diff --git a/backend/main.py b/backend/main.py
index eed813d..1d82b9e 100644
--- a/backend/main.py
+++ b/backend/main.py
@@ -469,6 +469,7 @@ session = Session()
 caller_service = CallerService()
 _ai_response_lock = asyncio.Lock()  # Prevents concurrent AI responses
 _session_epoch = 0  # Increments on hangup/call start — stale tasks check this
+_show_on_air = False  # Controls whether phone calls are accepted or get off-air message
 
 
 # --- News & Research Helpers ---
@@ -551,6 +552,21 @@ async def index():
     return FileResponse(frontend_dir / "index.html")
 
 
+# --- On-Air Toggle ---
+
+@app.post("/api/on-air")
+async def set_on_air(state: dict):
+    """Toggle whether the show is on air (accepting phone calls)"""
+    global _show_on_air
+    _show_on_air = bool(state.get("on_air", False))
+    print(f"[Show] On-air: {_show_on_air}")
+    return {"on_air": _show_on_air}
+
+@app.get("/api/on-air")
+async def get_on_air():
+    return {"on_air": _show_on_air}
+
+
 # --- SignalWire Endpoints ---
 
 @app.post("/api/signalwire/voice")
@@ -561,6 +577,15 @@ async def signalwire_voice_webhook(request: Request):
     call_sid = form.get("CallSid", "")
     print(f"[SignalWire] Inbound call from {caller_phone} (CallSid: {call_sid})")
 
+    if not _show_on_air:
+        print(f"[SignalWire] Show is off air — playing off-air message for {caller_phone}")
+        xml = """<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<Response>
+    <Say voice="woman">Luke at the Roost is off the air right now. Please call back during the show for your chance to talk to Luke. Thanks for calling!</Say>
+    <Hangup/>
+</Response>"""
+        return Response(content=xml, media_type="application/xml")
+
     # Use dedicated stream URL (ngrok) if configured, otherwise derive from request
     if settings.signalwire_stream_url:
         stream_url = settings.signalwire_stream_url
diff --git a/frontend/css/style.css b/frontend/css/style.css
index bc2d783..ad79cc6 100644
--- a/frontend/css/style.css
+++ b/frontend/css/style.css
@@ -54,6 +54,27 @@ header button {
     cursor: pointer;
 }
 
+.on-air-btn {
+    font-weight: 700;
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    letter-spacing: 0.05em;
+    transition: background 0.2s;
+}
+
+.on-air-btn.off {
+    background: #666 !important;
+}
+
+.on-air-btn.on {
+    background: #cc2222 !important;
+    animation: on-air-pulse 2s ease-in-out infinite;
+}
+
+@keyframes on-air-pulse {
+    0%, 100% { opacity: 1; }
+    50% { opacity: 0.7; }
+}
+
 .new-session-btn {
     background: var(--accent) !important;
 }
diff --git a/frontend/index.html b/frontend/index.html
index 6531719..287e3f1 100644
--- a/frontend/index.html
+++ b/frontend/index.html
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
         <header>
             <h1>Luke at The Roost</h1>
             <div class="header-buttons">
+                <button id="on-air-btn" class="on-air-btn off">OFF AIR</button>
                 <button id="new-session-btn" class="new-session-btn">New Session</button>
                 <button id="settings-btn">Settings</button>
             </div>
diff --git a/frontend/js/app.js b/frontend/js/app.js
index e2a56a2..a20b275 100644
--- a/frontend/js/app.js
+++ b/frontend/js/app.js
@@ -57,6 +57,24 @@ function initEventListeners() {
     // New Session
     document.getElementById('new-session-btn')?.addEventListener('click', newSession);
 
+    // On-Air toggle
+    const onAirBtn = document.getElementById('on-air-btn');
+    if (onAirBtn) {
+        fetch('/api/on-air').then(r => r.json()).then(data => {
+            updateOnAirBtn(onAirBtn, data.on_air);
+        });
+        onAirBtn.addEventListener('click', async () => {
+            const isOn = onAirBtn.classList.contains('on');
+            const res = await safeFetch('/api/on-air', {
+                method: 'POST',
+                headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+                body: JSON.stringify({ on_air: !isOn }),
+            });
+            updateOnAirBtn(onAirBtn, res.on_air);
+            log(res.on_air ? 'Show is ON AIR — accepting calls' : 'Show is OFF AIR — calls get off-air message');
+        });
+    }
+
     // Server controls
     document.getElementById('restart-server-btn')?.addEventListener('click', restartServer);
     document.getElementById('stop-server-btn')?.addEventListener('click', stopServer);
@@ -772,6 +790,12 @@ function log(text) {
     addMessage('System', text);
 }
 
+function updateOnAirBtn(btn, isOn) {
+    btn.classList.toggle('on', isOn);
+    btn.classList.toggle('off', !isOn);
+    btn.textContent = isOn ? 'ON AIR' : 'OFF AIR';
+}
+
 
 function showStatus(text) {
     const status = document.getElementById('status');