diff --git a/docs/latest/examples/active-links.md b/docs/latest/examples/active-links.md
index 6e66308dcf5..99e5baebd61 100644
--- a/docs/latest/examples/active-links.md
+++ b/docs/latest/examples/active-links.md
@@ -10,10 +10,27 @@ current page within a set of pages.
 
 - `aria-current="page"` - Added to links with an exact path match, enhancing
   accessibility by indicating the current page to assistive technologies.
+- `aria-current="true"` - Added to ancestor links (e.g. `/docs` when the current
+  page is `/docs/intro`).
 
 As we aim to improve accessibility, we encourage the use of aria-current for
 styling current links where applicable.
 
+### Query parameters
+
+When a link's `href` includes query parameters, Fresh considers them during
+matching. A link to `/products?sort=name` will only receive
+`aria-current="page"` when the current URL also has `?sort=name`. If the query
+parameters differ, the link is treated as an ancestor instead. Links without
+query parameters in their `href` match regardless of the current URL's query
+string.
+
+### Preserving custom `aria-current`
+
+If you set `aria-current` on an `<a>` element yourself, Fresh will leave it
+untouched. This is useful when integrating with component libraries (e.g.
+daisyUI tabs) that manage their own active state.
+
 ## Styling with CSS
 
 The aria-current attribute is easily styled with CSS using attribute selectors,
diff --git a/packages/fresh/src/runtime/client/partials.ts b/packages/fresh/src/runtime/client/partials.ts
index bf8cf78aa92..3b38b5d59c9 100644
--- a/packages/fresh/src/runtime/client/partials.ts
+++ b/packages/fresh/src/runtime/client/partials.ts
@@ -304,7 +304,15 @@ document.addEventListener("submit", async (e) => {
 
 function updateLinks(url: URL) {
   document.querySelectorAll("a").forEach((link) => {
-    const match = matchesUrl(url.pathname, link.href);
+    // Don't override aria-current if it was explicitly set by the user
+    // (detected by absence of data-current/data-ancestor attributes which
+    // Fresh always sets alongside aria-current)
+    const hasFreshAria = link.hasAttribute(DATA_CURRENT) ||
+      link.hasAttribute(DATA_ANCESTOR);
+    const hasUserAria = !hasFreshAria && link.hasAttribute("aria-current");
+    if (hasUserAria) return;
+
+    const match = matchesUrl(url.pathname, link.href, url.search);
 
     if (match === UrlMatchKind.Current) {
       link.setAttribute(DATA_CURRENT, "true");
diff --git a/packages/fresh/src/runtime/server/preact_hooks.ts b/packages/fresh/src/runtime/server/preact_hooks.ts
index b7ad8f8e733..80c81096960 100644
--- a/packages/fresh/src/runtime/server/preact_hooks.ts
+++ b/packages/fresh/src/runtime/server/preact_hooks.ts
@@ -132,7 +132,11 @@ options[OptionsType.VNODE] = (vnode) => {
   if (RENDER_STATE !== null) {
     RENDER_STATE.owners.set(vnode, RENDER_STATE!.ownerStack.at(-1)!);
     if (vnode.type === "a") {
-      setActiveUrl(vnode, RENDER_STATE.ctx.url.pathname);
+      setActiveUrl(
+        vnode,
+        RENDER_STATE.ctx.url.pathname,
+        RENDER_STATE.ctx.url.search,
+      );
     }
   }
   assetHashingHook(vnode, BUILD_ID);
diff --git a/packages/fresh/src/runtime/shared_internal.ts b/packages/fresh/src/runtime/shared_internal.ts
index d91d6e642ed..bd3e999b7ee 100644
--- a/packages/fresh/src/runtime/shared_internal.ts
+++ b/packages/fresh/src/runtime/shared_internal.ts
@@ -42,8 +42,15 @@ export const enum UrlMatchKind {
   Current,
 }
 
-export function matchesUrl(current: string, needle: string): UrlMatchKind {
-  let href = new URL(needle, "http://localhost").pathname;
+export function matchesUrl(
+  current: string,
+  needle: string,
+  currentSearch?: string,
+): UrlMatchKind {
+  const needleUrl = new URL(needle, "http://localhost");
+  let href = needleUrl.pathname;
+  const needleSearch = needleUrl.search;
+
   if (href !== "/" && href.endsWith("/")) {
     href = href.slice(0, -1);
   }
@@ -53,6 +60,13 @@ export function matchesUrl(current: string, needle: string): UrlMatchKind {
   }
 
   if (current === href) {
+    // If the link has query params, only mark as current if they match
+    if (
+      needleSearch && currentSearch !== undefined &&
+      needleSearch !== currentSearch
+    ) {
+      return UrlMatchKind.Ancestor;
+    }
     return UrlMatchKind.Current;
   } else if (current.startsWith(href + "/") || href === "/") {
     return UrlMatchKind.Ancestor;
@@ -65,11 +79,18 @@ export function matchesUrl(current: string, needle: string): UrlMatchKind {
  * Mark active or ancestor link
  * Note: This function is used both on the server and the client
  */
-export function setActiveUrl(vnode: VNode, pathname: string): void {
+export function setActiveUrl(
+  vnode: VNode,
+  pathname: string,
+  search?: string,
+): void {
   const props = vnode.props as Record<string, unknown>;
   const hrefProp = props.href;
   if (typeof hrefProp === "string" && hrefProp.startsWith("/")) {
-    const match = matchesUrl(pathname, hrefProp);
+    // Don't override aria-current if it's already set by the user
+    if (props["aria-current"] !== undefined) return;
+
+    const match = matchesUrl(pathname, hrefProp, search);
     if (match === UrlMatchKind.Current) {
       props[DATA_CURRENT] = "true";
       props["aria-current"] = "page";
diff --git a/packages/fresh/tests/active_links_test.tsx b/packages/fresh/tests/active_links_test.tsx
index 2d5262e8a07..2356d80735b 100644
--- a/packages/fresh/tests/active_links_test.tsx
+++ b/packages/fresh/tests/active_links_test.tsx
@@ -83,6 +83,86 @@ Deno.test({
   },
 });
 
+Deno.test({
+  name: "active links - query params differentiate current vs ancestor",
+  fn: async () => {
+    function TabView() {
+      return (
+        <Doc>
+          <div>
+            <a href="/tabs?sort=name">Sort by name</a>
+            <a href="/tabs?sort=price">Sort by price</a>
+            <a href="/tabs">All</a>
+          </div>
+        </Doc>
+      );
+    }
+
+    const app = testApp()
+      .get("/tabs", (ctx) => {
+        return ctx.render(<TabView />);
+      });
+
+    const server = new FakeServer(app.handler());
+
+    // When visiting /tabs?sort=name, only that link is "current"
+    let res = await server.get("/tabs?sort=name");
+    let doc = parseHtml(await res.text());
+
+    // Exact match including query params
+    assertSelector(doc, `a[href='/tabs?sort=name'][data-current]`);
+    assertSelector(doc, `a[href='/tabs?sort=name'][aria-current="page"]`);
+
+    // Different query params → ancestor, not current
+    assertNotSelector(doc, `a[href='/tabs?sort=price'][data-current]`);
+    assertSelector(doc, `a[href='/tabs?sort=price'][data-ancestor]`);
+
+    // Link without query params matches regardless
+    assertSelector(doc, `a[href='/tabs'][data-current]`);
+
+    // When visiting /tabs (no query), all links on same path are current
+    res = await server.get("/tabs");
+    doc = parseHtml(await res.text());
+    assertSelector(doc, `a[href='/tabs'][data-current]`);
+    // Links with query params → ancestor since current URL has no query
+    assertSelector(doc, `a[href='/tabs?sort=name'][data-ancestor]`);
+    assertSelector(doc, `a[href='/tabs?sort=price'][data-ancestor]`);
+  },
+});
+
+Deno.test({
+  name: "active links - respects user-set aria-current",
+  fn: async () => {
+    function View() {
+      return (
+        <Doc>
+          <div>
+            <a href="/custom_aria" aria-current="step">Step link</a>
+            <a href="/custom_aria">Auto link</a>
+          </div>
+        </Doc>
+      );
+    }
+
+    const app = testApp()
+      .get("/custom_aria", (ctx) => {
+        return ctx.render(<View />);
+      });
+
+    const server = new FakeServer(app.handler());
+    const res = await server.get("/custom_aria");
+    const doc = parseHtml(await res.text());
+
+    // User-set aria-current should be preserved, not overwritten
+    assertSelector(doc, `a[aria-current="step"]`);
+    assertNotSelector(doc, `a[aria-current="step"][data-current]`);
+
+    // The other link (no user-set aria-current) should get Fresh's attributes
+    assertSelector(doc, `a[href='/custom_aria'][data-current]`);
+    assertSelector(doc, `a[href='/custom_aria'][aria-current="page"]`);
+  },
+});
+
 Deno.test({
   name: "active links - updates outside of vdom",
   fn: async () => {