diff --git a/app/admin/page.tsx b/app/admin/page.tsx
index 90e711d..2cc4969 100644
--- a/app/admin/page.tsx
+++ b/app/admin/page.tsx
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ export default function AdminDashboard() {
                   <label className="block text-sm font-semibold text-gray-800 mb-1">Short Description</label>
                   <textarea value={isEditing.shortDescription || ''} onChange={e => setIsEditing({...isEditing, shortDescription: e.target.value})} className={`${inputClasses} h-24 resize-none`} placeholder="Brief summary..." />
                 </div>
-                <div className="bg-gray-50 p-3 rounded-lg border border-gray-200">
+                <div className="bg-gray-50 p-3 rounded-lg border border-gray-200 space-y-3">
                   <label className="flex items-start gap-3 cursor-pointer">
                     <input
                       type="checkbox"
@@ -426,6 +426,18 @@ export default function AdminDashboard() {
                       <span className="block text-xs text-gray-600">Open the gallery in fullscreen immediately when the user clicks this card.</span>
                     </div>
                   </label>
+                  <label className="flex items-start gap-3 cursor-pointer">
+                    <input
+                      type="checkbox"
+                      checked={!!isEditing.skipPreview}
+                      onChange={e => setIsEditing({ ...isEditing, skipPreview: e.target.checked })}
+                      className="w-5 h-5 text-blue-600 rounded mt-0.5"
+                    />
+                    <div>
+                      <span className="block text-sm font-semibold text-gray-900">Skip preview</span>
+                      <span className="block text-xs text-gray-600">Don&rsquo;t show the cover as a slide in the gallery. The cover stays as the card thumbnail only. Combine with &ldquo;Auto fullscreen&rdquo; to jump straight into the gallery items.</span>
+                    </div>
+                  </label>
                 </div>
               </div>
               <div className="space-y-5">
diff --git a/components/PublicGrid.tsx b/components/PublicGrid.tsx
index 8e30dbc..590eeff 100644
--- a/components/PublicGrid.tsx
+++ b/components/PublicGrid.tsx
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ export default function PublicGrid({ cards, maxCols = 5 }: { cards: Card[], maxC
 
   const carouselItems: MediaItem[] = activeCard
     ? [
-        ...(activeCard.imageUrl ? [{ url: activeCard.imageUrl }] : []),
+        ...(activeCard.imageUrl && !activeCard.skipPreview ? [{ url: activeCard.imageUrl }] : []),
         ...(activeCard.extraMedia || []),
       ]
     : [];
diff --git a/types/index.ts b/types/index.ts
index 60632c4..0358859 100644
--- a/types/index.ts
+++ b/types/index.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ export interface Card {
   actionUrl?: string;
   displayOrder: number;
   autoFullscreen?: boolean; // open the fullscreen viewer immediately when this card is clicked
+  skipPreview?: boolean;    // skip the modal preview AND exclude the cover image from the swipe sequence
 }
 
 export interface Portal {