-  if (!section || !grid) {
-    return;
+  if (!listenerAttached && currentDoc?.addEventListener) {
+    currentDoc.addEventListener("bitvid:playlists-changed", onPlaylistsChanged);
+    listenerAttached = true;
   }
 
-  const hide = () => section.classList.add("hidden");
-  const show = () => section.classList.remove("hidden");
-
-  const hex = typeof pubkey === "string" ? pubkey.trim().toLowerCase() : "";
-  if (!FEATURE_PLAYLISTS || !hex) {
-    hide();
-    return;
-  }
-
-  let playlists = [];
-  try {
-    playlists = await fetchCreatorPlaylists(hex, client ? { client } : {});
-  } catch (error) {
-    devLogger.warn("[channelPlaylists] Failed to load playlists:", error);
-    playlists = [];
-  }
-
-  // A newer navigation (channel switch / teardown) superseded this fetch.
-  if (token !== currentToken) {
-    return;
-  }
-
-  if (!playlists.length) {
-    hide();
-    return;
-  }
-
-  clearChildren(grid);
-  const frag = doc.createDocumentFragment();
-  for (const playlist of playlists) {
-    frag.appendChild(renderPlaylistCard(doc, playlist));
-  }
-  grid.appendChild(frag);
-  show();
+  await refresh();
 }
 
 export default wireChannelPlaylists;
diff --git a/js/ui/playlistPicker.js b/js/ui/playlistPicker.js
index 8de5c4c1..73588fc0 100644
--- a/js/ui/playlistPicker.js
+++ b/js/ui/playlistPicker.js
@@ -169,13 +169,13 @@ export async function openPlaylistPicker({ videoCoordinate, notify } = {}) {
       }
     }
 
-    async function onSave() {
-      saveBtn.disabled = true;
-      cancelBtn.disabled = true;
-      saveBtn.textContent = "Saving…";
-
+    function onSave() {
+      // Compute the diff synchronously, then close the dialog IMMEDIATELY and
+      // publish in the background — relay publishes take a beat, and blocking the
+      // dialog on them made it feel stuck / "not close". Success/failure comes
+      // back as a toast; a `bitvid:playlists-changed` event lets the channel
+      // section refresh without a manual page reload.
       const jobs = [];
-      // Diff existing playlists: only publish those whose membership changed.
       for (const { playlist, input, wasIn } of checkboxes) {
         if (input.checked === wasIn) {
           continue;
@@ -185,7 +185,6 @@ export async function openPlaylistPicker({ videoCoordinate, notify } = {}) {
           : removeVideoFromPlaylist(playlist.items, coordinate);
         jobs.push({ ...playlist, items });
       }
-      // New playlist, if named.
       const newName = newInput.value.trim();
       if (newName) {
         jobs.push({
@@ -196,41 +195,55 @@ export async function openPlaylistPicker({ videoCoordinate, notify } = {}) {
         });
       }
 
+      cleanup();
       if (!jobs.length) {
-        cleanup();
         return;
       }
 
-      let ok = 0;
-      let failed = 0;
-      for (const job of jobs) {
-        try {
-          await publishPlaylist({ pubkey, ...job });
-          ok += 1;
-        } catch (error) {
-          userLogger.warn("[playlistPicker] Failed to publish playlist:", error);
-          failed += 1;
+      (async () => {
+        let ok = 0;
+        let failed = 0;
+        for (const job of jobs) {
+          try {
+            await publishPlaylist({ pubkey, ...job });
+            ok += 1;
+          } catch (error) {
+            userLogger.warn(
+              "[playlistPicker] Failed to publish playlist:",
+              error,
+            );
+            failed += 1;
+          }
         }
-      }
 
-      cleanup();
-      if (ok && !failed) {
-        say(
-          "success",
-          ok === 1 ? "Playlist updated." : `Updated ${ok} playlists.`,
-        );
-      } else if (ok && failed) {
-        say("error", `Updated ${ok}; ${failed} could not be saved.`);
-      } else {
-        say("error", "Couldn't save your playlist changes.");
-      }
+        if (ok && !failed) {
+          say(
+            "success",
+            ok === 1 ? "Playlist updated." : `Updated ${ok} playlists.`,
+          );
+        } else if (ok && failed) {
+          say("error", `Updated ${ok}; ${failed} could not be saved.`);
+        } else {
+          say("error", "Couldn't save your playlist changes.");
+        }
+
+        if (ok) {
+          try {
+            document.dispatchEvent(
+              new CustomEvent("bitvid:playlists-changed", {
+                detail: { pubkey },
+              }),
+            );
+          } catch (error) {
+            // best effort
+          }
+        }
+      })();
     }
 
     cancelBtn.addEventListener("click", cleanup);
     backdrop.addEventListener("click", cleanup);
-    saveBtn.addEventListener("click", () => {
-      onSave().catch(() => cleanup());
-    });
+    saveBtn.addEventListener("click", onSave);
     document.addEventListener("keydown", onKeydown, true);
 
     document.body.appendChild(overlay);