diff --git a/app/Policies/CategoryPolicy.php b/app/Policies/CategoryPolicy.php
index fccb02a4b..6a609fed5 100644
--- a/app/Policies/CategoryPolicy.php
+++ b/app/Policies/CategoryPolicy.php
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ class CategoryPolicy extends \TeamTeaTime\Forum\Policies\CategoryPolicy
 
     private function canViewCategory(mixed $user): bool
     {
-        return $user instanceof User && $user->hasAnyRole(['Admin', 'Moderator']);
+        // Forum v8 applies category view checks when filtering private category trees.
+        // Allow any authenticated forum user to see categories while keeping category
+        // management actions restricted to admins.
+        return $user instanceof User;
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/Unit/Policies/ForumGuestPolicyTest.php b/tests/Unit/Policies/ForumGuestPolicyTest.php
index 41b4a115a..a7d2819a7 100644
--- a/tests/Unit/Policies/ForumGuestPolicyTest.php
+++ b/tests/Unit/Policies/ForumGuestPolicyTest.php
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ declare(strict_types=1);
 
 namespace Tests\Unit\Policies;
 
+use App\Models\User;
 use App\Policies\CategoryPolicy;
 use App\Policies\PostPolicy;
 use App\Policies\ThreadPolicy;
@@ -28,6 +29,15 @@ final class ForumGuestPolicyTest extends TestCase
         $this->assertFalse($policy->view(null, $category));
     }
 
+    public function test_authenticated_non_staff_user_can_view_categories(): void
+    {
+        $policy = new CategoryPolicy;
+        $category = new Category;
+        $user = new User;
+
+        $this->assertTrue($policy->view($user, $category));
+    }
+
     public function test_guest_thread_actions_are_denied_but_threads_remain_viewable(): void
     {
         $policy = new ThreadPolicy;