diff --git a/.chronus/changes/playground-sample-drawer-2026-0-30-16-22-1.md b/.chronus/changes/playground-sample-drawer-2026-0-30-16-22-1.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a20ca1d1ff7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.chronus/changes/playground-sample-drawer-2026-0-30-16-22-1.md
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+---
+# Change versionKind to one of: internal, fix, dependencies, feature, deprecation, breaking
+changeKind: feature
+packages:
+  - "@typespec/playground"
+---
+
+Update sample dropdown to a drawer opening a sample gallery
diff --git a/packages/playground-website/e2e/ui.e2e.ts b/packages/playground-website/e2e/ui.e2e.ts
index c5097d542db..fd754ca3971 100644
--- a/packages/playground-website/e2e/ui.e2e.ts
+++ b/packages/playground-website/e2e/ui.e2e.ts
@@ -8,8 +8,15 @@ test.describe("playground UI tests", () => {
 
   test("compiled http sample", async ({ page }) => {
     await page.goto(host);
-    const samplesDropDown = page.locator("_react=SamplesDropdown").locator("select");
-    await samplesDropDown.selectOption({ label: "HTTP service" });
+
+    // Click the Samples button to open the drawer
+    const samplesButton = page.locator('button[aria-label="Browse samples"]');
+    await samplesButton.click();
+
+    // Wait for the drawer to open and click on the HTTP service card
+    const httpServiceCard = page.locator("text=HTTP service").first();
+    await httpServiceCard.click();
+
     const outputContainer = page.locator("_react=FileOutput");
     await expect(outputContainer).toContainText(`title: Widget Service`);
   });
diff --git a/packages/playground-website/samples/build.js b/packages/playground-website/samples/build.js
index 6ba443d8842..82c345d40b3 100644
--- a/packages/playground-website/samples/build.js
+++ b/packages/playground-website/samples/build.js
@@ -10,27 +10,33 @@ await buildSamples_experimental(packageRoot, resolve(__dirname, "dist/samples.ts
   "API versioning": {
     filename: "samples/versioning.tsp",
     preferredEmitter: "@typespec/openapi3",
+    description: "Learn how to version your API using TypeSpec's versioning library.",
   },
   "Discriminated unions": {
     filename: "samples/unions.tsp",
     preferredEmitter: "@typespec/openapi3",
+    description: "Define discriminated unions for polymorphic types with different variants.",
   },
   "HTTP service": {
     filename: "samples/http.tsp",
     preferredEmitter: "@typespec/openapi3",
     compilerOptions: { linterRuleSet: { extends: ["@typespec/http/all"] } },
+    description: "Build an HTTP service with routes, parameters, and responses.",
   },
   "REST framework": {
     filename: "samples/rest.tsp",
     preferredEmitter: "@typespec/openapi3",
     compilerOptions: { linterRuleSet: { extends: ["@typespec/http/all"] } },
+    description: "Use the REST framework for resource-oriented API design patterns.",
   },
   "Protobuf Kiosk": {
     filename: "samples/kiosk.tsp",
     preferredEmitter: "@typespec/protobuf",
+    description: "Generate Protocol Buffer definitions from TypeSpec models.",
   },
   "Json Schema": {
     filename: "samples/json-schema.tsp",
     preferredEmitter: "@typespec/json-schema",
+    description: "Emit JSON Schema from TypeSpec type definitions.",
   },
 });
diff --git a/packages/playground/src/editor-command-bar/editor-command-bar.tsx b/packages/playground/src/editor-command-bar/editor-command-bar.tsx
index 05932be20ba..a9d6e47c8a9 100644
--- a/packages/playground/src/editor-command-bar/editor-command-bar.tsx
+++ b/packages/playground/src/editor-command-bar/editor-command-bar.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { Broom16Filled, Bug16Regular, Save16Regular } from "@fluentui/react-icon
 import type { CompilerOptions } from "@typespec/compiler";
 import { useMemo, type FunctionComponent, type ReactNode } from "react";
 import { EmitterDropdown } from "../react/emitter-dropdown.js";
-import { SamplesDropdown } from "../react/samples-dropdown.js";
+import { SamplesDrawerTrigger } from "../react/samples-drawer/index.js";
 import { CompilerSettingsDialogButton } from "../react/settings/compiler-settings-dialog-button.js";
 import type { BrowserHost, PlaygroundSample } from "../types.js";
 import style from "./editor-command-bar.module.css";
@@ -68,9 +68,8 @@ export const EditorCommandBar: FunctionComponent<EditorCommandBarProps> = ({
         </Tooltip>
         {samples && (
           <>
-            <SamplesDropdown
+            <SamplesDrawerTrigger
               samples={samples}
-              selectedSampleName={selectedSampleName}
               onSelectedSampleNameChange={onSelectedSampleNameChange}
             />
             <div className={style["spacer"]}></div>
diff --git a/packages/playground/src/react/samples-drawer/index.ts b/packages/playground/src/react/samples-drawer/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a33875b17a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/playground/src/react/samples-drawer/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export { SamplesDrawerTrigger, type SamplesDrawerProps } from "./samples-drawer-trigger.js";
diff --git a/packages/playground/src/react/samples-drawer/sample-card.tsx b/packages/playground/src/react/samples-drawer/sample-card.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d20ff972495
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/playground/src/react/samples-drawer/sample-card.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+import { Card, Text } from "@fluentui/react-components";
+import type { FunctionComponent } from "react";
+import type { PlaygroundSample } from "../../types.js";
+import { SampleIcon } from "./sample-icon.js";
+import style from "./samples-drawer.module.css";
+
+export interface SampleCardProps {
+  name: string;
+  sample: PlaygroundSample;
+  onSelect: (name: string) => void;
+}
+
+export const SampleCard: FunctionComponent<SampleCardProps> = ({ name, sample, onSelect }) => {
+  return (
+    <Card
+      className={style["sample-card"]}
+      onClick={() => onSelect(name)}
+      role="button"
+      tabIndex={0}
+      onKeyDown={(e) => {
+        if (e.key === "Enter" || e.key === " ") {
+          e.preventDefault();
+          onSelect(name);
+        }
+      }}
+    >
+      <div className={style["sample-card-content"]}>
+        <SampleIcon name={name} />
+        <div className={style["sample-card-text"]}>
+          <Text as="h3" weight="semibold" className={style["sample-title"]}>
+            {name}
+          </Text>
+          {sample.description && (
+            <Text as="p" className={style["sample-description"]}>
+              {sample.description}
+            </Text>
+          )}
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </Card>
+  );
+};
diff --git a/packages/playground/src/react/samples-drawer/sample-icon.tsx b/packages/playground/src/react/samples-drawer/sample-icon.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..aed30b3cec1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/playground/src/react/samples-drawer/sample-icon.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+import { tokens } from "@fluentui/react-components";
+import { useMemo, type FunctionComponent } from "react";
+import style from "./samples-drawer.module.css";
+
+/** Generate a deterministic hash from a string */
+function hashString(str: string): number {
+  let hash = 0;
+  for (let i = 0; i < str.length; i++) {
+    const char = str.charCodeAt(i);
+    hash = (hash << 5) - hash + char;
+    hash = hash & hash; // Convert to 32bit integer
+  }
+  return Math.abs(hash);
+}
+
+/** Color palette using FluentUI tokens - using Background2 for light bg */
+const iconColors = [
+  { bg: tokens.colorPaletteBlueBackground2, fg: tokens.colorPaletteBlueForeground2 },
+  { bg: tokens.colorPaletteGrapeBackground2, fg: tokens.colorPaletteGrapeForeground2 },
+  { bg: tokens.colorPaletteForestBackground2, fg: tokens.colorPaletteForestForeground2 },
+  { bg: tokens.colorPalettePumpkinBackground2, fg: tokens.colorPalettePumpkinForeground2 },
+  { bg: tokens.colorPaletteMagentaBackground2, fg: tokens.colorPaletteMagentaForeground2 },
+  { bg: tokens.colorPaletteTealBackground2, fg: tokens.colorPaletteTealForeground2 },
+  { bg: tokens.colorPaletteGoldBackground2, fg: tokens.colorPaletteGoldForeground2 },
+  { bg: tokens.colorPalettePlumBackground2, fg: tokens.colorPalettePlumForeground2 },
+  { bg: tokens.colorPaletteLavenderBackground2, fg: tokens.colorPaletteLavenderForeground2 },
+  { bg: tokens.colorPaletteSteelBackground2, fg: tokens.colorPaletteSteelForeground2 },
+];
+
+/** Simple geometric patterns for variety */
+type PatternType = "circle" | "squares" | "triangle" | "hexagon" | "diamond";
+const patterns: PatternType[] = ["circle", "squares", "triangle", "hexagon", "diamond"];
+
+export interface SampleIconProps {
+  name: string;
+}
+
+export const SampleIcon: FunctionComponent<SampleIconProps> = ({ name }) => {
+  const { colors, pattern, initials } = useMemo(() => {
+    const hash = hashString(name);
+    const colorIndex = hash % iconColors.length;
+    const patternIndex = (hash >> 4) % patterns.length;
+    // Get first letter of first two words, or first two letters
+    const words = name.split(/\s+/);
+    const init =
+      words.length >= 2
+        ? (words[0][0] + words[1][0]).toUpperCase()
+        : name.slice(0, 2).toUpperCase();
+    return {
+      colors: iconColors[colorIndex],
+      pattern: patterns[patternIndex],
+      initials: init,
+    };
+  }, [name]);
+
+  const renderPattern = () => {
+    const size = 48;
+    const half = size / 2;
+
+    switch (pattern) {
+      case "circle":
+        return <circle cx={half} cy={half} r={half - 4} fill={colors.fg} opacity={0.15} />;
+      case "squares":
+        return (
+          <>
+            <rect x={4} y={4} width={16} height={16} fill={colors.fg} opacity={0.1} />
+            <rect x={28} y={28} width={16} height={16} fill={colors.fg} opacity={0.15} />
+          </>
+        );
+      case "triangle":
+        return (
+          <polygon
+            points={`${half},8 ${size - 8},${size - 8} 8,${size - 8}`}
+            fill={colors.fg}
+            opacity={0.12}
+          />
+        );
+      case "hexagon":
+        return (
+          <polygon
+            points={`${half},4 ${size - 6},${half / 2 + 4} ${size - 6},${size - half / 2 - 4} ${half},${size - 4} 6,${size - half / 2 - 4} 6,${half / 2 + 4}`}
+            fill={colors.fg}
+            opacity={0.12}
+          />
+        );
+      case "diamond":
+        return (
+          <polygon
+            points={`${half},6 ${size - 6},${half} ${half},${size - 6} 6,${half}`}
+            fill={colors.fg}
+            opacity={0.12}
+          />
+        );
+    }
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <div className={style["sample-icon"]} style={{ backgroundColor: colors.bg }} aria-hidden="true">
+      <svg width="48" height="48" viewBox="0 0 48 48" className={style["sample-icon-pattern"]}>
+        {renderPattern()}
+      </svg>
+      <span className={style["sample-icon-initials"]} style={{ color: colors.fg }}>
+        {initials}
+      </span>
+    </div>
+  );
+};
diff --git a/packages/playground/src/react/samples-drawer/samples-drawer-trigger.tsx b/packages/playground/src/react/samples-drawer/samples-drawer-trigger.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..68db54f0b37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/playground/src/react/samples-drawer/samples-drawer-trigger.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+import {
+  Button,
+  DrawerBody,
+  DrawerHeader,
+  DrawerHeaderTitle,
+  OverlayDrawer,
+  ToolbarButton,
+  Tooltip,
+} from "@fluentui/react-components";
+import { Dismiss24Regular, DocumentBulletList24Regular } from "@fluentui/react-icons";
+import { useCallback, useState, type FunctionComponent } from "react";
+import type { PlaygroundSample } from "../../types.js";
+import { SampleCard } from "./sample-card.js";
+import style from "./samples-drawer.module.css";
+
+export interface SamplesDrawerProps {
+  samples: Record<string, PlaygroundSample>;
+  onSelectedSampleNameChange: (sampleName: string) => void;
+}
+
+export const SamplesDrawerTrigger: FunctionComponent<SamplesDrawerProps> = ({
+  samples,
+  onSelectedSampleNameChange,
+}) => {
+  const [isOpen, setIsOpen] = useState(false);
+
+  const handleSampleSelect = useCallback(
+    (sampleName: string) => {
+      onSelectedSampleNameChange(sampleName);
+      setIsOpen(false);
+    },
+    [onSelectedSampleNameChange],
+  );
+
+  return (
+    <>
+      <Tooltip content="Browse samples" relationship="description" withArrow>
+        <ToolbarButton
+          aria-label="Browse samples"
+          icon={<DocumentBulletList24Regular />}
+          onClick={() => setIsOpen(true)}
+        >
+          Samples
+        </ToolbarButton>
+      </Tooltip>
+
+      <OverlayDrawer
+        open={isOpen}
+        onOpenChange={(_, data) => setIsOpen(data.open)}
+        position="end"
+        size="large"
+      >
+        <DrawerHeader>
+          <DrawerHeaderTitle
+            action={
+              <Button
+                appearance="subtle"
+                aria-label="Close"
+                icon={<Dismiss24Regular />}
+                onClick={() => setIsOpen(false)}
+              />
+            }
+          >
+            Sample Gallery
+          </DrawerHeaderTitle>
+        </DrawerHeader>
+        <DrawerBody>
+          <div className={style["samples-grid"]}>
+            {Object.entries(samples).map(([name, sample]) => (
+              <SampleCard key={name} name={name} sample={sample} onSelect={handleSampleSelect} />
+            ))}
+          </div>
+        </DrawerBody>
+      </OverlayDrawer>
+    </>
+  );
+};
diff --git a/packages/playground/src/react/samples-drawer/samples-drawer.module.css b/packages/playground/src/react/samples-drawer/samples-drawer.module.css
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..bfdf344f597
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/playground/src/react/samples-drawer/samples-drawer.module.css
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+.samples-grid {
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(280px, 1fr));
+  gap: 16px;
+  padding: 8px 0;
+}
+
+.sample-card {
+  cursor: pointer;
+  padding: 16px;
+  transition:
+    box-shadow 0.2s ease,
+    border-color 0.2s ease;
+  min-height: 100px;
+}
+
+.sample-card:hover {
+  box-shadow: var(--shadow8);
+}
+
+.sample-card:focus-visible {
+  outline: 2px solid var(--colorBrandStroke1);
+  outline-offset: 2px;
+}
+
+.sample-card-content {
+  display: flex;
+  gap: 16px;
+  align-items: flex-start;
+}
+
+.sample-card-text {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 4px;
+  flex: 1;
+  min-width: 0;
+}
+
+.sample-icon {
+  width: 48px;
+  height: 48px;
+  border-radius: 8px;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  position: relative;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  user-select: none;
+}
+
+.sample-icon-pattern {
+  position: absolute;
+  top: 0;
+  left: 0;
+}
+
+.sample-icon-initials {
+  position: relative;
+  font-size: 16px;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  z-index: 1;
+}
+
+.sample-title {
+  font-size: var(--fontSizeBase400);
+  margin: 0;
+}
+
+.sample-description {
+  font-size: var(--fontSizeBase200);
+  color: var(--colorNeutralForeground2);
+  margin: 0;
+  line-height: 1.4;
+}
diff --git a/packages/playground/src/react/samples-dropdown.tsx b/packages/playground/src/react/samples-dropdown.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index dade744f3e9..00000000000
--- a/packages/playground/src/react/samples-dropdown.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,41 +0,0 @@
-import { Select } from "@fluentui/react-components";
-import { useCallback, type FunctionComponent } from "react";
-import type { PlaygroundSample } from "../types.js";
-
-export interface SamplesDropdownProps {
-  samples: Record<string, PlaygroundSample>;
-  selectedSampleName: string;
-  onSelectedSampleNameChange: (sampleName: string) => void;
-}
-
-export const SamplesDropdown: FunctionComponent<SamplesDropdownProps> = ({
-  samples,
-  selectedSampleName,
-  onSelectedSampleNameChange,
-}) => {
-  const options = Object.keys(samples).map((sample) => {
-    return <option key={sample}>{sample}</option>;
-  });
-
-  const handleSelected = useCallback(
-    (evt: any) => {
-      if (samples[evt.target.value]) {
-        onSelectedSampleNameChange(evt.target.value);
-      }
-    },
-    [onSelectedSampleNameChange, samples],
-  );
-  return (
-    <Select
-      className="sample-dropdown"
-      onChange={handleSelected}
-      value={selectedSampleName ?? ""}
-      aria-label="Select a sample"
-    >
-      <option value="" disabled>
-        Select sample...
-      </option>
-      {options}
-    </Select>
-  );
-};
diff --git a/packages/playground/src/tooling/index.ts b/packages/playground/src/tooling/index.ts
index 8a1df2f1a8f..56b7a091012 100644
--- a/packages/playground/src/tooling/index.ts
+++ b/packages/playground/src/tooling/index.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ export async function buildSamples_experimental(
       filename: config.filename,
       content,
       preferredEmitter: config.preferredEmitter,
+      description: config.description,
       compilerOptions: config.compilerOptions,
     };
   }
diff --git a/packages/playground/src/types.ts b/packages/playground/src/types.ts
index 7b7dab483a2..f9431be5236 100644
--- a/packages/playground/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/playground/src/types.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,11 @@ export interface PlaygroundSample {
   preferredEmitter?: string;
   content: string;
 
+  /**
+   * A short description of what this sample demonstrates.
+   */
+  description?: string;
+
   /**
    * Compiler options for the sample.
    */