diff --git a/src/components/ReqViewer.tsx b/src/components/ReqViewer.tsx
index 9f69ba3..4a97bc9 100644
--- a/src/components/ReqViewer.tsx
+++ b/src/components/ReqViewer.tsx
@@ -1234,12 +1234,17 @@ export default function ReqViewer({
                               </div>
                             )}
 
-                            {/* EOSE status */}
+                            {/* Subscription status icon */}
                             {reqState && (
                               <>
-                                {reqState.subscriptionState === "eose" ? (
+                                {reqState.subscriptionState === "live" ? (
+                                  // Live: EOSE received + actively streaming
+                                  <Radio className="size-3 text-green-500 animate-pulse" />
+                                ) : reqState.subscriptionState === "eose" ? (
+                                  // EOSE received, idle
                                   <Check className="size-3 text-green-600/70" />
                                 ) : (
+                                  // Receiving historical or waiting
                                   (reqState.subscriptionState === "receiving" ||
                                     reqState.subscriptionState ===
                                       "waiting") && (
diff --git a/src/hooks/useReqTimelineEnhanced.ts b/src/hooks/useReqTimelineEnhanced.ts
index cda3c4e..96e0a33 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useReqTimelineEnhanced.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useReqTimelineEnhanced.ts
@@ -216,10 +216,12 @@ export function useReqTimelineEnhanced(
                   eoseAt: Date.now(),
                 });
 
-                // Check if ALL relays have reached EOSE
+                // Check if ALL relays have reached EOSE (or beyond)
+                // "live" means EOSE was received and we're getting live events
                 const allEose = Array.from(next.values()).every(
                   (s) =>
                     s.subscriptionState === "eose" ||
+                    s.subscriptionState === "live" ||
                     s.connectionState === "error" ||
                     s.connectionState === "disconnected",
                 );
@@ -268,10 +270,15 @@ export function useReqTimelineEnhanced(
                     lastEventAt: now,
                   });
                 } else {
-                  // Update existing relay state
+                  // Determine correct subscription state:
+                  // - If EOSE already received (eoseAt exists), this is a LIVE event
+                  // - Otherwise, we're still receiving historical events
+                  const hasEose = state.eoseAt !== undefined;
+                  const newSubscriptionState = hasEose ? "live" : "receiving";
+
                   next.set(url, {
                     ...state,
-                    subscriptionState: "receiving",
+                    subscriptionState: newSubscriptionState,
                     eventCount: state.eventCount + 1,
                     firstEventAt: state.firstEventAt ?? now,
                     lastEventAt: now,
diff --git a/src/lib/req-state-machine.test.ts b/src/lib/req-state-machine.test.ts
index cbe13c9..2b5b9e8 100644
--- a/src/lib/req-state-machine.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/req-state-machine.test.ts
@@ -538,6 +538,7 @@ describe("getStatusText", () => {
     connectedCount: 3,
     receivingCount: 2,
     eoseCount: 1,
+    liveCount: 0,
     errorCount: 0,
     disconnectedCount: 0,
     hasReceivedEvents: true,
@@ -568,6 +569,7 @@ describe("getStatusTooltip", () => {
     connectedCount: 3,
     receivingCount: 2,
     eoseCount: 1,
+    liveCount: 0,
     errorCount: 0,
     disconnectedCount: 0,
     hasReceivedEvents: true,
@@ -625,7 +627,18 @@ describe("shouldAnimate", () => {
 });
 
 describe("getRelayStateBadge", () => {
-  it("should return receiving badge", () => {
+  it("should return live badge (EOSE received + streaming)", () => {
+    const badge = getRelayStateBadge({
+      url: "wss://relay.com",
+      connectionState: "connected",
+      subscriptionState: "live",
+      eventCount: 15,
+    });
+    expect(badge?.text).toBe("LIVE");
+    expect(badge?.color).toBe("text-success");
+  });
+
+  it("should return receiving badge (before EOSE)", () => {
     const badge = getRelayStateBadge({
       url: "wss://relay.com",
       connectionState: "connected",
@@ -633,7 +646,8 @@ describe("getRelayStateBadge", () => {
       eventCount: 5,
     });
     expect(badge?.text).toBe("RECEIVING");
-    expect(badge?.color).toBe("text-success");
+    // Warning color because it's still loading (pre-EOSE)
+    expect(badge?.color).toBe("text-warning");
   });
 
   it("should return eose badge", () => {
diff --git a/src/lib/req-state-machine.ts b/src/lib/req-state-machine.ts
index 62432a9..5476669 100644
--- a/src/lib/req-state-machine.ts
+++ b/src/lib/req-state-machine.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ export function deriveOverallState(
     (s) => s.subscriptionState === "receiving",
   ).length;
   const eoseCount = states.filter((s) => s.subscriptionState === "eose").length;
+  const liveCount = states.filter((s) => s.subscriptionState === "live").length;
   const errorCount = states.filter((s) => s.connectionState === "error").length;
   const disconnectedCount = states.filter(
     (s) => s.connectionState === "disconnected",
@@ -55,10 +56,12 @@ export function deriveOverallState(
 
   const allEoseAt = overallEoseReceived ? Date.now() : undefined;
 
-  // Check if all relays are in terminal states (won't make further progress)
+  // Check if all relays are in terminal states (won't make further progress on initial load)
+  // "live" means EOSE received + streaming, so it's also a terminal state for initial load
   const allRelaysTerminal = states.every(
     (s) =>
       s.subscriptionState === "eose" ||
+      s.subscriptionState === "live" ||
       s.connectionState === "error" ||
       s.connectionState === "disconnected",
   );
@@ -143,6 +146,7 @@ export function deriveOverallState(
     connectedCount,
     receivingCount,
     eoseCount,
+    liveCount,
     errorCount,
     disconnectedCount,
     hasReceivedEvents,
@@ -242,11 +246,17 @@ export function getRelayStateBadge(
 ): { text: string; color: string } | null {
   const { subscriptionState, connectionState } = relay;
 
-  // Prioritize subscription state
+  // Prioritize subscription state (order matters for display priority)
+  if (subscriptionState === "live") {
+    // EOSE received, actively receiving live events
+    return { text: "LIVE", color: "text-success" };
+  }
   if (subscriptionState === "receiving") {
-    return { text: "RECEIVING", color: "text-success" };
+    // Receiving historical events (before EOSE)
+    return { text: "RECEIVING", color: "text-warning" };
   }
   if (subscriptionState === "eose") {
+    // EOSE received, idle (no live events yet)
     return { text: "EOSE", color: "text-info" };
   }
   if (subscriptionState === "error") {
diff --git a/src/types/req-state.ts b/src/types/req-state.ts
index dae05bb..87f131d 100644
--- a/src/types/req-state.ts
+++ b/src/types/req-state.ts
@@ -18,11 +18,23 @@ export type RelayConnectionState =
 
 /**
  * Subscription state specific to this REQ
+ *
+ * State machine:
+ *   waiting → receiving → eose → live
+ *                  ↘      ↗
+ *                   error
+ *
+ * - waiting: Connected, subscription sent, no events yet
+ * - receiving: Getting historical events (before EOSE)
+ * - eose: EOSE received, no live events yet
+ * - live: EOSE received AND receiving live events (streaming mode)
+ * - error: Subscription error occurred
  */
 export type RelaySubscriptionState =
   | "waiting" // Connected but no events yet
-  | "receiving" // Events being received
-  | "eose" // EOSE received (real or timeout)
+  | "receiving" // Getting historical events (before EOSE)
+  | "eose" // EOSE received, idle (no live events yet)
+  | "live" // EOSE received AND receiving live events
   | "error"; // Subscription error
 
 /**
@@ -75,7 +87,8 @@ export interface ReqOverallState {
   totalRelays: number;
   connectedCount: number;
   receivingCount: number;
-  eoseCount: number;
+  eoseCount: number; // Relays in "eose" state (EOSE received, idle)
+  liveCount: number; // Relays in "live" state (EOSE received + streaming)
   errorCount: number;
   disconnectedCount: number;