diff --git a/backend/apps/api/src/trips/current-trip-role.decorator.ts b/backend/apps/api/src/trips/current-trip-role.decorator.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9b6c884
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/apps/api/src/trips/current-trip-role.decorator.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+import { createParamDecorator, ExecutionContext } from '@nestjs/common';
+import type { TripMemberRole } from '../../../../libs/trips/src';
+
+export const CurrentTripRole = createParamDecorator(
+  (_data: unknown, ctx: ExecutionContext): TripMemberRole => {
+    const request = ctx
+      .switchToHttp()
+      .getRequest<{ tripMembership: { role: TripMemberRole } }>();
+    return request.tripMembership.role;
+  },
+);
diff --git a/backend/apps/api/src/trips/trip-preference-overrides.controller.spec.ts b/backend/apps/api/src/trips/trip-preference-overrides.controller.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..70e1447
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/apps/api/src/trips/trip-preference-overrides.controller.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+import { ForbiddenException } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { TripPreferenceOverridesController } from './trip-preference-overrides.controller';
+import type { AuthenticatedUser } from '../../../../libs/auth/src';
+
+describe('TripPreferenceOverridesController', () => {
+  const member: AuthenticatedUser = {
+    id: 'u1',
+    externalSubjectId: 'sub-1',
+    displayName: 'Alex',
+    email: 'a@example.com',
+  };
+
+  it('GET /trips/:tripId/preference-overrides lists overrides', async () => {
+    const service = { listOverrides: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue([]) };
+    const controller = new TripPreferenceOverridesController(service as never);
+
+    await expect(controller.list('t1')).resolves.toEqual([]);
+    expect(service.listOverrides).toHaveBeenCalledWith('t1');
+  });
+
+  it('allows a member to upsert their own USER override', async () => {
+    const dto = {
+      subject: { type: 'USER' as const, userId: 'u1' },
+      overrides: { preferredPace: 'fast' },
+    };
+    const updated = { id: 'o1', tripId: 't1', ...dto };
+    const service = { upsertOverride: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(updated) };
+    const controller = new TripPreferenceOverridesController(service as never);
+
+    await expect(
+      controller.upsert('t1', member, 'MEMBER', dto),
+    ).resolves.toEqual(updated);
+    expect(service.upsertOverride).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      't1',
+      dto.subject,
+      dto.overrides,
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('denies a non-owner member from setting another user override', async () => {
+    const dto = {
+      subject: { type: 'USER' as const, userId: 'someone-else' },
+      overrides: {},
+    };
+    const service = { upsertOverride: jest.fn() };
+    const controller = new TripPreferenceOverridesController(service as never);
+
+    await expect(
+      controller.upsert('t1', member, 'MEMBER', dto),
+    ).rejects.toThrow(ForbiddenException);
+    expect(service.upsertOverride).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('denies a non-owner member from setting a traveler override', async () => {
+    const dto = {
+      subject: { type: 'TRAVELER' as const, travelerId: 'trav-1' },
+      overrides: {},
+    };
+    const service = { upsertOverride: jest.fn() };
+    const controller = new TripPreferenceOverridesController(service as never);
+
+    await expect(
+      controller.upsert('t1', member, 'MEMBER', dto),
+    ).rejects.toThrow(ForbiddenException);
+  });
+
+  it('allows an OWNER to set overrides for any subject', async () => {
+    const dto = {
+      subject: { type: 'TRAVELER' as const, travelerId: 'trav-1' },
+      overrides: {},
+    };
+    const updated = { id: 'o1', tripId: 't1', ...dto };
+    const service = { upsertOverride: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(updated) };
+    const controller = new TripPreferenceOverridesController(service as never);
+
+    await expect(
+      controller.upsert('t1', member, 'OWNER', dto),
+    ).resolves.toEqual(updated);
+  });
+
+  it('DELETE /trips/:tripId/preference-overrides/:overrideId removes an override', async () => {
+    const service = { removeOverride: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined) };
+    const controller = new TripPreferenceOverridesController(service as never);
+
+    await controller.remove('t1', 'o1');
+    expect(service.removeOverride).toHaveBeenCalledWith('t1', 'o1');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/backend/apps/api/src/trips/trip-preference-overrides.controller.ts b/backend/apps/api/src/trips/trip-preference-overrides.controller.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..21af7c1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/apps/api/src/trips/trip-preference-overrides.controller.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+import {
+  Body,
+  Controller,
+  Delete,
+  ForbiddenException,
+  Get,
+  Param,
+  Put,
+  UseGuards,
+} from '@nestjs/common';
+import { OidcAuthGuard } from '../../../../libs/auth/src';
+import type { AuthenticatedUser } from '../../../../libs/auth/src';
+import {
+  TripMembershipGuard,
+  TripPreferenceOverridesService,
+} from '../../../../libs/trips/src';
+import type {
+  TripMemberRole,
+  TripPreferenceOverride,
+  UpsertPreferenceOverrideDto,
+} from '../../../../libs/trips/src';
+import { CurrentUser } from '../auth/current-user.decorator';
+import { CurrentTripRole } from './current-trip-role.decorator';
+
+@Controller('trips/:tripId/preference-overrides')
+@UseGuards(OidcAuthGuard, TripMembershipGuard)
+export class TripPreferenceOverridesController {
+  constructor(private readonly service: TripPreferenceOverridesService) {}
+
+  @Get()
+  list(@Param('tripId') tripId: string): Promise<TripPreferenceOverride[]> {
+    return this.service.listOverrides(tripId);
+  }
+
+  @Put()
+  async upsert(
+    @Param('tripId') tripId: string,
+    @CurrentUser() currentUser: AuthenticatedUser,
+    @CurrentTripRole() role: TripMemberRole,
+    @Body() dto: UpsertPreferenceOverrideDto,
+  ): Promise<TripPreferenceOverride> {
+    const isOwnUserOverride =
+      dto.subject.type === 'USER' && dto.subject.userId === currentUser.id;
+    if (role !== 'OWNER' && !isOwnUserOverride) {
+      throw new ForbiddenException(
+        'Only the trip owner may set preference overrides for other members or travelers',
+      );
+    }
+    return this.service.upsertOverride(tripId, dto.subject, dto.overrides);
+  }
+
+  @Delete(':overrideId')
+  remove(
+    @Param('tripId') tripId: string,
+    @Param('overrideId') overrideId: string,
+  ): Promise<void> {
+    return this.service.removeOverride(tripId, overrideId);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/backend/apps/api/src/trips/trips.module.ts b/backend/apps/api/src/trips/trips.module.ts
index 7e4da2c..4df7732 100644
--- a/backend/apps/api/src/trips/trips.module.ts
+++ b/backend/apps/api/src/trips/trips.module.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { TripsController } from './trips.controller';
 import { TripMembersController } from './trip-members.controller';
 import { TripInvitationsController } from './trip-invitations.controller';
 import { TravelersController } from './travelers.controller';
+import { TripPreferenceOverridesController } from './trip-preference-overrides.controller';
 
 @Module({
   imports: [AuthModule, TripsLibModule],
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@ import { TravelersController } from './travelers.controller';
     TripMembersController,
     TripInvitationsController,
     TravelersController,
+    TripPreferenceOverridesController,
   ],
 })
 export class TripsApiModule {}
diff --git a/backend/libs/trips/src/index.ts b/backend/libs/trips/src/index.ts
index f721243..ebc3dda 100644
--- a/backend/libs/trips/src/index.ts
+++ b/backend/libs/trips/src/index.ts
@@ -5,5 +5,7 @@ export * from './trip-members.service';
 export * from './trip-membership.guard';
 export * from './trip-invitations.service';
 export * from './travelers.service';
+export * from './trip-preference-overrides.service';
+export * from './preference-precedence';
 export * from './trip-roles.decorator';
 export * from './trips.module';
diff --git a/backend/libs/trips/src/preference-precedence.spec.ts b/backend/libs/trips/src/preference-precedence.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..277bcf8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/libs/trips/src/preference-precedence.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+import { resolveEffectivePreference } from './preference-precedence';
+import type { UserPreferenceFields } from '../../users/src';
+
+describe('resolveEffectivePreference', () => {
+  const appDefault: UserPreferenceFields = {
+    preferredPace: 'moderate',
+    preferredBudgetLevel: 'medium',
+    maxWalkingDistanceKm: 5,
+    preferredStartTime: null,
+    childFriendlyPreferred: false,
+    interests: [],
+    notes: null,
+  };
+
+  it('falls back to the application default when nothing is set', () => {
+    expect(
+      resolveEffectivePreference(undefined, undefined, appDefault),
+    ).toEqual(appDefault);
+  });
+
+  it('prefers the persistent user preference over the application default', () => {
+    const userPref = { ...appDefault, preferredPace: 'relaxed' };
+    expect(
+      resolveEffectivePreference(undefined, userPref, appDefault).preferredPace,
+    ).toBe('relaxed');
+  });
+
+  it('prefers a trip-specific override over the persistent user preference', () => {
+    const userPref = { ...appDefault, preferredPace: 'relaxed' };
+    const override = { preferredPace: 'fast' };
+    expect(
+      resolveEffectivePreference(override, userPref, appDefault).preferredPace,
+    ).toBe('fast');
+  });
+
+  it('merges field-by-field rather than replacing the whole object', () => {
+    const userPref = {
+      ...appDefault,
+      preferredPace: 'relaxed',
+      childFriendlyPreferred: true,
+    };
+    const override = { preferredPace: 'fast' };
+    const result = resolveEffectivePreference(override, userPref, appDefault);
+    expect(result.preferredPace).toBe('fast');
+    expect(result.childFriendlyPreferred).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/backend/libs/trips/src/preference-precedence.ts b/backend/libs/trips/src/preference-precedence.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fb211a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/libs/trips/src/preference-precedence.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+import type { UserPreferenceFields } from '../../users/src';
+
+/**
+ * Precedence: trip override > persistent user preference > application default.
+ * Merges field-by-field so an override touching only one field never masks the
+ * caller's other persisted preferences.
+ */
+export function resolveEffectivePreference(
+  override: Partial<UserPreferenceFields> | undefined,
+  userPreference: UserPreferenceFields | undefined,
+  appDefault: UserPreferenceFields,
+): UserPreferenceFields {
+  return { ...appDefault, ...userPreference, ...override };
+}
diff --git a/backend/libs/trips/src/trip-preference-overrides.repository.ts b/backend/libs/trips/src/trip-preference-overrides.repository.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..72a41a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/libs/trips/src/trip-preference-overrides.repository.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+import { Inject, Injectable } from '@nestjs/common';
+import type { Kysely } from 'kysely';
+import { KYSELY_DB } from '../../database/src';
+import type { Database } from '../../database/src';
+import type { PreferenceSubject, TripPreferenceOverride } from './trip.types';
+
+function toOverride(row: {
+  id: string;
+  trip_id: string;
+  user_id: string | null;
+  traveler_id: string | null;
+  overrides: unknown;
+  created_at: Date;
+  updated_at: Date;
+}): TripPreferenceOverride {
+  return {
+    id: row.id,
+    tripId: row.trip_id,
+    userId: row.user_id,
+    travelerId: row.traveler_id,
+    overrides: (row.overrides ?? {}) as Record<string, unknown>,
+    createdAt: row.created_at,
+    updatedAt: row.updated_at,
+  };
+}
+
+@Injectable()
+export class TripPreferenceOverridesRepository {
+  constructor(@Inject(KYSELY_DB) private readonly db: Kysely<Database>) {}
+
+  async listByTrip(tripId: string): Promise<TripPreferenceOverride[]> {
+    const rows = await this.db
+      .selectFrom('trip_preference_overrides')
+      .selectAll()
+      .where('trip_id', '=', tripId)
+      .execute();
+    return rows.map(toOverride);
+  }
+
+  async upsert(
+    tripId: string,
+    subject: PreferenceSubject,
+    overrides: Record<string, unknown>,
+  ): Promise<TripPreferenceOverride> {
+    const userId = subject.type === 'USER' ? subject.userId : null;
+    const travelerId = subject.type === 'TRAVELER' ? subject.travelerId : null;
+
+    const row = await this.db
+      .insertInto('trip_preference_overrides')
+      .values({
+        trip_id: tripId,
+        user_id: userId,
+        traveler_id: travelerId,
+        overrides: overrides,
+      })
+      .onConflict((oc) =>
+        (subject.type === 'USER'
+          ? oc.columns(['trip_id', 'user_id']).where('user_id', 'is not', null)
+          : oc
+              .columns(['trip_id', 'traveler_id'])
+              .where('traveler_id', 'is not', null)
+        ).doUpdateSet({
+          overrides: overrides,
+          updated_at: new Date().toISOString(),
+        }),
+      )
+      .returningAll()
+      .executeTakeFirstOrThrow();
+
+    return toOverride(row);
+  }
+
+  async remove(tripId: string, overrideId: string): Promise<void> {
+    await this.db
+      .deleteFrom('trip_preference_overrides')
+      .where('trip_id', '=', tripId)
+      .where('id', '=', overrideId)
+      .execute();
+  }
+}
diff --git a/backend/libs/trips/src/trip-preference-overrides.service.spec.ts b/backend/libs/trips/src/trip-preference-overrides.service.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6cf483c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/libs/trips/src/trip-preference-overrides.service.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import { TripPreferenceOverridesService } from './trip-preference-overrides.service';
+
+describe('TripPreferenceOverridesService', () => {
+  it('forwards the subject and overrides to the repository', async () => {
+    const created = {
+      id: 'o1',
+      tripId: 't1',
+      userId: 'u1',
+      travelerId: null,
+      overrides: { preferredPace: 'fast' },
+    };
+    const repository = { upsert: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(created) };
+    const service = new TripPreferenceOverridesService(repository as never);
+
+    const subject = { type: 'USER' as const, userId: 'u1' };
+    await expect(
+      service.upsertOverride('t1', subject, { preferredPace: 'fast' }),
+    ).resolves.toEqual(created);
+    expect(repository.upsert).toHaveBeenCalledWith('t1', subject, {
+      preferredPace: 'fast',
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/backend/libs/trips/src/trip-preference-overrides.service.ts b/backend/libs/trips/src/trip-preference-overrides.service.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..61fea1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/libs/trips/src/trip-preference-overrides.service.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+import { Injectable } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { TripPreferenceOverridesRepository } from './trip-preference-overrides.repository';
+import type { PreferenceSubject, TripPreferenceOverride } from './trip.types';
+
+@Injectable()
+export class TripPreferenceOverridesService {
+  constructor(private readonly repository: TripPreferenceOverridesRepository) {}
+
+  listOverrides(tripId: string): Promise<TripPreferenceOverride[]> {
+    return this.repository.listByTrip(tripId);
+  }
+
+  upsertOverride(
+    tripId: string,
+    subject: PreferenceSubject,
+    overrides: Record<string, unknown>,
+  ): Promise<TripPreferenceOverride> {
+    return this.repository.upsert(tripId, subject, overrides);
+  }
+
+  removeOverride(tripId: string, overrideId: string): Promise<void> {
+    return this.repository.remove(tripId, overrideId);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/backend/libs/trips/src/trip.types.ts b/backend/libs/trips/src/trip.types.ts
index bf9259a..fb80c98 100644
--- a/backend/libs/trips/src/trip.types.ts
+++ b/backend/libs/trips/src/trip.types.ts
@@ -122,6 +122,24 @@ export interface UpdateTravelerDto {
   linkedUserId?: string | null;
 }
 
+export type PreferenceSubject =
+  { type: 'USER'; userId: string } | { type: 'TRAVELER'; travelerId: string };
+
+export interface TripPreferenceOverride {
+  id: string;
+  tripId: string;
+  userId: string | null;
+  travelerId: string | null;
+  overrides: Record<string, unknown>;
+  createdAt: Date;
+  updatedAt: Date;
+}
+
+export interface UpsertPreferenceOverrideDto {
+  subject: PreferenceSubject;
+  overrides: Record<string, unknown>;
+}
+
 export const DEFAULT_TRIP_SETTINGS: Omit<TripSettings, 'tripId'> = {
   webResearchEnabled: false,
   periodicAgentReviewEnabled: false,
diff --git a/backend/libs/trips/src/trips.module.ts b/backend/libs/trips/src/trips.module.ts
index 35544f3..502b2a9 100644
--- a/backend/libs/trips/src/trips.module.ts
+++ b/backend/libs/trips/src/trips.module.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ import { TripInvitationsRepository } from './trip-invitations.repository';
 import { TripInvitationsService } from './trip-invitations.service';
 import { TravelersRepository } from './travelers.repository';
 import { TravelersService } from './travelers.service';
+import { TripPreferenceOverridesRepository } from './trip-preference-overrides.repository';
+import { TripPreferenceOverridesService } from './trip-preference-overrides.service';
 
 @Module({
   imports: [DatabaseModule],
@@ -26,6 +28,8 @@ import { TravelersService } from './travelers.service';
     TripInvitationsService,
     TravelersRepository,
     TravelersService,
+    TripPreferenceOverridesRepository,
+    TripPreferenceOverridesService,
   ],
   exports: [
     TripsService,
@@ -34,6 +38,7 @@ import { TravelersService } from './travelers.service';
     TripMembershipGuard,
     TripInvitationsService,
     TravelersService,
+    TripPreferenceOverridesService,
   ],
 })
 export class TripsLibModule {}