diff --git a/server/api/admin/tags/index.post.js b/server/api/admin/tags/index.post.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..70e0624
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/api/admin/tags/index.post.js
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import Tag from '../../../models/tag.js'
+import { adminTagCreateSchema } from '../../../utils/schemas.js'
+
+const slugify = (s) =>
+  s
+    .toLowerCase()
+    .trim()
+    .replace(/\s+/g, '-')
+    .replace(/[^a-z0-9-]/g, '')
+    .replace(/-+/g, '-')
+    .replace(/^-|-$/g, '')
+
+export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
+  await requireAdmin(event)
+  await connectDB()
+
+  const body = await validateBody(event, adminTagCreateSchema)
+  const slug = slugify(body.label)
+
+  if (!slug) {
+    throw createError({
+      statusCode: 400,
+      statusMessage: 'Tag label must contain at least one alphanumeric character'
+    })
+  }
+
+  const existing = await Tag.findOne({ slug })
+  if (existing) {
+    return { tag: { slug: existing.slug, label: existing.label, pool: existing.pool } }
+  }
+
+  const tag = await Tag.create({
+    slug,
+    label: body.label,
+    pool: body.pool,
+    active: true
+  })
+
+  return { tag: { slug: tag.slug, label: tag.label, pool: tag.pool } }
+})
diff --git a/server/utils/schemas.js b/server/utils/schemas.js
index 8e7416b..322bbd4 100644
--- a/server/utils/schemas.js
+++ b/server/utils/schemas.js
@@ -383,6 +383,11 @@ export const tagSuggestionSchema = z.object({
   pool: z.enum(['craft', 'cooperative'])
 })
 
+export const adminTagCreateSchema = z.object({
+  label: z.string().trim().min(1).max(100),
+  pool: z.enum(['craft', 'cooperative'])
+})
+
 // --- Board post / channel schemas ---
 
 export const boardPostCreateSchema = z.object({