diff --git a/plugins/example-plugin/web/AGENTS.md b/plugins/example-plugin/web/AGENTS.md
index 24c75a6078..902e1c6e12 100644
--- a/plugins/example-plugin/web/AGENTS.md
+++ b/plugins/example-plugin/web/AGENTS.md
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ instance Studio renders — same behavior, same styles, no second copy in the
 bundle. See `src/SharedUiPage.tsx`.
 
 ```ts
-import { StudioDataView, useStudioDataViewState } from '@nemo/common';
+import { AssistantChat, StudioDataView, useStudioDataViewState } from '@nemo/common';
 ```
 
 - **Bare specifier only.** A deep `@nemo/common/src/...` import is not
@@ -78,6 +78,11 @@ import { StudioDataView, useStudioDataViewState } from '@nemo/common';
   export is already a tsc error, so `pnpm typecheck` covers that half.
 - **`plugin.ts` is the API.** Need something Studio has but the barrel doesn't
   export? Add it there — additions are cheap, removals are breaking.
+- **`AssistantChat` is shared.** A plugin can point it at an authenticated,
+  OpenAI-compatible `baseURL`; Studio supplies its current access token and
+  chat runtime. Use `messageContentProps.markdownLinkComponent` when a plugin
+  owns trusted, in-app citation targets. The plugin should still own the panel,
+  prompts, endpoint, and citation behavior specific to its feature.
 - **Types come from source**, via `paths` in `tsconfig.json`; `@nemo/common` is
   unpublished, so there is nothing to install. `src/env.d.ts` declares the `*.css`
   side-effect imports those sources carry.
@@ -122,6 +127,26 @@ import { StudioDataView, useStudioDataViewState } from '@nemo/common';
 `src/index.ts` must export `Root` (a `ComponentType<PluginRootProps>`) and
 `navItems(workspaceId) => PluginNavGroup[]`. See `src/Root.tsx` and `src/Nav.tsx`.
 
+A plugin may also export `traceViews` to add native modes beside Studio's Tree
+and List trace views. Each definition provides a kebab-case `id`, a `label`, a
+`View` component, and an optional compact `Activity` component. Studio renders
+both components inside its existing providers and passes `{ host, trace }`,
+where `trace` contains the selected trace's `id` and `sessionId`. Keep all
+feature-specific API calls, polling, generation state, and presentation inside
+the plugin bundle; Studio owns only discovery, mode selection, host injection,
+and crash containment.
+
+```ts
+export const traceViews = [
+  {
+    id: 'semantic-map',
+    label: 'Semantic map',
+    View: SemanticMap,
+    Activity: SemanticMapProgress,
+  },
+];
+```
+
 ## Externals & versions
 
 The `external` list in `vite.config.ts` **must match the keys of** Studio's
diff --git a/web/packages/common/src/components/AssistantChat/index.test.tsx b/web/packages/common/src/components/AssistantChat/index.test.tsx
index e85d96ff58..831dcef6da 100644
--- a/web/packages/common/src/components/AssistantChat/index.test.tsx
+++ b/web/packages/common/src/components/AssistantChat/index.test.tsx
@@ -195,6 +195,29 @@ describe('AssistantChat', () => {
     interactionTimeoutMs
   );
 
+  it('allows a caller to render trusted Markdown links in messages', async () => {
+    mocks.createChatCompletion.mockResolvedValueOnce(
+      createCompletion('[Trace source](#zoomer-node=summary-1)')
+    );
+    renderAssistantChat(
+      <AssistantChat
+        model="test-model"
+        workspace="default"
+        messageContentProps={{
+          markdownLinkComponent: ({ href, children }) => <a href={href}>{children}</a>,
+        }}
+      />
+    );
+
+    await userEvent.type(screen.getByRole('textbox', { name: /Task prompt/i }), 'Show evidence');
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /Submit/i }));
+
+    expect(await screen.findByRole('link', { name: 'Trace source' })).toHaveAttribute(
+      'href',
+      '#zoomer-node=summary-1'
+    );
+  });
+
   it('renders base64 images returned by an image model stream', async () => {
     const imageUrl = 'data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgo=';
     const stream = {
diff --git a/web/packages/common/src/components/AssistantChat/index.tsx b/web/packages/common/src/components/AssistantChat/index.tsx
index e1c61fb311..54ccf45918 100644
--- a/web/packages/common/src/components/AssistantChat/index.tsx
+++ b/web/packages/common/src/components/AssistantChat/index.tsx
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ export const AssistantChat: FC<AssistantChatProps> = ({
   stopCount,
   slotComposerStart,
   emptyState,
+  messageContentProps,
   composerOverride,
   enableImageAttachments = true,
 }) => {
@@ -76,6 +77,7 @@ export const AssistantChat: FC<AssistantChatProps> = ({
           composerMode={composerMode}
           slotComposerStart={slotComposerStart}
           emptyState={emptyState}
+          messageContentProps={messageContentProps}
           composerOverride={composerOverride}
           enableImageAttachments={imageAttachmentsEnabled}
         />
diff --git a/web/packages/common/src/components/AssistantChat/types.ts b/web/packages/common/src/components/AssistantChat/types.ts
index b76e3c6def..ed205a223f 100644
--- a/web/packages/common/src/components/AssistantChat/types.ts
+++ b/web/packages/common/src/components/AssistantChat/types.ts
@@ -132,6 +132,8 @@ export interface AssistantChatProps {
     slotHeading?: string;
     slotSubheading?: string;
   };
+  /** Overrides used when rendering Markdown inside chat messages. */
+  messageContentProps?: AssistantChatMessageContentProps;
   composerOverride?: ReactNode;
   /**
    * @default true
diff --git a/web/packages/common/src/plugin.ts b/web/packages/common/src/plugin.ts
index c0a2a4c864..15896cd7ba 100644
--- a/web/packages/common/src/plugin.ts
+++ b/web/packages/common/src/plugin.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,11 @@
 // Removals are breaking. Explicit exports, not `export *`.
 
 export { AccessibleTitle } from '@nemo/common/src/components/AccessibleTitle';
+export { AssistantChat } from '@nemo/common/src/components/AssistantChat';
+export type {
+  AssistantChatMessageContentProps,
+  AssistantChatProps,
+} from '@nemo/common/src/components/AssistantChat/types';
 export { AccordionSection } from '@nemo/common/src/components/AccordionSection';
 export { ConfirmationModal } from '@nemo/common/src/components/ConfirmationModal';
 export { DeleteConfirmationModal } from '@nemo/common/src/components/DeleteConfirmationModal';
diff --git a/web/packages/studio/src/components/IntakeDetail/SessionDetailView.tsx b/web/packages/studio/src/components/IntakeDetail/SessionDetailView.tsx
index a1ed620cff..e25a4234ea 100644
--- a/web/packages/studio/src/components/IntakeDetail/SessionDetailView.tsx
+++ b/web/packages/studio/src/components/IntakeDetail/SessionDetailView.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
 import { useSessionTrajectories } from '@studio/components/IntakeDetail/useSessionTrajectories';
 import { Loading } from '@studio/components/Layouts/Loading';
 import { NotFound } from '@studio/components/Layouts/NotFound';
+import { usePluginTraceViews } from '@studio/plugins/PluginTraceViewContext';
 import {
   type BreadcrumbsItemProps,
   useBreadcrumbs,
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ export const SessionDetailView: FC<SessionDetailViewProps> = ({
   const traceId = searchParams.get(QUERY_PARAMETERS.traceId) || undefined;
   const linkedSpanId = searchParams.get(QUERY_PARAMETERS.spanId) || undefined;
   const [viewMode, setViewMode] = useState<TraceViewMode>('tree');
+  const pluginViews = usePluginTraceViews();
   const defaultGetSessionHref = useCallback(
     (targetSessionId: string) => getIntakeSessionRoute(workspace, targetSessionId),
     [workspace]
@@ -101,6 +103,15 @@ export const SessionDetailView: FC<SessionDetailViewProps> = ({
     );
   }, [linkedSpanId, setSearchParams, traceId]);
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (
+      viewMode.startsWith('plugin:') &&
+      (!traceId || !pluginViews.some((view) => view.mode === viewMode))
+    ) {
+      setViewMode('tree');
+    }
+  }, [pluginViews, traceId, viewMode]);
+
   const handleSelectSession = useCallback(() => {
     setSearchParams((previous) => {
       const next = new URLSearchParams(previous);
@@ -196,6 +207,7 @@ export const SessionDetailView: FC<SessionDetailViewProps> = ({
                 sessionErrored={session.status === 'error'}
                 viewMode={viewMode}
                 onViewModeChange={setViewMode}
+                pluginViews={pluginViews}
               />
             )}
           </TraceDetailView>
diff --git a/web/packages/studio/src/components/IntakeDetail/TraceSpanAccordions.tsx b/web/packages/studio/src/components/IntakeDetail/TraceSpanAccordions.tsx
index 12a8ff5c2d..38b5320af2 100644
--- a/web/packages/studio/src/components/IntakeDetail/TraceSpanAccordions.tsx
+++ b/web/packages/studio/src/components/IntakeDetail/TraceSpanAccordions.tsx
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ import {
   type TraceViewMode,
   TraceViewToolbar,
 } from '@studio/components/IntakeDetail/TraceViewToolbar';
+import type { ResolvedPluginTraceView } from '@studio/plugins/PluginTraceViewContext';
+import { PluginTraceViewRenderer } from '@studio/plugins/PluginTraceViews';
+import type { PluginTrace } from '@studio/plugins/types';
 import { QUERY_PARAMETERS } from '@studio/routes/constants';
 import {
   buildSpanHierarchyRows,
@@ -52,6 +55,7 @@ interface TraceSpanAccordionsProps {
   sessionErrored: boolean;
   viewMode: TraceViewMode;
   onViewModeChange: (viewMode: TraceViewMode) => void;
+  pluginViews: ResolvedPluginTraceView[];
 }
 
 export interface SessionExplorerData {
@@ -73,6 +77,7 @@ export const TraceSpanAccordions: FC<TraceSpanAccordionsProps> = ({
   sessionErrored,
   viewMode,
   onViewModeChange,
+  pluginViews,
 }) => {
   const [searchParams, setSearchParams] = useSearchParams();
   const linkedSpanId = searchParams.get(QUERY_PARAMETERS.spanId) || null;
@@ -93,6 +98,11 @@ export const TraceSpanAccordions: FC<TraceSpanAccordionsProps> = ({
   const spans =
     trajectories.find(({ trace: sessionTrace }) => sessionTrace.id === trace.id)?.spans ??
     EMPTY_SPANS;
+  const pluginTrace = useMemo<PluginTrace>(
+    () => ({ id: trace.id, sessionId: trace.session_id }),
+    [trace.id, trace.session_id]
+  );
+  const selectedPluginView = pluginViews.find((view) => view.mode === viewMode);
 
   const spanRows = useMemo(() => buildSpanHierarchyRows(spans), [spans]);
   const resolvedSessionDurationMs = useMemo(
@@ -293,6 +303,8 @@ export const TraceSpanAccordions: FC<TraceSpanAccordionsProps> = ({
         onViewModeChange={handleViewModeChange}
         onCollapseAll={spanRows.length > 0 ? collapseAll : undefined}
         onExpandAll={spanRows.length > 0 ? expandAll : undefined}
+        pluginViews={pluginViews}
+        trace={pluginTrace}
       />
 
       {showSpanLimitMessage && (
@@ -302,7 +314,9 @@ export const TraceSpanAccordions: FC<TraceSpanAccordionsProps> = ({
         </Text>
       )}
 
-      {viewMode === 'tree' ? (
+      {selectedPluginView ? (
+        <PluginTraceViewRenderer view={selectedPluginView} trace={pluginTrace} />
+      ) : viewMode === 'tree' ? (
         <SpanTreeView
           trajectories={trajectories}
           activeTraceId={trace.id}
diff --git a/web/packages/studio/src/components/IntakeDetail/TraceViewToolbar.test.tsx b/web/packages/studio/src/components/IntakeDetail/TraceViewToolbar.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..56c5c8166e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/packages/studio/src/components/IntakeDetail/TraceViewToolbar.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright (c) 2025-2026 NVIDIA CORPORATION & AFFILIATES. All rights reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+import { TraceViewToolbar } from '@studio/components/IntakeDetail/TraceViewToolbar';
+import type { ResolvedPluginTraceView } from '@studio/plugins/PluginTraceViewContext';
+import { render, screen } from '@testing-library/react';
+import userEvent from '@testing-library/user-event';
+
+const View = () => null;
+
+const zoomerView: ResolvedPluginTraceView = {
+  pluginName: 'zoomer',
+  id: 'semantic-map',
+  label: 'Zoomer',
+  mode: 'plugin:zoomer:semantic-map',
+  View,
+};
+
+describe('TraceViewToolbar', () => {
+  it('selects plugin-contributed modes beside Tree and List', async () => {
+    const onViewModeChange = vi.fn();
+    const user = userEvent.setup();
+    render(
+      <TraceViewToolbar
+        viewMode="tree"
+        onViewModeChange={onViewModeChange}
+        pluginViews={[zoomerView]}
+      />
+    );
+
+    expect(screen.getByText('Tree')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText('List')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    await user.click(screen.getByText('Zoomer'));
+
+    expect(onViewModeChange).toHaveBeenCalledWith('plugin:zoomer:semantic-map');
+  });
+
+  it('hides built-in expand and collapse actions in a plugin mode', () => {
+    render(
+      <TraceViewToolbar
+        viewMode="plugin:zoomer:semantic-map"
+        onViewModeChange={vi.fn()}
+        onCollapseAll={vi.fn()}
+        onExpandAll={vi.fn()}
+        pluginViews={[zoomerView]}
+      />
+    );
+
+    expect(screen.queryByRole('button', { name: 'Collapse all' })).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByRole('button', { name: 'Expand all' })).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/web/packages/studio/src/components/IntakeDetail/TraceViewToolbar.tsx b/web/packages/studio/src/components/IntakeDetail/TraceViewToolbar.tsx
index 5a14cd9bf9..e61fab0361 100644
--- a/web/packages/studio/src/components/IntakeDetail/TraceViewToolbar.tsx
+++ b/web/packages/studio/src/components/IntakeDetail/TraceViewToolbar.tsx
@@ -2,16 +2,21 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
 import { Button, Flex, SegmentedControl } from '@nvidia/foundations-react-core';
+import type { ResolvedPluginTraceView } from '@studio/plugins/PluginTraceViewContext';
+import { PluginTraceViewActivity } from '@studio/plugins/PluginTraceViews';
+import type { PluginTrace, PluginTraceViewMode } from '@studio/plugins/types';
 import { ChevronsDownUp, ChevronsUpDown } from 'lucide-react';
 import type { FC } from 'react';
 
-export type TraceViewMode = 'tree' | 'list';
+export type TraceViewMode = 'tree' | 'list' | PluginTraceViewMode;
 
 interface TraceViewToolbarProps {
   viewMode: TraceViewMode;
   onViewModeChange: (viewMode: TraceViewMode) => void;
   onCollapseAll?: () => void;
   onExpandAll?: () => void;
+  pluginViews?: ResolvedPluginTraceView[];
+  trace?: PluginTrace;
 }
 
 /** Shared Tree/List toolbar for session and trace-selected detail bodies. */
@@ -20,6 +25,8 @@ export const TraceViewToolbar: FC<TraceViewToolbarProps> = ({
   onViewModeChange,
   onCollapseAll,
   onExpandAll,
+  pluginViews = [],
+  trace,
 }) => (
   <Flex align="center" justify="between" gap="density-lg" className="min-w-0">
     <SegmentedControl
@@ -29,31 +36,39 @@ export const TraceViewToolbar: FC<TraceViewToolbarProps> = ({
       items={[
         { value: 'tree', children: 'Tree' },
         { value: 'list', children: 'List' },
+        ...pluginViews.map((view) => ({ value: view.mode, children: view.label })),
       ]}
     />
-    {onCollapseAll && onExpandAll ? (
-      <Flex align="center" gap="density-xs">
-        <Button
-          kind="tertiary"
-          size="tiny"
-          type="button"
-          aria-label="Collapse all"
-          title="Collapse all"
-          onClick={onCollapseAll}
-        >
-          <ChevronsDownUp size={14} aria-hidden />
-        </Button>
-        <Button
-          kind="tertiary"
-          size="tiny"
-          type="button"
-          aria-label="Expand all"
-          title="Expand all"
-          onClick={onExpandAll}
-        >
-          <ChevronsUpDown size={14} aria-hidden />
-        </Button>
-      </Flex>
-    ) : null}
+    <Flex align="center" justify="end" gap="density-sm" className="min-w-0">
+      {trace
+        ? pluginViews.map((view) => (
+            <PluginTraceViewActivity key={view.mode} view={view} trace={trace} />
+          ))
+        : null}
+      {(viewMode === 'tree' || viewMode === 'list') && onCollapseAll && onExpandAll ? (
+        <Flex align="center" gap="density-xs">
+          <Button
+            kind="tertiary"
+            size="tiny"
+            type="button"
+            aria-label="Collapse all"
+            title="Collapse all"
+            onClick={onCollapseAll}
+          >
+            <ChevronsDownUp size={14} aria-hidden />
+          </Button>
+          <Button
+            kind="tertiary"
+            size="tiny"
+            type="button"
+            aria-label="Expand all"
+            title="Expand all"
+            onClick={onExpandAll}
+          >
+            <ChevronsUpDown size={14} aria-hidden />
+          </Button>
+        </Flex>
+      ) : null}
+    </Flex>
   </Flex>
 );
diff --git a/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/PluginErrorBoundary.tsx b/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/PluginErrorBoundary.tsx
index 18b60752d5..392daa6cb7 100644
--- a/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/PluginErrorBoundary.tsx
+++ b/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/PluginErrorBoundary.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ interface PluginErrorBoundaryProps {
   // Changing this resets the boundary.
   pluginName: string;
   children: ReactNode;
+  /** Optional embedded-surface fallback. The default is the full plugin error panel. */
+  fallback?: ReactNode;
 }
 
 interface PluginErrorBoundaryState {
@@ -46,6 +48,7 @@ export class PluginErrorBoundary extends Component<
   render(): ReactNode {
     const { error } = this.state;
     if (!error) return this.props.children;
+    if (this.props.fallback !== undefined) return this.props.fallback;
 
     return (
       <Stack className="h-full" padding="4" gap="3">
diff --git a/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/PluginRenderer.tsx b/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/PluginRenderer.tsx
index 10f888b511..7cfbf40c75 100644
--- a/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/PluginRenderer.tsx
+++ b/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/PluginRenderer.tsx
@@ -1,32 +1,12 @@
 // SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright (c) 2025-2026 NVIDIA CORPORATION & AFFILIATES. All rights reserved.
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
-import { useToast } from '@nemo/common/src/providers/toast/useToast';
-import { logger } from '@nemo/common/src/utils/logger';
-import * as platformSdk from '@nemo/sdk/generated/platform/api';
-import { useWorkspaceFromPath } from '@studio/hooks/useWorkspaceFromPath';
 import { usePlugins, usePluginsLoaded } from '@studio/plugins/PluginContext';
 import { PluginErrorBoundary } from '@studio/plugins/PluginErrorBoundary';
-import type {
-  PluginBreadcrumb,
-  PluginHost,
-  PluginSdk,
-  PluginTelemetry,
-} from '@studio/plugins/types';
+import { usePluginHost } from '@studio/plugins/usePluginHost';
 import { useBreadcrumbs } from '@studio/providers/breadcrumbs/useBreadcrumbs';
-import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, type ReactElement } from 'react';
-import { useAuth } from 'react-oidc-context';
-import { useNavigate, useParams } from 'react-router';
-
-// Module-scope for stable identity; plugins run these on Studio's axios + cache.
-const STUDIO_SDK: PluginSdk = { platform: platformSdk };
-
-const makeTelemetry = (name: string): PluginTelemetry => ({
-  info: (message, cause) => logger.info(`[plugin:${name}] ${message}`, cause),
-  warn: (message, cause) => logger.warn(`[plugin:${name}] ${message}`, cause),
-  error: (message, cause) => logger.error(`[plugin:${name}] ${message}`, cause),
-  event: (event, attributes) => logger.info(`[plugin:${name}] event:${event}`, attributes),
-});
+import { useEffect, type ReactElement } from 'react';
+import { useParams } from 'react-router';
 
 // Renders the active plugin's `Root` as a normal child (not a detached
 // `createRoot`) so it shares Studio's Router, QueryClient, and theme.
@@ -34,43 +14,15 @@ export const PluginRenderer = (): ReactElement => {
   const { pluginName } = useParams<{ pluginName: string }>();
   const plugins = usePlugins();
   const isLoaded = usePluginsLoaded();
-  const workspace = useWorkspaceFromPath();
-  const { user } = useAuth();
-  const navigate = useNavigate();
-  const toast = useToast();
+  const host = usePluginHost(pluginName ?? 'unknown');
 
   const plugin = plugins.find((p) => p.name === pluginName);
-  const accessToken = user?.access_token ?? '';
-  // Keep the latest token in a ref so getAccessToken has a stable identity but
-  // still returns the current token after OIDC silent renew.
-  const accessTokenRef = useRef(accessToken);
-  accessTokenRef.current = accessToken;
-  const getAccessToken = useCallback(() => accessTokenRef.current, []);
-
   const { setBreadcrumbs } = useBreadcrumbs();
-  const setPluginBreadcrumbs = useCallback(
-    (trail: PluginBreadcrumb[]) =>
-      setBreadcrumbs(trail.map(({ label, href }) => ({ slotLabel: label, href }))),
-    [setBreadcrumbs]
-  );
   // Studio owns the cleanup so a plugin can't leave a stale trail behind. Keyed
   // on pluginName too: the router reuses this component across plugins, and the
   // outgoing plugin's trail would otherwise persist until the next one sets its own.
   useEffect(() => () => setBreadcrumbs([]), [setBreadcrumbs, pluginName]);
 
-  const host = useMemo<PluginHost>(
-    () => ({
-      workspaceId: workspace,
-      auth: { accessToken, getAccessToken },
-      sdk: STUDIO_SDK,
-      navigation: { navigate: (to) => navigate(to), back: () => navigate(-1) },
-      notifications: { notify: (message, type = 'info', options) => toast[type](message, options) },
-      telemetry: makeTelemetry(pluginName ?? 'unknown'),
-      breadcrumbs: { set: setPluginBreadcrumbs },
-    }),
-    [workspace, accessToken, getAccessToken, navigate, toast, pluginName, setPluginBreadcrumbs]
-  );
-
   if (!isLoaded) {
     return (
       <div className="flex h-full items-center justify-center text-subtle">Loading plugin…</div>
diff --git a/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/PluginTraceViewContext.ts b/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/PluginTraceViewContext.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..693512575f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/PluginTraceViewContext.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright (c) 2025-2026 NVIDIA CORPORATION & AFFILIATES. All rights reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+import { usePlugins } from '@studio/plugins/PluginContext';
+import type { PluginTraceViewDefinition, PluginTraceViewMode } from '@studio/plugins/types';
+import { useMemo } from 'react';
+
+export interface ResolvedPluginTraceView extends PluginTraceViewDefinition {
+  pluginName: string;
+  mode: PluginTraceViewMode;
+}
+
+export const usePluginTraceViews = (): ResolvedPluginTraceView[] => {
+  const plugins = usePlugins();
+  return useMemo(
+    () =>
+      plugins.flatMap((plugin) =>
+        (plugin.traceViews ?? []).map((view) => ({
+          ...view,
+          pluginName: plugin.name,
+          mode: `plugin:${plugin.name}:${view.id}` as const,
+        }))
+      ),
+    [plugins]
+  );
+};
diff --git a/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/PluginTraceViews.test.tsx b/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/PluginTraceViews.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..89c91ac9d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/PluginTraceViews.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright (c) 2025-2026 NVIDIA CORPORATION & AFFILIATES. All rights reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+import { usePlugins } from '@studio/plugins/PluginContext';
+import { usePluginTraceViews } from '@studio/plugins/PluginTraceViewContext';
+import { PluginTraceViewActivity, PluginTraceViewRenderer } from '@studio/plugins/PluginTraceViews';
+import type { LoadedPlugin, PluginHost, PluginTraceViewProps } from '@studio/plugins/types';
+import { usePluginHost } from '@studio/plugins/usePluginHost';
+import { render, renderHook, screen } from '@testing-library/react';
+
+vi.mock('@studio/plugins/PluginContext', () => ({ usePlugins: vi.fn() }));
+vi.mock('@studio/plugins/usePluginHost', () => ({ usePluginHost: vi.fn() }));
+
+const HOST = {
+  workspaceId: 'default',
+  auth: { accessToken: 'token', getAccessToken: () => 'token' },
+  sdk: { platform: {} },
+  navigation: { navigate: vi.fn(), back: vi.fn() },
+  notifications: { notify: vi.fn() },
+  telemetry: { info: vi.fn(), warn: vi.fn(), error: vi.fn(), event: vi.fn() },
+  breadcrumbs: { set: vi.fn() },
+} as unknown as PluginHost;
+
+const Root = () => null;
+const navItems = () => [];
+
+const TraceView = ({ host, trace }: PluginTraceViewProps) => (
+  <div>
+    view:{host.workspaceId}:{trace.sessionId}:{trace.id}
+  </div>
+);
+
+const TraceActivity = ({ trace }: PluginTraceViewProps) => <div>activity:{trace.id}</div>;
+
+const plugin: LoadedPlugin = {
+  name: 'zoomer',
+  Root,
+  navItems,
+  traceViews: [
+    {
+      id: 'semantic-map',
+      label: 'Zoomer',
+      View: TraceView,
+      Activity: TraceActivity,
+    },
+  ],
+};
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  vi.mocked(usePlugins).mockReturnValue([plugin]);
+  vi.mocked(usePluginHost).mockReturnValue(HOST);
+});
+
+describe('plugin trace views', () => {
+  it('resolves plugin-scoped modes from loaded bundle exports', () => {
+    const { result } = renderHook(usePluginTraceViews);
+
+    expect(result.current).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(result.current[0]).toMatchObject({
+      pluginName: 'zoomer',
+      id: 'semantic-map',
+      label: 'Zoomer',
+      mode: 'plugin:zoomer:semantic-map',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('renders the selected view and compact activity with the shared host', () => {
+    const { result } = renderHook(usePluginTraceViews);
+    const view = result.current[0];
+    const trace = { id: 'trace-1', sessionId: 'session-1' };
+
+    render(
+      <>
+        <PluginTraceViewRenderer view={view} trace={trace} />
+        <PluginTraceViewActivity view={view} trace={trace} />
+      </>
+    );
+
+    expect(screen.getByText('view:default:session-1:trace-1')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText('activity:trace-1')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(usePluginHost).toHaveBeenCalledWith('zoomer');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/PluginTraceViews.tsx b/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/PluginTraceViews.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f8e6bbc106
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/PluginTraceViews.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright (c) 2025-2026 NVIDIA CORPORATION & AFFILIATES. All rights reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+import { PluginErrorBoundary } from '@studio/plugins/PluginErrorBoundary';
+import type { ResolvedPluginTraceView } from '@studio/plugins/PluginTraceViewContext';
+import type { PluginTrace } from '@studio/plugins/types';
+import { usePluginHost } from '@studio/plugins/usePluginHost';
+import { type FC, type ReactElement } from 'react';
+
+interface PluginTraceViewRendererProps {
+  view: ResolvedPluginTraceView;
+  trace: PluginTrace;
+}
+
+interface PluginTraceViewActivityContentProps extends PluginTraceViewRendererProps {
+  Activity: NonNullable<ResolvedPluginTraceView['Activity']>;
+}
+
+export const PluginTraceViewRenderer: FC<PluginTraceViewRendererProps> = ({ view, trace }) => {
+  const host = usePluginHost(view.pluginName);
+  const { View } = view;
+  return (
+    <PluginErrorBoundary pluginName={view.pluginName}>
+      <View host={host} trace={trace} />
+    </PluginErrorBoundary>
+  );
+};
+
+const PluginTraceViewActivityContent: FC<PluginTraceViewActivityContentProps> = ({
+  view,
+  trace,
+  Activity,
+}) => {
+  const host = usePluginHost(view.pluginName);
+  return (
+    <PluginErrorBoundary pluginName={view.pluginName} fallback={null}>
+      <Activity host={host} trace={trace} />
+    </PluginErrorBoundary>
+  );
+};
+
+export const PluginTraceViewActivity = ({
+  view,
+  trace,
+}: PluginTraceViewRendererProps): ReactElement | null =>
+  view.Activity ? (
+    <PluginTraceViewActivityContent view={view} trace={trace} Activity={view.Activity} />
+  ) : null;
diff --git a/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/types.ts b/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/types.ts
index c3e6f07cf9..2e1f071363 100644
--- a/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/types.ts
+++ b/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/types.ts
@@ -72,6 +72,31 @@ export interface PluginRootProps {
   host: PluginHost;
 }
 
+/** Stable trace identity exposed to plugin-contributed trace views. */
+export interface PluginTrace {
+  id: string;
+  sessionId: string;
+}
+
+export interface PluginTraceViewProps {
+  host: PluginHost;
+  trace: PluginTrace;
+}
+
+/** A native view that a plugin contributes to Studio's trace viewer. */
+export interface PluginTraceViewDefinition {
+  /** Kebab-case identifier unique within the plugin. */
+  id: string;
+  label: string;
+  description?: string;
+  /** Main view rendered when the user selects this trace mode. */
+  View: ComponentType<PluginTraceViewProps>;
+  /** Optional compact status rendered in the trace toolbar for background work. */
+  Activity?: ComponentType<PluginTraceViewProps>;
+}
+
+export type PluginTraceViewMode = `plugin:${string}:${string}`;
+
 /** API manifest returned by `GET /apis/plugins`. */
 export interface PluginManifest {
   name: string;
@@ -114,12 +139,15 @@ export interface LoadedPlugin {
   Root: ComponentType<PluginRootProps>;
   /** Return nav items scoped to the given workspace. */
   navItems: (workspaceId: string) => PluginNavGroup[];
+  /** Optional native views contributed to Studio's trace viewer. */
+  traceViews?: readonly PluginTraceViewDefinition[];
 }
 
 /** The exports a loaded plugin bundle module must expose. */
 export interface PluginModule {
   Root: LoadedPlugin['Root'];
   navItems: LoadedPlugin['navItems'];
+  traceViews?: LoadedPlugin['traceViews'];
 }
 
 /** Result of fetching the manifest and loading each plugin's bundle. */
diff --git a/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/usePluginHost.ts b/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/usePluginHost.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..45f9a75c69
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/usePluginHost.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright (c) 2025-2026 NVIDIA CORPORATION & AFFILIATES. All rights reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+import { useToast } from '@nemo/common/src/providers/toast/useToast';
+import { logger } from '@nemo/common/src/utils/logger';
+import * as platformSdk from '@nemo/sdk/generated/platform/api';
+import { useWorkspaceFromPath } from '@studio/hooks/useWorkspaceFromPath';
+import type {
+  PluginBreadcrumb,
+  PluginHost,
+  PluginSdk,
+  PluginTelemetry,
+} from '@studio/plugins/types';
+import { useBreadcrumbs } from '@studio/providers/breadcrumbs/useBreadcrumbs';
+import { useCallback, useMemo, useRef } from 'react';
+import { useAuth } from 'react-oidc-context';
+import { useNavigate } from 'react-router';
+
+// Module-scope for stable identity; plugins run these on Studio's axios + cache.
+const STUDIO_SDK: PluginSdk = { platform: platformSdk };
+
+const makeTelemetry = (name: string): PluginTelemetry => ({
+  info: (message, cause) => logger.info(`[plugin:${name}] ${message}`, cause),
+  warn: (message, cause) => logger.warn(`[plugin:${name}] ${message}`, cause),
+  error: (message, cause) => logger.error(`[plugin:${name}] ${message}`, cause),
+  event: (event, attributes) => logger.info(`[plugin:${name}] event:${event}`, attributes),
+});
+
+/** Build the host handle for both plugin pages and embedded plugin surfaces. */
+export const usePluginHost = (pluginName: string): PluginHost => {
+  const workspace = useWorkspaceFromPath();
+  const { user } = useAuth();
+  const navigate = useNavigate();
+  const toast = useToast();
+  const { setBreadcrumbs } = useBreadcrumbs();
+  const accessToken = user?.access_token ?? '';
+  const accessTokenRef = useRef(accessToken);
+  accessTokenRef.current = accessToken;
+  const getAccessToken = useCallback(() => accessTokenRef.current, []);
+  const setPluginBreadcrumbs = useCallback(
+    (trail: PluginBreadcrumb[]) =>
+      setBreadcrumbs(trail.map(({ label, href }) => ({ slotLabel: label, href }))),
+    [setBreadcrumbs]
+  );
+
+  return useMemo<PluginHost>(
+    () => ({
+      workspaceId: workspace,
+      auth: { accessToken, getAccessToken },
+      sdk: STUDIO_SDK,
+      navigation: { navigate: (to) => navigate(to), back: () => navigate(-1) },
+      notifications: { notify: (message, type = 'info', options) => toast[type](message, options) },
+      telemetry: makeTelemetry(pluginName),
+      breadcrumbs: { set: setPluginBreadcrumbs },
+    }),
+    [workspace, accessToken, getAccessToken, navigate, toast, pluginName, setPluginBreadcrumbs]
+  );
+};
diff --git a/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/utils.test.ts b/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/utils.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6852e6355a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/utils.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright (c) 2025-2026 NVIDIA CORPORATION & AFFILIATES. All rights reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+import { isPluginModule, isPluginTraceViewDefinition } from '@studio/plugins/utils';
+
+const Root = () => null;
+const View = () => null;
+const Activity = () => null;
+const navItems = () => [];
+
+describe('plugin module validation', () => {
+  it('accepts a plugin with a native trace view and optional activity renderer', () => {
+    expect(
+      isPluginModule({
+        Root,
+        navItems,
+        traceViews: [{ id: 'semantic-map', label: 'Semantic map', View, Activity }],
+      })
+    ).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('keeps trace views optional for page-only plugins', () => {
+    expect(isPluginModule({ Root, navItems })).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('rejects malformed and duplicate trace view contributions', () => {
+    expect(isPluginTraceViewDefinition({ id: '../escape', label: 'Escape', View })).toBe(false);
+    expect(isPluginTraceViewDefinition({ id: 'map', label: '  ', View })).toBe(false);
+    expect(isPluginTraceViewDefinition({ id: 'map', label: 'Map', View: 'not-a-component' })).toBe(
+      false
+    );
+    expect(
+      isPluginModule({
+        Root,
+        navItems,
+        traceViews: [
+          { id: 'map', label: 'Map', View },
+          { id: 'map', label: 'Duplicate', View },
+        ],
+      })
+    ).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/utils.ts b/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/utils.ts
index 0d5c1463bd..1721311735 100644
--- a/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/utils.ts
+++ b/web/packages/studio/src/plugins/utils.ts
@@ -10,8 +10,11 @@ import type {
   PluginManifest,
   PluginModule,
   PluginQueryData,
+  PluginTraceViewDefinition,
 } from '@studio/plugins/types';
 
+const PLUGIN_EXTENSION_ID = /^[a-z][a-z0-9-]*$/;
+
 export function isValidPluginManifest(obj: unknown): obj is PluginManifest {
   if (typeof obj !== 'object' || obj === null) return false;
   const o = obj as Record<string, unknown>;
@@ -21,7 +24,30 @@ export function isValidPluginManifest(obj: unknown): obj is PluginManifest {
 export function isPluginModule(mod: unknown): mod is PluginModule {
   if (typeof mod !== 'object' || mod === null) return false;
   const m = mod as Record<string, unknown>;
-  return typeof m.Root === 'function' && typeof m.navItems === 'function';
+  if (typeof m.Root !== 'function' || typeof m.navItems !== 'function') return false;
+  if (m.traceViews === undefined) return true;
+  if (!Array.isArray(m.traceViews)) return false;
+
+  const ids = new Set<string>();
+  return m.traceViews.every((view) => {
+    if (!isPluginTraceViewDefinition(view) || ids.has(view.id)) return false;
+    ids.add(view.id);
+    return true;
+  });
+}
+
+export function isPluginTraceViewDefinition(value: unknown): value is PluginTraceViewDefinition {
+  if (typeof value !== 'object' || value === null) return false;
+  const view = value as Record<string, unknown>;
+  return (
+    typeof view.id === 'string' &&
+    PLUGIN_EXTENSION_ID.test(view.id) &&
+    typeof view.label === 'string' &&
+    view.label.trim().length > 0 &&
+    (view.description === undefined || typeof view.description === 'string') &&
+    typeof view.View === 'function' &&
+    (view.Activity === undefined || typeof view.Activity === 'function')
+  );
 }
 
 export async function loadPlugin(
@@ -45,7 +71,12 @@ export async function loadPlugin(
       logger.warn(`[plugins] Plugin "${manifest.name}" missing required exports (Root, navItems)`);
       return null;
     }
-    return { name: manifest.name, Root: module.Root, navItems: module.navItems };
+    return {
+      name: manifest.name,
+      Root: module.Root,
+      navItems: module.navItems,
+      traceViews: module.traceViews,
+    };
   } catch (err) {
     logger.warn(`[plugins] Failed to load plugin "${manifest.name}":`, err);
     return null;