diff --git a/changelog.md b/changelog.md
index 84f8e21..3f06d1a 100644
--- a/changelog.md
+++ b/changelog.md
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 2026-01-01 - 3.27.1 - fix(dees-actionbar)
+always render actionbar wrapper and delay adding visible class to ensure grid/opacity animations run reliably
+
+- Always render the actionbar wrapper (.actionbar-item and .actionbar-content) instead of returning early so grid-template-rows and opacity transitions can animate.
+- Use optional chaining for current bar access (bar?.type, bar?.timeout) to avoid runtime errors when no bar is present.
+- Adjust styles and structure: set :host display:block; move background/border to .actionbar-item; add .actionbar-content with min-height/opacity and transitions.
+- Make processQueue asynchronous and await updateComplete, then add the 'visible' class inside requestAnimationFrame so the CSS transition is triggered after render.
+
 ## 2026-01-01 - 3.27.0 - feat(services)
 introduce DeesServiceLibLoader to lazy-load heavy client libraries from CDN and update components to use it
 
diff --git a/ts_web/00_commitinfo_data.ts b/ts_web/00_commitinfo_data.ts
index feb5a7f..39b1f5f 100644
--- a/ts_web/00_commitinfo_data.ts
+++ b/ts_web/00_commitinfo_data.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@
  */
 export const commitinfo = {
   name: '@design.estate/dees-catalog',
-  version: '3.27.0',
+  version: '3.27.1',
   description: 'A comprehensive library that provides dynamic web components for building sophisticated and modern web applications using JavaScript and TypeScript.'
 }
diff --git a/ts_web/elements/dees-actionbar/dees-actionbar.ts b/ts_web/elements/dees-actionbar/dees-actionbar.ts
index 5d093c5..c73a6eb 100644
--- a/ts_web/elements/dees-actionbar/dees-actionbar.ts
+++ b/ts_web/elements/dees-actionbar/dees-actionbar.ts
@@ -128,22 +128,30 @@ export class DeesActionbar extends DeesElement {
     cssManager.defaultStyles,
     css`
       :host {
-        display: grid;
-        grid-template-rows: 0fr;
-        transition: grid-template-rows 0.2s ease-out;
-      }
-
-      :host(.visible) {
-        grid-template-rows: 1fr;
+        display: block;
       }
 
       .actionbar-item {
-        display: flex;
-        flex-direction: column;
-        min-height: 0;
+        display: grid;
+        grid-template-rows: 0fr;
+        transition: grid-template-rows 0.2s ease-out;
         background: ${cssManager.bdTheme('hsl(0 0% 96%)', 'hsl(0 0% 12%)')};
         border-top: 1px solid ${cssManager.bdTheme('hsl(0 0% 88%)', 'hsl(0 0% 20%)')};
+      }
+
+      :host(.visible) .actionbar-item {
+        grid-template-rows: 1fr;
+      }
+
+      .actionbar-content {
         overflow: hidden;
+        min-height: 0;
+        opacity: 0;
+        transition: opacity 0.2s ease-out;
+      }
+
+      :host(.visible) .actionbar-content {
+        opacity: 1;
       }
 
       .progress-bar {
@@ -305,47 +313,48 @@ export class DeesActionbar extends DeesElement {
   ];
 
   public render(): TemplateResult {
-    if (!this.currentBar) {
-      return html``;
-    }
-
     const bar = this.currentBar;
-    const type = bar.type || 'info';
-    const hasTimeout = bar.timeout && this.timeRemaining > 0;
+    const type = bar?.type || 'info';
+    const hasTimeout = bar?.timeout && this.timeRemaining > 0;
 
+    // ALWAYS render wrapper - required for grid animation to work
     return html`
       <div class="actionbar-item">
-        ${hasTimeout ? html`
-          <div class="progress-bar">
-            <div
-              class="progress-bar-fill ${type}"
-              style="width: ${this.progressPercent}%"
-            ></div>
-          </div>
-        ` : ''}
-        <div class="content">
-          <div class="message-section">
-            ${bar.icon ? html`
-              <dees-icon
-                class="message-icon ${type}"
-                .icon=${bar.icon}
-                iconSize="16"
-              ></dees-icon>
-            ` : ''}
-            <span class="message-text">${bar.message}</span>
-          </div>
-          <div class="actions-section">
-            ${bar.actions.map(action => this.renderActionButton(action, bar, hasTimeout))}
-            ${bar.dismissible ? html`
-              <div
-                class="dismiss-button"
-                @click=${() => this.handleDismiss()}
-                title="Dismiss"
-              >
-                <dees-icon .icon=${'lucide:x'} iconSize="14"></dees-icon>
+        <div class="actionbar-content">
+          ${bar ? html`
+            ${hasTimeout ? html`
+              <div class="progress-bar">
+                <div
+                  class="progress-bar-fill ${type}"
+                  style="width: ${this.progressPercent}%"
+                ></div>
               </div>
             ` : ''}
-          </div>
+            <div class="content">
+              <div class="message-section">
+                ${bar.icon ? html`
+                  <dees-icon
+                    class="message-icon ${type}"
+                    .icon=${bar.icon}
+                    iconSize="16"
+                  ></dees-icon>
+                ` : ''}
+                <span class="message-text">${bar.message}</span>
+              </div>
+              <div class="actions-section">
+                ${bar.actions.map(action => this.renderActionButton(action, bar, hasTimeout))}
+                ${bar.dismissible ? html`
+                  <div
+                    class="dismiss-button"
+                    @click=${() => this.handleDismiss()}
+                    title="Dismiss"
+                  >
+                    <dees-icon .icon=${'lucide:x'} iconSize="14"></dees-icon>
+                  </div>
+                ` : ''}
+              </div>
+            </div>
+          ` : ''}
         </div>
       </div>
     `;
@@ -433,7 +442,7 @@ export class DeesActionbar extends DeesElement {
     this.currentResolve = null;
   }
 
-  private processQueue(): void {
+  private async processQueue(): Promise<void> {
     if (this.queue.length === 0) {
       // Hide with animation - don't await, let it run async
       this.hideCurrentBar();
@@ -444,7 +453,12 @@ export class DeesActionbar extends DeesElement {
     this.currentBar = item.options;
     this.currentResolve = item.resolve;
     this.isVisible = true;
-    this.classList.add('visible');
+
+    // Wait for Lit render, then add class on next frame to trigger animation
+    await this.updateComplete;
+    requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+      this.classList.add('visible');
+    });
 
     // Setup timeout if configured
     if (item.options.timeout) {