diff --git a/backend/src/routes/dashboard.js b/backend/src/routes/dashboard.js
index a65e92e..a907b9a 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/dashboard.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/dashboard.js
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ const express = require('express');
 const router = express.Router();
 const { authenticate } = require('../middleware/auth');
 const { PrismaClient } = require('@prisma/client');
+const { getEventsOnlineCounts } = require('../socket');
 
 const prisma = new PrismaClient();
 
@@ -38,6 +39,15 @@ router.get('/', authenticate, async (req, res, next) => {
       },
     });
 
+    // Get online counts for all events (safely handle if socket not initialized)
+    let onlineCounts = {};
+    try {
+      const eventIds = eventParticipants.map(ep => ep.event.id);
+      onlineCounts = getEventsOnlineCounts(eventIds);
+    } catch (_) {
+      // Socket may not be initialized (e.g., during tests)
+    }
+
     // Get user's heats for each event
     const activeEvents = await Promise.all(
       eventParticipants.map(async (ep) => {
@@ -72,6 +82,7 @@ router.get('/', authenticate, async (req, res, next) => {
           startDate: ep.event.startDate,
           endDate: ep.event.endDate,
           participantsCount: ep.event.participantsCount,
+          onlineCount: onlineCounts[ep.event.id] || 0,
           myHeats: heats.map((h) => ({
             id: h.id,
             competitionType: h.competitionType,
diff --git a/backend/src/socket/index.js b/backend/src/socket/index.js
index 6c418f7..308e034 100644
--- a/backend/src/socket/index.js
+++ b/backend/src/socket/index.js
@@ -461,4 +461,21 @@ function initializeSocket(httpServer) {
   return io;
 }
 
-module.exports = { initializeSocket, getIO };
+// Get count of online users for a specific event
+function getEventOnlineCount(eventId) {
+  if (!activeUsers.has(eventId)) {
+    return 0;
+  }
+  return activeUsers.get(eventId).size;
+}
+
+// Get online counts for multiple events
+function getEventsOnlineCounts(eventIds) {
+  const counts = {};
+  for (const eventId of eventIds) {
+    counts[eventId] = getEventOnlineCount(eventId);
+  }
+  return counts;
+}
+
+module.exports = { initializeSocket, getIO, getEventOnlineCount, getEventsOnlineCounts };
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.jsx
index 687ea9a..58bce6c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.jsx
@@ -326,6 +326,12 @@ const EventCard = ({ event }) => {
         <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
           <Users className="w-4 h-4 flex-shrink-0" />
           <span>{event.participantsCount} participants</span>
+          {event.onlineCount > 0 && (
+            <span className="text-green-600 flex items-center gap-1">
+              <span className="w-2 h-2 bg-green-500 rounded-full animate-pulse" />
+              {event.onlineCount} online
+            </span>
+          )}
         </div>
       </div>
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/__tests__/DashboardPage.test.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/__tests__/DashboardPage.test.jsx
index 30f260f..135d5f5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/__tests__/DashboardPage.test.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/__tests__/DashboardPage.test.jsx
@@ -128,6 +128,59 @@ describe('DashboardPage', () => {
       });
     });
 
+    it('should display online count when users are online', async () => {
+      dashboardAPI.getData.mockResolvedValue({
+        activeEvents: [
+          {
+            id: 1,
+            slug: 'test-event',
+            name: 'Test Event',
+            location: 'Warsaw',
+            startDate: '2025-12-01',
+            endDate: '2025-12-03',
+            participantsCount: 50,
+            onlineCount: 5,
+            myHeats: [],
+          },
+        ],
+        activeMatches: [],
+        matchRequests: { incoming: [], outgoing: [] },
+      });
+
+      renderWithRouter(<DashboardPage />);
+
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(screen.getByText('5 online')).toBeInTheDocument();
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('should not display online count when zero', async () => {
+      dashboardAPI.getData.mockResolvedValue({
+        activeEvents: [
+          {
+            id: 1,
+            slug: 'test-event',
+            name: 'Test Event',
+            location: 'Warsaw',
+            startDate: '2025-12-01',
+            endDate: '2025-12-03',
+            participantsCount: 50,
+            onlineCount: 0,
+            myHeats: [],
+          },
+        ],
+        activeMatches: [],
+        matchRequests: { incoming: [], outgoing: [] },
+      });
+
+      renderWithRouter(<DashboardPage />);
+
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(screen.getByText('Test Event')).toBeInTheDocument();
+      });
+      expect(screen.queryByText(/online/)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
     it('should navigate to event chat when clicking Enter Chat', async () => {
       dashboardAPI.getData.mockResolvedValue({
         activeEvents: [