diff --git a/backend/routers/shows.py b/backend/routers/shows.py
index a010c13..130be6c 100644
--- a/backend/routers/shows.py
+++ b/backend/routers/shows.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from sqlmodel import Session, select
 from sqlalchemy import func
 from database import get_session
 from models import Show, Tag, EntityTag, Vertical, UserVerticalPreference
-from schemas import ShowCreate, ShowRead, ShowUpdate, TagRead, PaginatedResponse, PaginationMeta
+from schemas import ShowCreate, ShowRead, ShowUpdate, TagRead, PaginatedResponse, PaginationMeta, VerticalSimple, VenueRead, TourRead
 from auth import get_current_user, get_current_user_optional
 
 router = APIRouter(prefix="/shows", tags=["shows"])
@@ -109,8 +109,25 @@ def read_shows(
     
     shows = session.exec(query.offset(offset).limit(limit)).all()
     
+    # Manual population to ensure relationships are serialized
+    # (Pydantic v2/SQLModel can be tricky with ORM relationships sometimes)
+    response_shows = []
+    for show in shows:
+        # Convert ORM object to ShowRead explicitly
+        # We use model_validate to get base fields, then set relationships
+        s_read = ShowRead.model_validate(show)
+        
+        if show.vertical:
+            s_read.vertical = VerticalSimple.model_validate(show.vertical)
+        if show.venue:
+            s_read.venue = VenueRead.model_validate(show.venue)
+        if show.tour:
+            s_read.tour = TourRead.model_validate(show.tour)
+            
+        response_shows.append(s_read)
+    
     return PaginatedResponse(
-        data=shows,
+        data=response_shows,
         meta=PaginationMeta(total=total, limit=limit, offset=offset)
     )