diff --git a/src/courseware/course/sidebar/ARCHITECTURE.md b/src/courseware/course/sidebar/ARCHITECTURE.md
index ca17f0bcd4..fba3d7bfb4 100644
--- a/src/courseware/course/sidebar/ARCHITECTURE.md
+++ b/src/courseware/course/sidebar/ARCHITECTURE.md
@@ -157,8 +157,10 @@ _Example with built-in widgets:_
 **Responsibilities:**
 - Calculate `initialSidebar` based on available RIGHT sidebar panels
 - Manage `currentSidebar` state (shared by both sidebars)
+- Call `widget.prefetch()` on mount for data preloading
 - Handle unit shift logic for RIGHT sidebar panels
 - Provide context to both left and right sidebar components
+- Wrap children in widget `Provider` components (if defined)
 
 **Key Logic:**
 ```javascript
diff --git a/src/courseware/course/sidebar/README.md b/src/courseware/course/sidebar/README.md
index 8b32dbe70d..8b4b6f2c13 100644
--- a/src/courseware/course/sidebar/README.md
+++ b/src/courseware/course/sidebar/README.md
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ Each widget must provide:
   isAvailable: (context) => boolean,  // Optional: check if widget should be shown
   enabled: boolean,                   // Whether widget is enabled
   Provider?: ReactComponent,          // Optional: React Provider for Panel↔Trigger shared state
+  prefetch?: (params) => void,        // Optional: called on mount to preload data into Redux store
 }
 ```
 
@@ -55,12 +56,25 @@ The `isAvailable` function receives a context object with:
 {
   courseId: string,
   unitId: string,
-  course: object,  // Merged coursewareMeta + courseHomeMeta (verifiedMode, enrollmentMode, courseModes, …)
-  unit: object,    // discussionTopics model for the current unit (id, enabledInContext, …)
+  course: object,  // Merged coursewareMeta + courseHomeMeta (verifiedMode, enrollmentMode, courseModes, tabs, …)
 }
 ```
 
-Widgets pick whatever they need from `course` or `unit` — the sidebar makes no assumptions about which fields any given widget requires.
+Widgets pick whatever they need from `course` — the sidebar makes no assumptions about which fields any given widget requires.
+
+### Prefetch
+
+The optional `prefetch` function is called once by `SidebarContextProvider` on mount. It receives:
+
+```javascript
+{
+  courseId: string,
+  course: object,  // Merged coursewareMeta + courseHomeMeta
+  dispatch: Function,  // Redux dispatch
+}
+```
+
+Use this to preload data (e.g., API calls that populate the Redux store) so that your `Sidebar` and `Trigger` components can read from the store without their own side effects.
 
 ## Adding Widgets
 
diff --git a/src/courseware/course/sidebar/SidebarContextProvider.jsx b/src/courseware/course/sidebar/SidebarContextProvider.jsx
index 0f01a068b1..315fceb0e0 100644
--- a/src/courseware/course/sidebar/SidebarContextProvider.jsx
+++ b/src/courseware/course/sidebar/SidebarContextProvider.jsx
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 import { breakpoints, useWindowSize } from '@openedx/paragon';
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import {
-  useState, useMemo, useCallback, useRef,
+  useState, useMemo, useCallback, useRef, useEffect,
 } from 'react';
+import { useDispatch } from 'react-redux';
 import { useSearchParams } from 'react-router-dom';
 
 import { useModel } from '@src/generic/model-store';
@@ -30,7 +31,8 @@ const SidebarProvider = ({
 }) => {
   const courseHomeMeta = useModel('courseHomeMeta', courseId);
   const coursewareMeta = useModel('coursewareMeta', courseId);
-  const unit = useModel('discussionTopics', unitId);
+
+  const dispatch = useDispatch();
   const { width } = useWindowSize();
   const shouldDisplayFullScreen = width < breakpoints.extraLarge.minWidth;
   const shouldDisplaySidebarOpen = width > breakpoints.extraLarge.minWidth;
@@ -39,6 +41,13 @@ const SidebarProvider = ({
 
   // Build registry of enabled widgets
   const enabledWidgets = useMemo(() => getEnabledWidgets(), []);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    enabledWidgets.forEach(widget => widget.prefetch?.({
+      courseId, course: { ...coursewareMeta, ...courseHomeMeta }, dispatch,
+    }));
+  }, [courseId, courseHomeMeta, coursewareMeta, enabledWidgets, dispatch]);
+
   const SIDEBARS = useMemo(() => buildSidebarsRegistry(enabledWidgets), [enabledWidgets]);
   const SIDEBAR_ORDER = useMemo(() => getSidebarOrder(enabledWidgets), [enabledWidgets]);
 
@@ -48,15 +57,14 @@ const SidebarProvider = ({
       courseId,
       unitId,
       course: { ...coursewareMeta, ...courseHomeMeta },
-      unit,
     };
     return enabledWidgets.filter(widget => {
       if (widget.isAvailable) {
         return widget.isAvailable(context);
       }
-      return true; // If no isAvailable function, widget is always available
+      return true;
     });
-  }, [enabledWidgets, courseId, unitId, coursewareMeta, courseHomeMeta, unit]);
+  }, [enabledWidgets, courseId, unitId, coursewareMeta, courseHomeMeta]);
 
   // Helper to get the first available panel based on priority
   const getFirstAvailablePanel = useCallback(() => {
@@ -76,15 +84,11 @@ const SidebarProvider = ({
 
   const [currentSidebar, setCurrentSidebar] = useState(initialSidebar);
 
-  // Track if user has manually toggled sidebar within current unit
   const hasUserToggledRef = useRef(false);
-  const previousUnitIdRef = useRef(null); // Start null so first render triggers unit shift logic
-  // Track which unit set COURSE_OUTLINE (to prevent immediate switching)
+  const previousUnitIdRef = useRef(null);
   const courseOutlineSetByUnitRef = useRef(null);
-  // Track if this is initial page load (to allow data loading switches)
   const isInitialLoadRef = useRef(true);
 
-  // Apply unit navigation behavior
   useUnitShiftBehavior({
     unitId,
     currentSidebar,
@@ -100,7 +104,6 @@ const SidebarProvider = ({
     isInitialLoadRef,
   });
 
-  // Sync with async data loading
   useSidebarSync({
     initialSidebar,
     currentSidebar,
@@ -133,6 +136,7 @@ const SidebarProvider = ({
 
     // Switch to new sidebar or hide the current sidebar
     const newSidebar = sidebarId === currentSidebar ? null : sidebarId;
+
     setCurrentSidebar(newSidebar);
     setSidebarId(courseId, newSidebar);
   }, [currentSidebar, courseId]);
@@ -160,6 +164,7 @@ const SidebarProvider = ({
     SIDEBAR_ORDER,
     availableSidebarIds,
   ]);
+
   const renderWithWidgetProviders = useCallback((content) => enabledWidgets
     .filter(w => w.Provider)
     .reduceRight((acc, widget) => {
diff --git a/src/courseware/course/sidebar/SidebarContextProvider.test.jsx b/src/courseware/course/sidebar/SidebarContextProvider.test.jsx
index d664825822..f18d5d25d9 100644
--- a/src/courseware/course/sidebar/SidebarContextProvider.test.jsx
+++ b/src/courseware/course/sidebar/SidebarContextProvider.test.jsx
@@ -7,6 +7,19 @@ import { MemoryRouter } from 'react-router-dom';
 import SidebarContext from './SidebarContext';
 import SidebarProvider from './SidebarContextProvider';
 
+jest.mock('react-redux', () => ({
+  useDispatch: jest.fn(() => jest.fn()),
+}));
+
+jest.mock('@edx/frontend-platform', () => ({
+  getConfig: jest.fn(() => ({})),
+  ensureConfig: jest.fn(),
+}));
+
+jest.mock('@src/courseware/data/thunks', () => ({
+  getCourseDiscussionTopics: jest.fn(() => ({ type: 'MOCK_ACTION' })),
+}));
+
 jest.mock('@src/generic/model-store', () => ({
   useModel: jest.fn(() => null),
 }));
diff --git a/src/courseware/course/sidebar/hooks/useResponsiveBehavior.js b/src/courseware/course/sidebar/hooks/useResponsiveBehavior.js
index c36bf19acc..266244a929 100644
--- a/src/courseware/course/sidebar/hooks/useResponsiveBehavior.js
+++ b/src/courseware/course/sidebar/hooks/useResponsiveBehavior.js
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import {
  * @param {Function} params.setCurrentSidebar - Update current sidebar state
  * @param {Function} params.getFirstAvailablePanel - Get first available widget
  * @param {string} params.courseId - Current course ID
- * @param {Function} params.hasUserToggledRef - Ref tracking user manual toggles
+ * @param {Object} params.hasUserToggledRef - Ref tracking user manual toggles
  */
 export function useResponsiveBehavior({
   shouldDisplaySidebarOpen,
diff --git a/src/courseware/course/sidebar/hooks/useSidebarSync.js b/src/courseware/course/sidebar/hooks/useSidebarSync.js
index a5e325ef7e..04394ad97e 100644
--- a/src/courseware/course/sidebar/hooks/useSidebarSync.js
+++ b/src/courseware/course/sidebar/hooks/useSidebarSync.js
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ import {
  * @param {string} params.courseId - Current course ID
  * @param {string} params.unitId - Current unit ID
  * @param {boolean} params.shouldDisplayFullScreen - Whether in mobile view
- * @param {Function} params.hasUserToggledRef - Ref tracking user manual toggles
- * @param {Function} params.courseOutlineSetByUnitRef - Ref tracking COURSE_OUTLINE auto-set
+ * @param {Object} params.hasUserToggledRef - Ref tracking user manual toggles
+ * @param {Object} params.courseOutlineSetByUnitRef - Ref tracking COURSE_OUTLINE auto-set
  */
 export function useSidebarSync({
   initialSidebar,
diff --git a/src/widgets/discussions/DiscussionsTrigger.jsx b/src/widgets/discussions/DiscussionsTrigger.jsx
index f44c2c00ec..7fdb4f08c3 100644
--- a/src/widgets/discussions/DiscussionsTrigger.jsx
+++ b/src/widgets/discussions/DiscussionsTrigger.jsx
@@ -1,18 +1,14 @@
-import { ensureConfig, getConfig } from '@edx/frontend-platform';
 import { useIntl } from '@edx/frontend-platform/i18n';
 import { Icon } from '@openedx/paragon';
 import { QuestionAnswer } from '@openedx/paragon/icons';
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
-import { useContext, useEffect, useMemo } from 'react';
-import { useDispatch } from 'react-redux';
+import { useContext } from 'react';
 import { useModel } from '@src/generic/model-store';
 import { WIDGETS } from '@src/constants';
-import { getCourseDiscussionTopics } from '@src/courseware/data/thunks';
 import SidebarTriggerBase from '@src/courseware/course/sidebar/common/TriggerBase';
 import SidebarContext from '@src/courseware/course/sidebar/SidebarContext';
 import messages from './messages';
 
-ensureConfig(['DISCUSSIONS_MFE_BASE_URL']);
 export const ID = WIDGETS.DISCUSSIONS;
 
 const DiscussionsTrigger = ({
@@ -21,22 +17,8 @@ const DiscussionsTrigger = ({
   const intl = useIntl();
   const {
     unitId,
-    courseId,
   } = useContext(SidebarContext);
-  const dispatch = useDispatch();
-  const { tabs } = useModel('courseHomeMeta', courseId);
   const topic = useModel('discussionTopics', unitId);
-  const baseUrl = getConfig().DISCUSSIONS_MFE_BASE_URL;
-  const edxProvider = useMemo(
-    () => tabs?.find(tab => tab.slug === 'discussion'),
-    [tabs],
-  );
-
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (baseUrl && edxProvider) {
-      dispatch(getCourseDiscussionTopics(courseId));
-    }
-  }, [courseId, baseUrl, edxProvider, dispatch]);
 
   if (!topic?.id || !topic?.enabledInContext) {
     return null;
diff --git a/src/widgets/discussions/DiscussionsTrigger.test.jsx b/src/widgets/discussions/DiscussionsTrigger.test.jsx
index 067d971f88..44dcd1ff64 100644
--- a/src/widgets/discussions/DiscussionsTrigger.test.jsx
+++ b/src/widgets/discussions/DiscussionsTrigger.test.jsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
   fireEvent, initializeMockApp, initializeTestStore, render, screen,
 } from '@src/setupTest';
 import { buildTopicsFromUnits } from '@src/courseware/data/__factories__/discussionTopics.factory';
+import { getCourseDiscussionTopics } from '@src/courseware/data/thunks';
 import SidebarContext from '@src/courseware/course/sidebar/SidebarContext';
 import DiscussionsTrigger from './DiscussionsTrigger';
 
@@ -41,6 +42,8 @@ describe('Discussions Trigger', () => {
     );
     axiosMock.onGet(`${getConfig().LMS_BASE_URL}/api/discussion/v2/course_topics/${courseId}`)
       .reply(200, buildTopicsFromUnits(state.models.units));
+
+    await store.dispatch(getCourseDiscussionTopics(courseId));
   });
 
   const SidebarWrapper = ({ contextValue, onClick }) => (
@@ -63,16 +66,16 @@ describe('Discussions Trigger', () => {
     const clickTrigger = jest.fn();
     renderWithProvider({}, clickTrigger);
 
-    const discussionsTrigger = await screen.findByRole('button', { name: /Show discussions tray/i });
+    const discussionsTrigger = screen.getByRole('button', { name: /Show discussions tray/i });
     expect(discussionsTrigger).toBeInTheDocument();
     fireEvent.click(discussionsTrigger);
     expect(clickTrigger).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   });
 
-  it('doesn\'t show up if unit has no discussion associated with it', async () => {
+  it('doesn\'t show up if unit has no discussion associated with it', () => {
     const clickTrigger = jest.fn();
     renderWithProvider({ unitId: 'has-no-discussion' }, clickTrigger);
 
-    expect(await screen.queryByRole('button', { name: /Show discussions tray/i })).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByRole('button', { name: /Show discussions tray/i })).not.toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/widgets/discussions/README.md b/src/widgets/discussions/README.md
index 0898ff427c..7436724bcc 100644
--- a/src/widgets/discussions/README.md
+++ b/src/widgets/discussions/README.md
@@ -8,13 +8,16 @@ Built-in right-sidebar widget that embeds the Discussions MFE in an iframe for t
 |-------|-------|
 | `id` | `DISCUSSIONS` |
 | `priority` | `10` (highest built-in priority) |
-| `isAvailable` | `({ unit }) => !!(unit?.id && unit?.enabledInContext)` |
+| `isAvailable` | `({ course }) => !!(baseUrl && hasDiscussionTab)` |
+| `prefetch` | Dispatches `getCourseDiscussionTopics` when discussion tab exists |
 
 ## Availability
 
-Only shown when the current unit has a discussion topic enabled in context. Both conditions must be true:
-- `topic.id` — a discussion topic exists for the unit
-- `topic.enabledInContext` — discussions are enabled for this context
+The widget is registered as available at **course level** — it appears in the sidebar trigger bar whenever:
+- `DISCUSSIONS_MFE_BASE_URL` is configured
+- The course has a `discussion` tab
+
+At **render time**, the `DiscussionsTrigger` and `DiscussionsSidebar` components additionally check the unit-level discussion topic (`topic?.id && topic?.enabledInContext`). This two-tier approach keeps the trigger visible across the course while gracefully rendering nothing for units without an active discussion topic.
 
 ## Exports
 
@@ -38,3 +41,7 @@ const config = {
   ],
 };
 ```
+
+## Prefetch
+
+The widget defines a `prefetch` function that is called by `SidebarContextProvider` on mount. It dispatches `getCourseDiscussionTopics(courseId)` to preload discussion topic data into the Redux store, so that the `DiscussionsTrigger` and `DiscussionsSidebar` can read per-unit topic availability from the `discussionTopics` model without needing their own data-fetching side effects.
diff --git a/src/widgets/discussions/widgetConfig.js b/src/widgets/discussions/widgetConfig.js
index f443c2bed8..0c5ae1ad6b 100644
--- a/src/widgets/discussions/widgetConfig.js
+++ b/src/widgets/discussions/widgetConfig.js
@@ -1,7 +1,24 @@
+import { ensureConfig, getConfig } from '@edx/frontend-platform';
+import { getCourseDiscussionTopics } from '@src/courseware/data/thunks';
 import DiscussionsSidebar from './DiscussionsSidebar';
 import DiscussionsTrigger, { ID } from './DiscussionsTrigger';
 
-export const discussionsIsAvailable = ({ unit }) => !!(unit?.id && unit?.enabledInContext);
+ensureConfig(['DISCUSSIONS_MFE_BASE_URL']);
+
+export const discussionsIsAvailable = ({ course }) => {
+  const baseUrl = getConfig().DISCUSSIONS_MFE_BASE_URL;
+  const hasDiscussionTab = course?.tabs?.some(tab => tab.slug === 'discussion');
+
+  return !!(baseUrl && hasDiscussionTab);
+};
+
+export const discussionsPrefetch = ({ courseId, course, dispatch }) => {
+  const baseUrl = getConfig().DISCUSSIONS_MFE_BASE_URL;
+  const discussionTab = course?.tabs?.find(tab => tab.slug === 'discussion');
+  if (baseUrl && discussionTab) {
+    dispatch(getCourseDiscussionTopics(courseId));
+  }
+};
 
 export const discussionsWidgetConfig = {
   id: ID,
@@ -9,5 +26,6 @@ export const discussionsWidgetConfig = {
   Sidebar: DiscussionsSidebar,
   Trigger: DiscussionsTrigger,
   isAvailable: discussionsIsAvailable,
+  prefetch: discussionsPrefetch,
   enabled: true,
 };