diff --git a/footer.php b/footer.php
index 8ca0a7e6..66ce4854 100755
--- a/footer.php
+++ b/footer.php
@@ -27,7 +27,15 @@
 					</p>
 				</div>
 
-				<nav class="navbar navbar-top navbar-expand-md footermenu-1">
+			<div class="footermenu-1">
+
+				<?php if ( is_active_sidebar( 'footer-center' ) ) : ?>
+					<div class="footer-widget-area footer-widget-area--center">
+						<?php dynamic_sidebar( 'footer-center' ); ?>
+					</div>
+				<?php endif; ?>
+
+				<nav class="navbar navbar-top navbar-expand-md">
 					<div class="text-center ">
 						<?php
 						wp_nav_menu(
@@ -45,8 +53,16 @@
 						?>
 					</div>
 				</nav>
+			</div>
 
-				<nav class="navbar navbar-top navbar-expand-md footermenu-2">
+			<div class="footermenu-2">
+
+				<?php if ( is_active_sidebar( 'footer-right' ) ) : ?>
+				<div class="footer-widget-area footer-widget-area--right">
+					<?php dynamic_sidebar( 'footer-right' ); ?>
+				</div>
+				<?php endif; ?>
+				<nav class="navbar navbar-top navbar-expand-md">
 					<div class="text-center ">
 						<?php
 						wp_nav_menu(
@@ -64,6 +80,7 @@
 						?>
 					</div>
 				</nav>
+			</div>
 
 			</div>
 
diff --git a/functions.php b/functions.php
index 373c5f56..85c0e48e 100755
--- a/functions.php
+++ b/functions.php
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@
 require_once __DIR__ . '/functions/theme.php';
 require_once __DIR__ . '/functions/latest-posts.php';
 require_once __DIR__ . '/functions/media.php';
+require_once __DIR__ . '/functions/class-sunflower-contact-widget.php';
+require_once __DIR__ . '/functions/widgets.php';
 
 
 /**
diff --git a/functions/blocks.php b/functions/blocks.php
index 63e7c065..ecad33ee 100644
--- a/functions/blocks.php
+++ b/functions/blocks.php
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ function sunflower_enqueue_block_icon_picker() {
 		array(
 			'wp-blocks',
 			'wp-element',
-			'wp-editor',
+			'wp-block-editor',
 			'wp-components',
 			'wp-i18n',
 			'wp-compose',
diff --git a/functions/class-sunflower-contact-widget.php b/functions/class-sunflower-contact-widget.php
index 9f63e0e6..a02b3bf8 100644
--- a/functions/class-sunflower-contact-widget.php
+++ b/functions/class-sunflower-contact-widget.php
@@ -45,33 +45,36 @@ public function widget( $args, $instance ) {
 			)
 		);
 
+		// Widget wrapper HTML comes from register_sidebar() – safe to output with kses.
 		echo wp_kses_post( $args['before_widget'] );
 
+		$fields = array();
+
 		if ( ! empty( $instance['title'] ) ) {
-			echo wp_kses_post( $args['before_title'] ) . esc_html( $instance['title'] ) . wp_kses_post( $args['after_title'] );
+			$fields['title'] = array(
+				'class' => 'contact-title',
+			);
 		}
 
-		$fields = array(
-			'address'       => array(
-				'icon'      => 'fa-solid fa-location-dot',
-				'class'     => 'contact-address',
-				'multiline' => true,
-			),
-			'phone'         => array(
-				'icon'  => 'fa-solid fa-phone',
-				'class' => 'contact-phone',
-				'link'  => 'tel',
-			),
-			'email'         => array(
-				'icon'  => 'fa-solid fa-envelope',
-				'class' => 'contact-email',
-				'link'  => 'mailto',
-			),
-			'opening_hours' => array(
-				'icon'      => 'fa-solid fa-clock',
-				'class'     => 'contact-hours',
-				'multiline' => true,
-			),
+		$fields['address']       = array(
+			'icon'      => 'fa-solid fa-location-dot',
+			'class'     => 'contact-address',
+			'multiline' => true,
+		);
+		$fields['phone']         = array(
+			'icon'  => 'fa-solid fa-phone',
+			'class' => 'contact-phone',
+			'link'  => 'tel',
+		);
+		$fields['email']         = array(
+			'icon'  => 'fa-solid fa-envelope',
+			'class' => 'contact-email',
+			'link'  => 'mailto',
+		);
+		$fields['opening_hours'] = array(
+			'icon'      => 'fa-solid fa-clock',
+			'class'     => 'contact-hours',
+			'multiline' => true,
 		);
 
 		echo '<ul class="sunflower-contact-list">';
@@ -83,7 +86,11 @@ public function widget( $args, $instance ) {
 			}
 
 			echo '<li class="' . esc_attr( $field['class'] ) . '">';
-			echo '<i class="' . esc_attr( $field['icon'] ) . '"></i>';
+
+			if ( ! empty( $field['icon'] ) ) {
+				echo '<i class="' . esc_attr( $field['icon'] ) . '"></i>';
+			}
+
 			echo '<span>';
 
 			if ( ! empty( $field['link'] ) && 'tel' === $field['link'] ) {
diff --git a/functions/widgets.php b/functions/widgets.php
index ceeeffff..88e5b892 100644
--- a/functions/widgets.php
+++ b/functions/widgets.php
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <?php
 /**
- * Widget areas for Sunflower 26.
+ * Widget areas and custom widgets for Sunflower 26.
  *
  * @package Sunflower 26
  */
@@ -9,8 +9,6 @@
 	exit;
 }
 
-require_once get_template_directory() . '/functions/class-sunflower-contact-widget.php';
-
 /**
  * Register widget areas and custom widgets.
  */
@@ -20,7 +18,7 @@ function sunflower_widgets_init() {
 		array(
 			'name'          => __( 'Footer Mitte', 'sunflower' ),
 			'id'            => 'footer-center',
-			'description'   => __( 'Widget-Bereich in der Footer-Mitte (z.B. Kontaktdaten).', 'sunflower' ),
+			'description'   => __( 'Bereich in der Footer-Mitte für Kontakt-Widget', 'sunflower' ),
 			'before_widget' => '<div id="%1$s" class="widget footer-widget footer-widget--center %2$s">',
 			'after_widget'  => '</div>',
 			'before_title'  => '<h4 class="widget-title">',
@@ -32,7 +30,7 @@ function sunflower_widgets_init() {
 		array(
 			'name'          => __( 'Footer Rechts', 'sunflower' ),
 			'id'            => 'footer-right',
-			'description'   => __( 'Widget-Bereich rechts im Footer (z.B. Suche).', 'sunflower' ),
+			'description'   => __( 'Bereich rechts im Footer für die Suche', 'sunflower' ),
 			'before_widget' => '<div id="%1$s" class="widget footer-widget footer-widget--right %2$s">',
 			'after_widget'  => '</div>',
 			'before_title'  => '<h4 class="widget-title">',
@@ -44,7 +42,7 @@ function sunflower_widgets_init() {
 		array(
 			'name'          => __( 'Header (nach Logo)', 'sunflower' ),
 			'id'            => 'header-after-brand',
-			'description'   => __( 'Widget-Bereich im Header nach dem Brand-Link (z.B. Suche).', 'sunflower' ),
+			'description'   => __( 'Bereich im Header für die Suche', 'sunflower' ),
 			'before_widget' => '<div id="%1$s" class="widget header-widget %2$s">',
 			'after_widget'  => '</div>',
 			'before_title'  => '',
@@ -82,3 +80,23 @@ function sunflower_widgets_init() {
 add_action( 'widgets_init', 'sunflower_widgets_init' );
 
 add_filter( 'use_widgets_block_editor', '__return_false' );
+
+/**
+ * Use the search widget title as the search field placeholder instead of
+ * displaying it as a heading. The title is stored in a global that
+ * searchform.php picks up.
+ *
+ * @param string $title    The widget title.
+ * @param array  $instance The widget instance settings.
+ * @param string $id_base  The widget ID base.
+ * @return string Empty string to suppress the heading output.
+ */
+function sunflower_search_title_to_placeholder( $title, $instance = array(), $id_base = '' ) {
+	if ( 'search' === $id_base && ! empty( $title ) ) {
+		global $sunflower_search_placeholder;
+		$sunflower_search_placeholder = $title;
+		return '';
+	}
+	return $title;
+}
+add_filter( 'widget_title', 'sunflower_search_title_to_placeholder', 10, 3 );
diff --git a/sass/_footer.scss b/sass/_footer.scss
index a6290e46..919dbb1c 100644
--- a/sass/_footer.scss
+++ b/sass/_footer.scss
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
         color: map.get($custom-colors, "tanne");
 
         > div {
-            gap: var(--grid-margin);
+            gap: var(--double-grid-margin);
 
             @include media-breakpoint-down(md) {
                 gap: var(--double-grid-margin);
@@ -151,20 +151,26 @@
     .footermenu-1 {
         width: 33.3%;
         display: flex;
-        justify-content: center;
+        flex-direction: column;
+        align-items: center;
+        gap: var(--grid-margin);
 
         @include media-breakpoint-down(md) {
-            justify-content: flex-start;
+            align-items: flex-start;
+            width: 100%;
         }
     }
 
     .footermenu-2 {
         width: 33.3%;
         display: flex;
-        justify-content: flex-end;
+        flex-direction: column;
+        align-items: flex-end;
+        gap: var(--grid-margin);
 
         @include media-breakpoint-down(md) {
-            justify-content: flex-start;
+            align-items: flex-start;
+            width: 100%;
         }
     }
 
@@ -216,4 +222,70 @@
     hr {
         opacity: 0.6;
     }
+
+    .footer-widget {
+        margin-bottom: 0;
+
+        .widget-title {
+            color: map.get($custom-colors, "tanne");
+            font-weight: 700;
+            font-size: 1.1rem;
+            letter-spacing: 0.3px;
+            margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
+        }
+
+        a {
+            color: map.get($custom-colors, "klee");
+
+            &:hover {
+                color: map.get($custom-colors, "tanne");
+            }
+        }
+
+        .sunflower-contact-list li {
+            border-bottom: none;
+            color: map.get($custom-colors, "tanne");
+
+            i {
+                color: map.get($custom-colors, "klee");
+            }
+        }
+
+        &--right {
+
+            .widget_search {
+
+                .search-form {
+                    position: relative;
+                }
+
+                input[type="search"],
+                input[type="search"]:focus {
+                    border: 1px solid map.get($custom-colors, "klee");
+                    padding: 4px 30px 4px 8px;
+                    border-radius: var(--border-radius-tiny);
+                    background: none;
+                    color: map.get($custom-colors, "tanne");
+                    font-style: italic;
+                    width: 100%;
+                }
+
+                .search-submit {
+                    position: absolute;
+                    right: 0;
+                    top: 0;
+                    height: 100%;
+                    width: 30px;
+                    border: none;
+                    background: transparent;
+                    cursor: pointer;
+                    padding: 0;
+
+                    i {
+                        color: map.get($custom-colors, "klee");
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/sass/_layout.scss b/sass/_layout.scss
index 541428c0..1f9fcf14 100644
--- a/sass/_layout.scss
+++ b/sass/_layout.scss
@@ -491,3 +491,25 @@ body #content .wp-block-cover {
     }
 
 }
+
+.search-no-results .page-content p {
+    text-align: center;
+}
+
+form[role="search"] {
+
+    input[type="search"] {
+        outline: none !important;
+        padding-left: 20px;
+        border-radius: 23px;
+    }
+
+    button[type="submit"] {
+        padding: 0;
+        width: 46px;
+
+        &:hover {
+            border: 2px solid map.get($custom-colors, "schwarzwald");
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/sass/_widgets.scss b/sass/_widgets.scss
index dd1d6627..07647ea2 100755
--- a/sass/_widgets.scss
+++ b/sass/_widgets.scss
@@ -1,161 +1,228 @@
-.widget {
-    margin-bottom: 5rem;
+@use "sass:map";
 
-    ul {
-        list-style-type: none;
-        padding-left: 0;
-        position: relative;
 
-        li {
-            border-bottom: 1px solid $gray-500;
-            padding: 0.75rem 0;
-            position: relative;
-        }
+.stuck {
 
+    .header-widget-area {
+        display: none;
     }
+}
 
-    a {
-        color: $white;
+.header-widget-area {
+    left: var(--double-grid-margin);
+    position: absolute;
+    top: 140px;
+    display: flex;
+    gap: var(--gap-large);
 
-        &:hover {
-            color: $white;
-        }
+    @include media-breakpoint-down(xl) {
+        top: 125px;
     }
 
-    &-title {
-
-        font-weight: 700;
-        font-size: 1.3rem;
-        color: $white;
-        letter-spacing: 0.3px;
+    @include media-breakpoint-down(md) {
+        top: 110px;
     }
+}
+
+.footer-widget-area {
+    gap: var(--gap-large);
 
-    &_search {
+    &--right {
+        right: 0;
+        display: flex;
+        justify-content: center;
+        align-items: flex-end;
+        flex-direction: column;
 
-        input,
-        input:focus {
-            border: 1px solid $gray-500;
-            padding: 4px;
-            border-radius: 2px;
-            background: none;
-            color: $white;
-            font-style: italic;
+        @include media-breakpoint-down(xl) {
+            align-items: flex-start;
+            width: 100%;
         }
+    }
 
-        label {
-            position: relative;
+    &--center {
+        width: 100%;
+        display: flex;
+        justify-content: center;
+        align-items: center;
+        flex-direction: column;
 
-            &::after {
-                content: "\f002";
-                font-family: "Font Awesome 6 Free";
-                font-weight: 900;
-                position: absolute;
-                top: 5px;
-                right: 10px;
-            }
+        @include media-breakpoint-down(xl) {
+            align-items: flex-start;
         }
+    }
+}
+
+.hamburger-menu {
 
-        input[type="submit"] {
+    .header-widget-area {
+        top: calc(100vh - 53px);
+        left: var(--half-grid-margin);
+
+        .widget_sunflower_contact {
             display: none;
         }
+    }
+}
+
+.footer-widget-area {
+
+    .widget_search {
+        width: 100%;
+        position: relative;
+        transition: 300ms ease-out;
+
+        input[type="search"],
+        label {
+            width: 100%;
+        }
 
-        .wp-block-search__button-outside {
+        &:hover,
+        &:active,
+        &:focus-within {
+            width: 100% !important;
 
-            label {
+            input[type="search"] {
+                width: 100% !important;
+            }
+        }
 
-                &.wp-block-search__label {
+        @include media-breakpoint-down(md) {
+            width: 100%;
 
-                    font-weight: 700;
-                    font-size: 1.3rem;
-                    color: $white;
-                    letter-spacing: 0.3px;
+            input[type="search"] {
+                width: 100%;
+            }
+        }
 
-                }
+        @include media-breakpoint-down(sm) {
+            width: 100%;
 
-                &::after {
-                    content: "";
-                }
+            input[type="search"] {
+                width: 100%;
             }
         }
 
     }
+}
+
+
+.widget_search {
+    width: 46px;
+    position: relative;
+    transition: 300ms ease-out;
+
+    &:hover,
+    &:active,
+    &:focus-within {
+        width: 400px;
 
-    &_categories {
+        input[type="search"] {
+            width: 400px;
+        }
 
-        li {
+        @include media-breakpoint-down(md) {
+            width: 300px;
 
-            a {
-                display: block;
+            input[type="search"] {
+                width: 300px;
             }
+        }
 
-            &::after {
-                content: "\f054";
-                font-family: "Font Awesome 6 Free";
-                font-weight: 900;
-                position: absolute;
-                right: 1rem;
-                top: 0.8rem;
+        @include media-breakpoint-down(sm) {
+            width: 280px;
+
+            input[type="search"] {
+                width: 280px;
             }
         }
+    }
 
+    input[type="search"] {
+        padding-left: 20px;
+        transition: 300ms ease-out;
+        outline: none !important;
+        border-radius: 23px;
     }
 
-    &_recent_entries {
+    .search-submit {
+        position: absolute;
+        right: 0;
+        top: 0;
+        padding: 0;
+        height: 46px;
+        width: 46px;
+        border: none;
+        cursor: pointer;
+        background: transparent;
+        display: flex;
+        align-items: center;
+        justify-content: center;
 
-        .post-date {
-            display: block;
-            font-style: italic;
-            font-size: 90%;
-            margin-top: 0.2rem;
+        i {
+            font-size: 18px;
+            color: map.get($custom-colors, "tanne");
+            margin: 0 0 1px 0;
         }
+    }
+}
 
+.widget_sunflower_contact {
+    font-size: 16px !important;
+    line-height: 150%;
+    letter-spacing: 0.9px;
+    margin: 0;
+    width: fit-content;
+    min-width: calc(200px - var(--grid-margin));
+
+    @include media-breakpoint-down(xl) {
+        font-size: 14px !important;
     }
 
-    .tagcloud {
+    .contact-title {
+        font-weight: 700;
+        font-size: 1.1em;
+    }
+}
 
+.sunflower-contact-list {
+    list-style: none;
+    padding-left: 0;
+    margin: 0;
+    width: fit-content;
+
+    li {
         display: flex;
-        flex-wrap: wrap;
+        align-items: flex-start;
+        gap: var(--gap-small);
+        padding: 0;
+        border-bottom: none;
+        margin-bottom: var(--gap-small) !important;
+        font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif !important;
+        font-weight: 400;
+        color: map.get($custom-colors, "tanne");
 
         a {
-            font-size: 80% !important;
-            text-decoration: none;
-            color: inherit;
-            border: 1px solid $sidebar-color;
-            border-radius: var(--border-radius-tiny);
-            padding: 0.3rem 0.5rem;
-            margin: 0 0.3rem 0.5rem 0;
+            font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif !important;
+            font-weight: 400;
+            color: map.get($custom-colors, "tanne") !important;
 
             &:hover {
-                background-color: $white;
-                color: $secondary;
+                color: map.get($custom-colors, "klee") !important;
             }
         }
-    }
-
-    &_archive {
-
-        select {
-            border: 1px solid $sidebar-color;
-            padding: 0.2rem;
-        }
-    }
-
-    &_sunflower_follow_us {
 
-        .widget-container {
-            display: flex;
-            flex-wrap: wrap;
-        }
-
-        .social-media-profile {
-            background-color: $sidebar-color;
-            width: 30px;
-            height: 30px;
+        i {
+            flex-shrink: 0;
+            width: 1.2em;
+            text-align: center;
+            top: 3.5px;
+            position: relative;
+            color: map.get($custom-colors, "tanne");
         }
 
-        svg {
-            fill: $white;
-            width: 20px;
+        span {
+            flex: 1;
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/sass/wp-blocks/_blocks.scss b/sass/wp-blocks/_blocks.scss
index 2a92c18f..575d22a9 100644
--- a/sass/wp-blocks/_blocks.scss
+++ b/sass/wp-blocks/_blocks.scss
@@ -54,17 +54,6 @@ body #content {
 
         &__inside-wrapper {
             position: relative;
-
-            &::before {
-                content: url("#{$sunflower-img-path}/search.svg");
-                position: absolute;
-                left: 18px;
-                top: 8px;
-                width: 23px;
-                height: 20px;
-                pointer-events: none;
-                z-index: 10;
-            }
         }
 
         &__button {
@@ -92,21 +81,6 @@ body #content {
             position: relative;
             margin: 0;
             padding: 0;
-
-            &::before {
-                content: url("#{$sunflower-img-path}/search.svg");
-                position: absolute;
-                left: 18px;
-                top: 8px;
-                width: 23px;
-                height: 20px;
-                pointer-events: none;
-                z-index: 10;
-            }
-        }
-
-        .search-field {
-            padding-left: 50px;
         }
 
         .search-submit {
@@ -114,6 +88,10 @@ body #content {
             right: 0;
             top: 0;
             height: 100%;
+
+            i {
+                margin: 0 0 1px 0;
+            }
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/searchform.php b/searchform.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f8aec18d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/searchform.php
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+<?php
+/**
+ * Custom search form template.
+ *
+ * Uses <button> for submit so FontAwesome icon can be rendered inside.
+ * Supports dynamic placeholder via $sunflower_search_placeholder global
+ * (set by widget_title filter when a search widget provides a title).
+ *
+ * @package Sunflower 26
+ */
+
+global $sunflower_search_placeholder;
+
+$sunflower_placeholder = ! empty( $sunflower_search_placeholder )
+	? $sunflower_search_placeholder
+	: __( 'Suche', 'sunflower' );
+
+$sunflower_search_placeholder = '';
+?>
+<form role="search" method="get" class="search-form" action="<?php echo esc_url( home_url( '/' ) ); ?>">
+	<label>
+		<span class="screen-reader-text"><?php esc_html_e( 'Suche', 'sunflower' ); ?></span>
+		<input type="search" class="search-field" placeholder="<?php echo esc_attr( $sunflower_placeholder ); ?>" value="<?php echo get_search_query(); ?>" name="s">
+	</label>
+	<button type="submit" class="search-submit"><i class="fa-solid fa-magnifying-glass"></i></button>
+</form>
diff --git a/template-parts/header-standard.php b/template-parts/header-standard.php
index e2a843fb..7fe16662 100644
--- a/template-parts/header-standard.php
+++ b/template-parts/header-standard.php
@@ -40,6 +40,11 @@
 			<div class="label-bottom skew-box"><?php esc_attr( bloginfo( 'description' ) ); ?></div>
 		</a>
 
+		<?php if ( is_active_sidebar( 'header-after-brand' ) ) : ?>
+		<div class="header-widget-area">
+			<?php dynamic_sidebar( 'header-after-brand' ); ?>
+		</div>
+		<?php endif; ?>
 
 		<div class="right-bar menubar nav-center d-flex align-items-center flex-wrap justify-content-center">