diff --git a/packages/claude-code-plugin/hooks/session-start.py b/packages/claude-code-plugin/hooks/session-start.py
index baa3b122..da83f367 100644
--- a/packages/claude-code-plugin/hooks/session-start.py
+++ b/packages/claude-code-plugin/hooks/session-start.py
@@ -888,6 +888,16 @@ def main():
             if output:
                 print(output)
 
+            # Tiny Actor Grid preview (#1302)
+            try:
+                from tiny_actor_preview import render_actor_preview
+
+                actor_preview = render_actor_preview("PLAN")
+                if actor_preview:
+                    print(actor_preview)
+            except Exception:
+                pass  # Never block session start
+
             # Show update notification if marketplace clone was updated (#1101)
             if new_version:
                 print(
diff --git a/packages/claude-code-plugin/tests/test_session_start_actors.py b/packages/claude-code-plugin/tests/test_session_start_actors.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9c455f0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/claude-code-plugin/tests/test_session_start_actors.py
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+"""Tests for Tiny Actor Grid preview integration in session-start (#1302)."""
+import os
+import sys
+
+import pytest
+
+# Ensure hooks/lib is on path
+_tests_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
+_lib_dir = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(_tests_dir), "hooks", "lib")
+if _lib_dir not in sys.path:
+    sys.path.insert(0, _lib_dir)
+
+from tiny_actor_preview import is_tiny_actors_enabled, render_actor_preview
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Integration: session-start calls render_actor_preview
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+class TestSessionStartActorPreview:
+    """Verify that the session-start integration point behaves correctly."""
+
+    def test_preview_off_by_default(self, monkeypatch):
+        """When flag is unset, render_actor_preview returns None (no output)."""
+        monkeypatch.delenv("CODINGBUDDY_TINY_ACTORS", raising=False)
+        assert render_actor_preview("PLAN") is None
+
+    def test_preview_on_when_flag_enabled(self, monkeypatch):
+        """When flag is set, render_actor_preview returns non-empty string."""
+        monkeypatch.setenv("CODINGBUDDY_TINY_ACTORS", "1")
+        result = render_actor_preview("PLAN")
+        assert isinstance(result, str)
+        assert len(result) > 0
+
+    def test_plan_mode_is_default_session_start_mode(self, monkeypatch):
+        """Session start uses PLAN as the default mode for preview."""
+        monkeypatch.setenv("CODINGBUDDY_TINY_ACTORS", "1")
+        result = render_actor_preview("PLAN")
+        assert result is not None
+        # Buddy moderator face should appear
+        assert "\u25d5\u203f\u25d5" in result  # ◕‿◕
+
+    def test_preview_contains_buddy_and_agents(self, monkeypatch):
+        """Preview output includes buddy moderator and specialist labels."""
+        monkeypatch.setenv("CODINGBUDDY_TINY_ACTORS", "1")
+        result = render_actor_preview("PLAN")
+        assert result is not None
+        # Buddy face
+        assert "\u25d5" in result
+        # At least one agent label
+        assert "Technical" in result or "Security" in result
+
+    def test_no_exception_when_flag_off_and_render_called(self, monkeypatch):
+        """Calling render_actor_preview with flag off never raises."""
+        monkeypatch.delenv("CODINGBUDDY_TINY_ACTORS", raising=False)
+        # Should return None cleanly, matching the try/except pattern in session-start
+        assert render_actor_preview("PLAN") is None
+
+    def test_no_exception_with_invalid_mode(self, monkeypatch):
+        """Invalid mode returns None without raising (matches session-start guard)."""
+        monkeypatch.setenv("CODINGBUDDY_TINY_ACTORS", "1")
+        result = render_actor_preview("NONEXISTENT_MODE")
+        assert result is None
+
+
+class TestSessionStartActorFlagGating:
+    """Verify feature flag gating matches session-start try/except pattern."""
+
+    def test_flag_disabled_matches_session_start_noop(self, monkeypatch):
+        """When disabled, the entire actor preview block is a no-op."""
+        monkeypatch.delenv("CODINGBUDDY_TINY_ACTORS", raising=False)
+        assert not is_tiny_actors_enabled()
+        assert render_actor_preview("PLAN") is None
+
+    def test_flag_enabled_produces_output(self, monkeypatch):
+        """When enabled, preview produces printable output."""
+        monkeypatch.setenv("CODINGBUDDY_TINY_ACTORS", "1")
+        assert is_tiny_actors_enabled()
+        result = render_actor_preview("PLAN")
+        assert result is not None
+        # Output should be printable (no None/errors)
+        assert isinstance(result, str)
+
+    def test_exception_fallback_returns_none(self, monkeypatch):
+        """If rendering raises, session-start try/except catches it."""
+        monkeypatch.setenv("CODINGBUDDY_TINY_ACTORS", "1")
+        import tiny_actor_preview
+
+        def _boom(mode):
+            raise RuntimeError("simulated failure")
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(tiny_actor_preview, "get_cast_preset", _boom)
+        # render_actor_preview catches internally, returns None
+        assert render_actor_preview("PLAN") is None