diff --git a/contracts/protocols.py b/contracts/protocols.py
index 5f6e507..e320b31 100644
--- a/contracts/protocols.py
+++ b/contracts/protocols.py
@@ -262,6 +262,10 @@ class FederationService(Protocol):
         self, session: AsyncSession, acct: str,
     ) -> RemoteActorDTO | None: ...
 
+    async def search_actors(
+        self, session: AsyncSession, query: str, page: int = 1, limit: int = 20,
+    ) -> tuple[list[RemoteActorDTO], int]: ...
+
     # -- Following (outbound) -------------------------------------------------
     async def send_follow(
         self, session: AsyncSession, local_username: str, remote_actor_url: str,
diff --git a/services/federation_impl.py b/services/federation_impl.py
index edd4718..0937908 100644
--- a/services/federation_impl.py
+++ b/services/federation_impl.py
@@ -541,6 +541,92 @@ class SqlFederationService:
 
         return await self._upsert_remote_actor(session, actor_url, data)
 
+    async def search_actors(
+        self, session: AsyncSession, query: str, page: int = 1, limit: int = 20,
+    ) -> tuple[list[RemoteActorDTO], int]:
+        from sqlalchemy import or_
+
+        pattern = f"%{query}%"
+        offset = (page - 1) * limit
+
+        # WebFinger resolve for @user@domain queries (first page only)
+        webfinger_result: RemoteActorDTO | None = None
+        if page == 1 and "@" in query:
+            webfinger_result = await self.search_remote_actor(session, query)
+
+        # Search cached remote actors
+        remote_filter = or_(
+            RemoteActor.preferred_username.ilike(pattern),
+            RemoteActor.display_name.ilike(pattern),
+            RemoteActor.domain.ilike(pattern),
+        )
+        remote_total = (
+            await session.execute(
+                select(func.count(RemoteActor.id)).where(remote_filter)
+            )
+        ).scalar() or 0
+
+        # Search local actor profiles
+        local_filter = or_(
+            ActorProfile.preferred_username.ilike(pattern),
+            ActorProfile.display_name.ilike(pattern),
+        )
+        local_total = (
+            await session.execute(
+                select(func.count(ActorProfile.id)).where(local_filter)
+            )
+        ).scalar() or 0
+
+        total = remote_total + local_total
+
+        # Fetch remote actors page
+        remote_rows = (
+            await session.execute(
+                select(RemoteActor)
+                .where(remote_filter)
+                .order_by(RemoteActor.preferred_username)
+                .limit(limit)
+                .offset(offset)
+            )
+        ).scalars().all()
+
+        results: list[RemoteActorDTO] = [_remote_actor_to_dto(r) for r in remote_rows]
+
+        # Fill remaining slots with local actors
+        remaining = limit - len(results)
+        local_offset = max(0, offset - remote_total)
+        if remaining > 0 and offset + len(results) >= remote_total:
+            domain = _domain()
+            local_rows = (
+                await session.execute(
+                    select(ActorProfile)
+                    .where(local_filter)
+                    .order_by(ActorProfile.preferred_username)
+                    .limit(remaining)
+                    .offset(local_offset)
+                )
+            ).scalars().all()
+            for lp in local_rows:
+                results.append(RemoteActorDTO(
+                    id=0,
+                    actor_url=f"https://{domain}/users/{lp.preferred_username}",
+                    inbox_url=f"https://{domain}/users/{lp.preferred_username}/inbox",
+                    preferred_username=lp.preferred_username,
+                    domain=domain,
+                    display_name=lp.display_name,
+                    summary=lp.summary,
+                    icon_url=None,
+                ))
+
+        # Prepend WebFinger result (deduped)
+        if webfinger_result:
+            existing_urls = {r.actor_url for r in results}
+            if webfinger_result.actor_url not in existing_urls:
+                results.insert(0, webfinger_result)
+                total += 1
+
+        return results, total
+
     # -- Following (outbound) -------------------------------------------------
 
     async def send_follow(
diff --git a/services/stubs.py b/services/stubs.py
index 3150041..a46d5ab 100644
--- a/services/stubs.py
+++ b/services/stubs.py
@@ -246,6 +246,9 @@ class StubFederationService:
     async def search_remote_actor(self, session, acct):
         return None
 
+    async def search_actors(self, session, query, page=1, limit=20):
+        return [], 0
+
     async def send_follow(self, session, local_username, remote_actor_url):
         raise RuntimeError("FederationService not available")