diff --git a/src/lib/email.ts b/src/lib/email.ts
index eb2148a..343ded6 100644
--- a/src/lib/email.ts
+++ b/src/lib/email.ts
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ function statCard(label: string, value: string | number): string {
 // Email Templates
 // =============================================================================
 
-interface EmailTemplate {
+export interface EmailTemplate {
   subject: string
   html: string
   text: string
@@ -2689,6 +2689,23 @@ export const NOTIFICATION_EMAIL_TEMPLATES: Record<string, TemplateGenerator> = {
     ),
 }
 
+/**
+ * Resolve the email template for a notification type without sending.
+ * Exported for use by preview endpoints.
+ */
+export function renderNotificationEmail(
+  name: string,
+  type: string,
+  context: NotificationEmailContext,
+  subjectOverride?: string,
+): EmailTemplate {
+  const generator = NOTIFICATION_EMAIL_TEMPLATES[type]
+  const template = generator
+    ? generator({ ...context, linkUrl: ensureAbsoluteUrl(context.linkUrl), name })
+    : getNotificationEmailTemplate(name, subjectOverride || context.title, context.message, ensureAbsoluteUrl(context.linkUrl))
+  return subjectOverride ? { ...template, subject: subjectOverride } : template
+}
+
 /**
  * Send styled notification email using the appropriate template
  */
@@ -2699,32 +2716,7 @@ export async function sendStyledNotificationEmail(
   context: NotificationEmailContext,
   subjectOverride?: string
 ): Promise<void> {
-  // Safety net: always ensure linkUrl is absolute before passing to templates
-  const safeContext = {
-    ...context,
-    linkUrl: ensureAbsoluteUrl(context.linkUrl),
-  }
-  const templateGenerator = NOTIFICATION_EMAIL_TEMPLATES[type]
-
-  let template: EmailTemplate
-
-  if (templateGenerator) {
-    // Use styled template
-    template = templateGenerator({ ...safeContext, name })
-    // Apply subject override if provided
-    if (subjectOverride) {
-      template.subject = subjectOverride
-    }
-  } else {
-    // Fall back to generic template
-    template = getNotificationEmailTemplate(
-      name,
-      subjectOverride || safeContext.title,
-      safeContext.message,
-      safeContext.linkUrl
-    )
-  }
-
+  const template = renderNotificationEmail(name, type, context, subjectOverride)
   await sendEmail({ to: email, subject: template.subject, text: template.text, html: template.html })
 }
 
diff --git a/src/server/routers/notification.ts b/src/server/routers/notification.ts
index 48c70ec..f5988e7 100644
--- a/src/server/routers/notification.ts
+++ b/src/server/routers/notification.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,123 @@ import {
   NotificationIcons,
   NotificationPriorities,
 } from '../services/in-app-notification'
-import { sendStyledNotificationEmail, NOTIFICATION_EMAIL_TEMPLATES } from '@/lib/email'
+import { sendStyledNotificationEmail, renderNotificationEmail, NOTIFICATION_EMAIL_TEMPLATES } from '@/lib/email'
+
+/**
+ * Sample data used for test emails and previews, keyed by notification type.
+ */
+const NOTIFICATION_SAMPLE_DATA: Record<string, Record<string, unknown>> = {
+  // Team notifications
+  ADVANCED_SEMIFINAL: {
+    projectName: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative',
+    programName: 'Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge 2026',
+    nextSteps: 'Prepare your presentation for the semi-final round.',
+  },
+  ADVANCED_FINAL: {
+    projectName: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative',
+    programName: 'Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge 2026',
+    nextSteps: 'Get ready for the final presentation in Monaco.',
+  },
+  MENTOR_ASSIGNED: {
+    projectName: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative',
+    mentorName: 'Dr. Marine Expert',
+    mentorBio: 'Expert in marine conservation with 20 years of experience.',
+  },
+  NOT_SELECTED: {
+    projectName: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative',
+    roundName: 'Semi-Final Round',
+  },
+  WINNER_ANNOUNCEMENT: {
+    projectName: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative',
+    awardName: 'Grand Prize',
+    prizeDetails: '€50,000 and mentorship program',
+  },
+
+  // Jury notifications
+  ASSIGNED_TO_PROJECT: {
+    projectName: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative',
+    roundName: 'Semi-Final Round',
+    deadline: 'Friday, March 15, 2026',
+  },
+  BATCH_ASSIGNED: {
+    projectCount: 5,
+    roundName: 'Semi-Final Round',
+    deadline: 'Friday, March 15, 2026',
+  },
+  ROUND_NOW_OPEN: {
+    roundName: 'Semi-Final Round',
+    projectCount: 12,
+    deadline: 'Friday, March 15, 2026',
+  },
+  REMINDER_24H: {
+    pendingCount: 3,
+    roundName: 'Semi-Final Round',
+    deadline: 'Tomorrow at 5:00 PM',
+  },
+  REMINDER_1H: {
+    pendingCount: 2,
+    roundName: 'Semi-Final Round',
+    deadline: 'Today at 5:00 PM',
+  },
+  AWARD_VOTING_OPEN: {
+    awardName: 'Innovation Award',
+    finalistCount: 6,
+    deadline: 'Friday, March 15, 2026',
+  },
+
+  // Mentor notifications
+  MENTEE_ASSIGNED: {
+    projectName: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative',
+    teamLeadName: 'John Smith',
+    teamLeadEmail: 'john@example.com',
+  },
+  MENTEE_ADVANCED: {
+    projectName: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative',
+    roundName: 'Semi-Final Round',
+    nextRoundName: 'Final Round',
+  },
+  MENTEE_WON: {
+    projectName: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative',
+    awardName: 'Innovation Award',
+  },
+
+  // Admin notifications
+  NEW_APPLICATION: {
+    projectName: 'New Ocean Project',
+    applicantName: 'Jane Doe',
+    applicantEmail: 'jane@example.com',
+    programName: 'Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge 2026',
+  },
+  FILTERING_COMPLETE: {
+    roundName: 'Initial Review',
+    passedCount: 45,
+    flaggedCount: 12,
+    filteredCount: 8,
+  },
+  FILTERING_FAILED: {
+    roundName: 'Initial Review',
+    error: 'Connection timeout',
+  },
+
+  // Logistics notifications
+  FINALIST_CONFIRMED: { projectTitle: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative', category: 'STARTUP' },
+  FINALIST_DECLINED: { projectTitle: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative', category: 'STARTUP' },
+  FINALIST_EXPIRED: { projectTitle: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative', category: 'STARTUP' },
+  FINALIST_WAITLIST_PROMOTED: { projectTitle: 'Reef Guardians', category: 'STARTUP' },
+  FINALIST_REMINDER: { projectTitle: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative', deadline: new Date(Date.now() + 86_400_000).toISOString() },
+  FINALIST_WITHDRAWN: { projectTitle: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative', reason: 'Schedule conflict' },
+  TRAVEL_CONFIRMED: {
+    projectTitle: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative',
+    arrivalAt: new Date(Date.now() + 5 * 86_400_000).toISOString(),
+    arrivalFlightNumber: 'AF1234',
+    arrivalAirport: 'NCE',
+    departureAt: new Date(Date.now() + 7 * 86_400_000).toISOString(),
+    departureFlightNumber: 'AF1235',
+    departureAirport: 'NCE',
+    hotel: { name: 'Hotel de Paris', address: 'Place du Casino, Monaco', link: 'https://example.com' },
+  },
+  VISA_STATUS_UPDATE: { projectTitle: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative', status: 'GRANTED' },
+}
 
 export const notificationRouter = router({
   /**
@@ -253,102 +369,7 @@ export const notificationRouter = router({
         where: { notificationType },
       })
 
-      // Sample data for test emails based on category
-      const sampleData: Record<string, Record<string, unknown>> = {
-        // Team notifications
-        ADVANCED_SEMIFINAL: {
-          projectName: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative',
-          programName: 'Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge 2026',
-          nextSteps: 'Prepare your presentation for the semi-final round.',
-        },
-        ADVANCED_FINAL: {
-          projectName: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative',
-          programName: 'Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge 2026',
-          nextSteps: 'Get ready for the final presentation in Monaco.',
-        },
-        MENTOR_ASSIGNED: {
-          projectName: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative',
-          mentorName: 'Dr. Marine Expert',
-          mentorBio: 'Expert in marine conservation with 20 years of experience.',
-        },
-        NOT_SELECTED: {
-          projectName: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative',
-          roundName: 'Semi-Final Round',
-        },
-        WINNER_ANNOUNCEMENT: {
-          projectName: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative',
-          awardName: 'Grand Prize',
-          prizeDetails: '€50,000 and mentorship program',
-        },
-
-        // Jury notifications
-        ASSIGNED_TO_PROJECT: {
-          projectName: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative',
-          roundName: 'Semi-Final Round',
-          deadline: 'Friday, March 15, 2026',
-        },
-        BATCH_ASSIGNED: {
-          projectCount: 5,
-          roundName: 'Semi-Final Round',
-          deadline: 'Friday, March 15, 2026',
-        },
-        ROUND_NOW_OPEN: {
-          roundName: 'Semi-Final Round',
-          projectCount: 12,
-          deadline: 'Friday, March 15, 2026',
-        },
-        REMINDER_24H: {
-          pendingCount: 3,
-          roundName: 'Semi-Final Round',
-          deadline: 'Tomorrow at 5:00 PM',
-        },
-        REMINDER_1H: {
-          pendingCount: 2,
-          roundName: 'Semi-Final Round',
-          deadline: 'Today at 5:00 PM',
-        },
-        AWARD_VOTING_OPEN: {
-          awardName: 'Innovation Award',
-          finalistCount: 6,
-          deadline: 'Friday, March 15, 2026',
-        },
-
-        // Mentor notifications
-        MENTEE_ASSIGNED: {
-          projectName: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative',
-          teamLeadName: 'John Smith',
-          teamLeadEmail: 'john@example.com',
-        },
-        MENTEE_ADVANCED: {
-          projectName: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative',
-          roundName: 'Semi-Final Round',
-          nextRoundName: 'Final Round',
-        },
-        MENTEE_WON: {
-          projectName: 'Ocean Cleanup Initiative',
-          awardName: 'Innovation Award',
-        },
-
-        // Admin notifications
-        NEW_APPLICATION: {
-          projectName: 'New Ocean Project',
-          applicantName: 'Jane Doe',
-          applicantEmail: 'jane@example.com',
-          programName: 'Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge 2026',
-        },
-        FILTERING_COMPLETE: {
-          roundName: 'Initial Review',
-          passedCount: 45,
-          flaggedCount: 12,
-          filteredCount: 8,
-        },
-        FILTERING_FAILED: {
-          roundName: 'Initial Review',
-          error: 'Connection timeout',
-        },
-      }
-
-      const metadata = sampleData[notificationType] || {}
+      const metadata = NOTIFICATION_SAMPLE_DATA[notificationType] || {}
       const label = setting?.label || notificationType
 
       try {
@@ -378,4 +399,35 @@ export const notificationRouter = router({
         }
       }
     }),
+
+  /**
+   * Preview a notification email template without sending it.
+   * Returns the rendered HTML and subject so admins can see the email before sending.
+   */
+  previewEmailTemplate: adminProcedure
+    .input(z.object({ notificationType: z.string() }))
+    .query(async ({ ctx, input }) => {
+      const setting = await ctx.prisma.notificationEmailSetting.findUnique({
+        where: { notificationType: input.notificationType },
+      })
+      const label = setting?.label || input.notificationType
+      const metadata = NOTIFICATION_SAMPLE_DATA[input.notificationType] || {}
+      const rendered = renderNotificationEmail(
+        ctx.user.name || 'Admin',
+        input.notificationType,
+        {
+          title: label,
+          message: `Preview of the "${label}" email.`,
+          linkUrl: `${process.env.NEXTAUTH_URL || ''}/applicant`,
+          linkLabel: 'Open',
+          metadata,
+        },
+        setting?.emailSubject || undefined,
+      )
+      return {
+        subject: rendered.subject,
+        html: rendered.html,
+        hasStyledTemplate: input.notificationType in NOTIFICATION_EMAIL_TEMPLATES,
+      }
+    }),
 })
diff --git a/tests/unit/notification-preview.test.ts b/tests/unit/notification-preview.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b3097f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/notification-preview.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+/**
+ * Task 1: renderNotificationEmail + previewEmailTemplate
+ *
+ * Tests that:
+ * 1. previewEmailTemplate returns rendered HTML and a non-empty subject for a
+ *    type that has a styled template (VISA_STATUS_UPDATE).
+ * 2. previewEmailTemplate returns non-empty HTML for a fallback type
+ *    (FINALIST_EXPIRED — no registered template, uses generic fallback).
+ */
+import { afterAll, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import { createCaller, prisma } from '../setup'
+import { createTestUser, cleanupTestData, uid } from '../helpers'
+import { notificationRouter } from '../../src/server/routers/notification'
+
+describe('notification.previewEmailTemplate', () => {
+  let adminId: string
+  let adminEmail: string
+
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (adminId) {
+      await prisma.user.deleteMany({ where: { id: adminId } })
+    }
+  })
+
+  async function getAdminCaller() {
+    if (!adminId) {
+      const admin = await createTestUser('SUPER_ADMIN', {
+        name: 'Preview Admin',
+        email: `preview-admin-${uid()}@test.local`,
+      })
+      adminId = admin.id
+      adminEmail = admin.email
+    }
+    return createCaller(notificationRouter, {
+      id: adminId,
+      email: adminEmail,
+      name: 'Preview Admin',
+      role: 'SUPER_ADMIN',
+    })
+  }
+
+  it('returns HTML containing a visa-related string and a non-empty subject for VISA_STATUS_UPDATE', async () => {
+    const caller = await getAdminCaller()
+    const result = await caller.previewEmailTemplate({ notificationType: 'VISA_STATUS_UPDATE' })
+
+    expect(result.subject).toBeTruthy()
+    expect(result.html).toBeTruthy()
+    // The visa template includes 'visa' or 'Grand' in its content
+    const lower = result.html.toLowerCase()
+    expect(lower.includes('visa') || lower.includes('grand')).toBe(true)
+    expect(result.hasStyledTemplate).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('returns non-empty HTML for FINALIST_EXPIRED (fallback — no styled template)', async () => {
+    const caller = await getAdminCaller()
+    const result = await caller.previewEmailTemplate({ notificationType: 'FINALIST_EXPIRED' })
+
+    expect(result.html).toBeTruthy()
+    expect(result.subject).toBeTruthy()
+    expect(result.hasStyledTemplate).toBe(false)
+  })
+})