diff --git a/src/tests/protocol/queue-lifecycle-types.test.ts b/src/tests/protocol/queue-lifecycle-types.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..349c7ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tests/protocol/queue-lifecycle-types.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,270 @@
+import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import type {
+  QueueBatchDequeuedEvent,
+  QueueBlockedEvent,
+  QueueBlockedReason,
+  QueueClearedEvent,
+  QueueClearedReason,
+  QueueItemDroppedEvent,
+  QueueItemDroppedReason,
+  QueueItemEnqueuedEvent,
+  QueueItemKind,
+  QueueItemSource,
+  QueueLifecycleEvent,
+  WireMessage,
+} from "../../types/protocol";
+
+/**
+ * Wire-shape tests for queue lifecycle protocol events.
+ * These verify that each event type has the expected fields and
+ * discriminant values, ensuring the protocol contract is stable.
+ */
+
+describe("QueueItemEnqueuedEvent wire shape", () => {
+  test("has required fields with correct types", () => {
+    const event: QueueItemEnqueuedEvent = {
+      type: "queue_item_enqueued",
+      item_id: "item-1",
+      source: "user",
+      kind: "message",
+      queue_len: 1,
+      session_id: "session-abc",
+      uuid: "uuid-123",
+    };
+
+    expect(event.type).toBe("queue_item_enqueued");
+    expect(event.item_id).toBe("item-1");
+    expect(event.source).toBe("user");
+    expect(event.kind).toBe("message");
+    expect(event.queue_len).toBe(1);
+    expect(event.session_id).toBe("session-abc");
+    expect(event.uuid).toBe("uuid-123");
+  });
+
+  test("source covers all item origins", () => {
+    const sources: Record<QueueItemSource, true> = {
+      user: true,
+      task_notification: true,
+      subagent: true,
+      system: true,
+    } satisfies Record<QueueItemSource, true>;
+    expect(Object.keys(sources)).toHaveLength(4);
+  });
+
+  test("kind covers all content types", () => {
+    const kinds: Record<QueueItemKind, true> = {
+      message: true,
+      task_notification: true,
+      approval_result: true,
+      overlay_action: true,
+    } satisfies Record<QueueItemKind, true>;
+    expect(Object.keys(kinds)).toHaveLength(4);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("QueueBatchDequeuedEvent wire shape", () => {
+  test("has required fields with correct types", () => {
+    const event: QueueBatchDequeuedEvent = {
+      type: "queue_batch_dequeued",
+      batch_id: "batch-1",
+      item_ids: ["item-1", "item-2"],
+      merged_count: 2,
+      queue_len_after: 0,
+      session_id: "session-abc",
+      uuid: "uuid-456",
+    };
+
+    expect(event.type).toBe("queue_batch_dequeued");
+    expect(event.batch_id).toBe("batch-1");
+    expect(event.item_ids).toEqual(["item-1", "item-2"]);
+    expect(event.merged_count).toBe(2);
+    expect(event.queue_len_after).toBe(0);
+  });
+
+  test("single-item batch has merged_count 1", () => {
+    const event: QueueBatchDequeuedEvent = {
+      type: "queue_batch_dequeued",
+      batch_id: "batch-2",
+      item_ids: ["item-1"],
+      merged_count: 1,
+      queue_len_after: 3,
+      session_id: "s",
+      uuid: "u",
+    };
+
+    expect(event.merged_count).toBe(1);
+    expect(event.item_ids).toHaveLength(1);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("QueueBlockedEvent wire shape", () => {
+  test("has required fields with correct types", () => {
+    const event: QueueBlockedEvent = {
+      type: "queue_blocked",
+      reason: "streaming",
+      queue_len: 2,
+      session_id: "session-abc",
+      uuid: "uuid-789",
+    };
+
+    expect(event.type).toBe("queue_blocked");
+    expect(event.reason).toBe("streaming");
+    expect(event.queue_len).toBe(2);
+  });
+
+  test("reason covers all blocked states", () => {
+    const reasons: Record<QueueBlockedReason, true> = {
+      streaming: true,
+      pending_approvals: true,
+      overlay_open: true,
+      command_running: true,
+      interrupt_in_progress: true,
+      runtime_busy: true,
+    } satisfies Record<QueueBlockedReason, true>;
+    expect(Object.keys(reasons)).toHaveLength(6);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("QueueClearedEvent wire shape", () => {
+  test("has required fields with correct types", () => {
+    const event: QueueClearedEvent = {
+      type: "queue_cleared",
+      reason: "processed",
+      cleared_count: 3,
+      session_id: "session-abc",
+      uuid: "uuid-012",
+    };
+
+    expect(event.type).toBe("queue_cleared");
+    expect(event.reason).toBe("processed");
+    expect(event.cleared_count).toBe(3);
+  });
+
+  test("reason covers all terminal conditions", () => {
+    const reasons: Record<QueueClearedReason, true> = {
+      processed: true,
+      error: true,
+      cancelled: true,
+      shutdown: true,
+      stale_generation: true,
+    } satisfies Record<QueueClearedReason, true>;
+    expect(Object.keys(reasons)).toHaveLength(5);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("QueueItemDroppedEvent wire shape", () => {
+  test("has required fields with correct types", () => {
+    const event: QueueItemDroppedEvent = {
+      type: "queue_item_dropped",
+      item_id: "item-99",
+      reason: "buffer_limit",
+      queue_len: 10,
+      session_id: "session-abc",
+      uuid: "uuid-345",
+    };
+
+    expect(event.type).toBe("queue_item_dropped");
+    expect(event.item_id).toBe("item-99");
+    expect(event.reason).toBe("buffer_limit");
+    expect(event.queue_len).toBe(10);
+  });
+
+  test("reason covers all drop causes", () => {
+    const reasons: Record<QueueItemDroppedReason, true> = {
+      buffer_limit: true,
+      stale_generation: true,
+    } satisfies Record<QueueItemDroppedReason, true>;
+    expect(Object.keys(reasons)).toHaveLength(2);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("QueueLifecycleEvent union", () => {
+  test("discriminates on type field", () => {
+    const events: QueueLifecycleEvent[] = [
+      {
+        type: "queue_item_enqueued",
+        item_id: "i1",
+        source: "user",
+        kind: "message",
+        queue_len: 1,
+        session_id: "s",
+        uuid: "u",
+      },
+      {
+        type: "queue_batch_dequeued",
+        batch_id: "b1",
+        item_ids: ["i1"],
+        merged_count: 1,
+        queue_len_after: 0,
+        session_id: "s",
+        uuid: "u",
+      },
+      {
+        type: "queue_blocked",
+        reason: "streaming",
+        queue_len: 1,
+        session_id: "s",
+        uuid: "u",
+      },
+      {
+        type: "queue_cleared",
+        reason: "processed",
+        cleared_count: 1,
+        session_id: "s",
+        uuid: "u",
+      },
+      {
+        type: "queue_item_dropped",
+        item_id: "i2",
+        reason: "buffer_limit",
+        queue_len: 0,
+        session_id: "s",
+        uuid: "u",
+      },
+    ];
+
+    const types = events.map((e) => e.type);
+    expect(types).toEqual([
+      "queue_item_enqueued",
+      "queue_batch_dequeued",
+      "queue_blocked",
+      "queue_cleared",
+      "queue_item_dropped",
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  test("all events serialize to valid JSON with envelope", () => {
+    const event: QueueLifecycleEvent = {
+      type: "queue_item_enqueued",
+      item_id: "i1",
+      source: "task_notification",
+      kind: "task_notification",
+      queue_len: 2,
+      session_id: "listen-abc123",
+      uuid: "enqueue-i1",
+    };
+
+    const json = JSON.stringify(event);
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(json);
+
+    expect(parsed.type).toBe("queue_item_enqueued");
+    expect(parsed.session_id).toBe("listen-abc123");
+    expect(parsed.uuid).toBe("enqueue-i1");
+  });
+
+  test("QueueLifecycleEvent is assignable to WireMessage", () => {
+    // Compile-time check: if QueueLifecycleEvent is removed from WireMessage,
+    // this assignment fails and the test won't compile.
+    const event: QueueLifecycleEvent = {
+      type: "queue_item_enqueued",
+      item_id: "i1",
+      source: "user",
+      kind: "message",
+      queue_len: 1,
+      session_id: "s",
+      uuid: "u",
+    };
+    const wire: WireMessage = event;
+    expect(wire.type).toBe("queue_item_enqueued");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/types/protocol.ts b/src/types/protocol.ts
index 29930a0..50e2f4b 100644
--- a/src/types/protocol.ts
+++ b/src/types/protocol.ts
@@ -254,6 +254,137 @@ export interface ResultMessage extends MessageEnvelope {
   stop_reason?: StopReasonType;
 }
 
+// ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+// QUEUE LIFECYCLE
+// Events emitted by the shared queue runtime. Each describes a
+// discrete state transition in the turn queue. Consumers (TUI,
+// headless bidir JSON, WS listen) emit these through their
+// respective output channels.
+// ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+/**
+ * Source that produced the queue item.
+ * - user: Submitted via Enter in TUI or stdin in headless
+ * - task_notification: Background subagent completion
+ * - subagent: Direct subagent result
+ * - system: Approval results, overlay actions, system reminders
+ */
+export type QueueItemSource =
+  | "user"
+  | "task_notification"
+  | "subagent"
+  | "system";
+
+/**
+ * Kind of content carried by the queue item.
+ * - message: User or system text to send to the agent
+ * - task_notification: Background task completed notification
+ * - approval_result: Tool approval/denial result
+ * - overlay_action: Plan mode, AskUserQuestion, etc.
+ */
+export type QueueItemKind =
+  | "message"
+  | "task_notification"
+  | "approval_result"
+  | "overlay_action";
+
+/**
+ * Emitted synchronously when an item enters the queue.
+ * A queue item is a discrete, submitted unit of work (post-Enter for user
+ * messages, or a delivered notification/result for system sources).
+ */
+export interface QueueItemEnqueuedEvent extends MessageEnvelope {
+  type: "queue_item_enqueued";
+  item_id: string;
+  source: QueueItemSource;
+  kind: QueueItemKind;
+  queue_len: number;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Emitted exactly once when the runtime dequeues a batch for submission.
+ * Contiguous coalescable items (user + task messages) are merged into one batch.
+ */
+export interface QueueBatchDequeuedEvent extends MessageEnvelope {
+  type: "queue_batch_dequeued";
+  batch_id: string;
+  item_ids: string[];
+  merged_count: number;
+  queue_len_after: number;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Why the queue cannot dequeue right now.
+ * - streaming: Agent turn is actively streaming
+ * - pending_approvals: Waiting for HITL approval decisions
+ * - overlay_open: Plan mode, AskUserQuestion, or other overlay is active
+ * - command_running: Slash command is executing
+ * - interrupt_in_progress: User interrupt (Esc) is being processed
+ * - runtime_busy: Generic busy state (e.g., listen-client turn in flight)
+ */
+export type QueueBlockedReason =
+  | "streaming"
+  | "pending_approvals"
+  | "overlay_open"
+  | "command_running"
+  | "interrupt_in_progress"
+  | "runtime_busy";
+
+/**
+ * Emitted only on blocked-reason state transitions (not on every dequeue
+ * check while blocked). The runtime tracks lastEmittedBlockedReason and
+ * fires this only when the reason changes or transitions from unblocked.
+ */
+export interface QueueBlockedEvent extends MessageEnvelope {
+  type: "queue_blocked";
+  reason: QueueBlockedReason;
+  queue_len: number;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Why the queue was cleared.
+ */
+export type QueueClearedReason =
+  | "processed"
+  | "error"
+  | "cancelled"
+  | "shutdown"
+  | "stale_generation";
+
+/**
+ * Emitted when the queue is flushed due to a terminal condition.
+ */
+export interface QueueClearedEvent extends MessageEnvelope {
+  type: "queue_cleared";
+  reason: QueueClearedReason;
+  cleared_count: number;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Why an item was dropped without processing.
+ */
+export type QueueItemDroppedReason = "buffer_limit" | "stale_generation";
+
+/**
+ * Emitted when an item is dropped from the queue without being processed.
+ */
+export interface QueueItemDroppedEvent extends MessageEnvelope {
+  type: "queue_item_dropped";
+  item_id: string;
+  reason: QueueItemDroppedReason;
+  queue_len: number;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Union of all queue lifecycle events.
+ */
+export type QueueLifecycleEvent =
+  | QueueItemEnqueuedEvent
+  | QueueBatchDequeuedEvent
+  | QueueBlockedEvent
+  | QueueClearedEvent
+  | QueueItemDroppedEvent;
+
 // ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 // CONTROL PROTOCOL
 // Bidirectional: SDK → CLI and CLI → SDK both use control_request/response
@@ -508,4 +639,5 @@ export type WireMessage =
   | RecoveryMessage
   | ResultMessage
   | ControlResponse
-  | ControlRequest; // CLI → SDK control requests (e.g., can_use_tool)
+  | ControlRequest // CLI → SDK control requests (e.g., can_use_tool)
+  | QueueLifecycleEvent;