diff --git a/.changeset/fix-manifest-field-options.md b/.changeset/fix-manifest-field-options.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..46a7a7048
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/fix-manifest-field-options.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"emdash": patch
+---
+
+fix(core): pass field.options through to admin manifest for plugin field widgets
diff --git a/packages/core/src/astro/types.ts b/packages/core/src/astro/types.ts
index cecf24a00..bf159efbe 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/astro/types.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/astro/types.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,13 @@ export interface ManifestCollection {
 			label?: string;
 			required?: boolean;
 			widget?: string;
-			options?: Array<{ value: string; label: string }>;
+			/**
+			 * Field options. Two shapes:
+			 *   - Legacy enum: `Array<{ value, label }>` for select / multiSelect widgets
+			 *   - Plugin widgets: `Record<string, unknown>` for arbitrary per-field config
+			 *     (e.g. a checkbox grid receiving its column definitions)
+			 */
+			options?: Array<{ value: string; label: string }> | Record<string, unknown>;
 		}
 	>;
 }
diff --git a/packages/core/src/emdash-runtime.ts b/packages/core/src/emdash-runtime.ts
index c20d6d312..83b1c1b7a 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/emdash-runtime.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/emdash-runtime.ts
@@ -1154,7 +1154,10 @@ export class EmDashRuntime {
 						label?: string;
 						required?: boolean;
 						widget?: string;
-						options?: Array<{ value: string; label: string }>;
+						// Two shapes: legacy enum-style `[{ value, label }]` for select widgets,
+						// or arbitrary `Record<string, unknown>` for plugin field widgets that
+						// need per-field config (e.g. a checkbox grid receiving its column defs).
+						options?: Array<{ value: string; label: string }> | Record<string, unknown>;
 					}
 				> = {};
 
@@ -1166,7 +1169,14 @@ export class EmDashRuntime {
 							required: field.required,
 						};
 						if (field.widget) entry.widget = field.widget;
-						// Include select/multiSelect options from validation
+						// Plugin field widgets read their per-field config from `field.options`,
+						// which the seed schema types as `Record<string, unknown>`. Pass it
+						// through to the manifest so plugin widgets in the admin SPA receive it.
+						if (field.options) {
+							entry.options = field.options;
+						}
+						// Legacy: select/multiSelect enum options live on `field.validation.options`.
+						// Wins over `field.options` to preserve existing behavior for enum widgets.
 						if (field.validation?.options) {
 							entry.options = field.validation.options.map((v) => ({
 								value: v,