diff --git a/backend/app/routers/dashboard.py b/backend/app/routers/dashboard.py
index 881e88e..816ee0d 100644
--- a/backend/app/routers/dashboard.py
+++ b/backend/app/routers/dashboard.py
@@ -92,13 +92,12 @@ async def get_dashboard(
     total_todos = todo_row.total
     total_incomplete_todos = todo_row.incomplete
 
-    # Starred events (within upcoming_days window, ordered by date, scoped to user's calendars)
-    upcoming_cutoff_dt = datetime.combine(upcoming_cutoff, datetime.max.time())
+    # Starred events — no upper date bound so future events always appear in countdown.
+    # _not_parent_template excludes recurring parent templates (children still show).
     starred_query = select(CalendarEvent).where(
         CalendarEvent.calendar_id.in_(user_calendar_ids),
         CalendarEvent.is_starred == True,
         CalendarEvent.start_datetime > today_start,
-        CalendarEvent.start_datetime <= upcoming_cutoff_dt,
         _not_parent_template,
     ).order_by(CalendarEvent.start_datetime.asc()).limit(5)
     starred_result = await db.execute(starred_query)