diff --git a/db/snapshot-ctl.cc b/db/snapshot-ctl.cc
index 3fc85bf908..f5907f730a 100644
--- a/db/snapshot-ctl.cc
+++ b/db/snapshot-ctl.cc
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <stdexcept>
 #include <seastar/core/coroutine.hh>
+#include <seastar/core/on_internal_error.hh>
 #include <seastar/coroutine/maybe_yield.hh>
 #include <seastar/coroutine/switch_to.hh>
 #include <seastar/coroutine/parallel_for_each.hh>
@@ -26,6 +27,8 @@
 #include "sstables/sstables_manager.hh"
 #include "service/storage_proxy.hh"
 
+using namespace std::chrono_literals;
+
 logging::logger snap_log("snapshots");
 
 namespace db {
@@ -39,6 +42,10 @@ snapshot_ctl::snapshot_ctl(sharded<replica::database>& db, sharded<service::stor
     , _storage_manager(sstm)
 {
     tm.register_module("snapshot", _task_manager_module);
+    // FIXME: scan existing snapshots on disk and schedule expiration for those with ttl.
+    if (this_shard_id() == 0) {
+        _delete_expired_snapshots = delete_expired_snapshots();
+    }
 }
 
 future<> snapshot_ctl::stop() {
@@ -53,6 +60,9 @@ future<> snapshot_ctl::disable_all_operations() {
         }
         co_await _ops.close();
     }
+    // Wake up the expiration task and await for it to finish.
+    _expiration_cond.signal();
+    co_await std::exchange(_delete_expired_snapshots, make_ready_future<>());
 }
 
 future<> snapshot_ctl::check_snapshot_not_exist(sstring ks_name, sstring name, std::optional<std::vector<sstring>> filter) {
@@ -183,10 +193,14 @@ future<> snapshot_ctl::do_take_column_family_snapshot(sstring ks_name, std::vect
         t = resolve_table_name(ks_name, t);
     }
     co_await check_snapshot_not_exist(ks_name, tag, tables);
+    snap_log.debug("take_snapshot: tag={} keyspace={} tables={}: skip_flush={} created_at={} expires_at={}",
+            tag, ks_name, fmt::join(tables, ","),
+            opts.skip_flush, opts.created_at, opts.expires_at.value_or(gc_clock::time_point::min()));
     co_await replica::database::snapshot_tables_on_all_shards(_db, ks_name, std::move(tables), std::move(tag), opts);
 }
 
 future<> snapshot_ctl::clear_snapshot(sstring tag, std::vector<sstring> keyspace_names, sstring cf_name) {
+    snap_log.debug("clear_snapshot: tag={} keyspaces={} table={}", tag, fmt::join(keyspace_names, ","), cf_name);
     co_return co_await run_snapshot_modify_operation([this, tag = std::move(tag), keyspace_names = std::move(keyspace_names), cf_name = std::move(cf_name)] (this auto) -> future<> {
         // clear_snapshot enumerates keyspace_names and uses cf_name as a
         // filter in each. When cf_name needs resolution (e.g. logical index
@@ -299,4 +313,57 @@ future<int64_t> snapshot_ctl::true_snapshots_size(sstring ks, sstring cf) {
     }));
 }
 
+future<> snapshot_ctl::delete_expired_snapshots() {
+    auto delete_expired_snapshot = [this](expiration_info info) {
+        snap_log.info("Deleting expired snapshot {} of table {}.{}", info.tag, info.ks_name, info.table_name);
+        // Awaited indirectly using the `_ops` gate
+        (void)run_snapshot_modify_operation([this, info = std::move(info)]() mutable {
+            return _db.local().clear_snapshot(info.tag, {info.ks_name}, info.table_name).handle_exception([info = std::move(info)](std::exception_ptr ep) {
+                snap_log.warn("Failed to delete expired snapshot {} of table {}.{}: {}: Ignored", info.tag, info.ks_name, info.table_name, ep);
+            });
+        });
+    };
+    auto expiration_timer = timer([this] {
+        snap_log.debug("Expiration timer fired: queued={}", _expiration_queue.size());
+        _expiration_cond.signal();
+    });
+    while (!_ops.is_closed()) {
+        if (!_expiration_queue.empty()) {
+            auto now = gc_clock::now();
+            if (_expiration_queue.front().expires_at <= now) {
+                // FIXME: do not delete expired snapshots during backup
+                auto info = _expiration_queue.front();
+                std::ranges::pop_heap(_expiration_queue, std::greater{}, &expiration_info::expires_at);
+                _expiration_queue.resize(_expiration_queue.size() - 1);
+                delete_expired_snapshot(std::move(info));
+                continue;
+            } else {
+                auto wait_duration = _expiration_queue.front().expires_at - now;
+                snap_log.debug("Expiration waiting for {}: queued={}", wait_duration, _expiration_queue.size());
+                expiration_timer.rearm(timer<>::clock::now() + wait_duration);
+            }
+        } else {
+            snap_log.debug("Expiration waiting indefinitely: queue is empty");
+        }
+        co_await _expiration_cond.wait();
+    }
 }
+
+void snapshot_ctl::schedule_expiration(gc_clock::time_point when, sstring ks_name, sstring table_name, sstring tag) {
+    if (this_shard_id() != 0) {
+        on_internal_error(snap_log, "schedule_expiration must be called on shard 0");
+    }
+    if (!_ops.is_closed()) {
+        snap_log.info("Scheduling expiration of snapshot {} of table {}.{} at {}", tag, ks_name, table_name, when);
+        _expiration_queue.emplace_back(expiration_info{
+            .expires_at = when,
+            .ks_name = std::move(ks_name),
+            .table_name = std::move(table_name),
+            .tag = std::move(tag)
+        });
+        std::ranges::push_heap(_expiration_queue, std::greater{}, &expiration_info::expires_at);
+        _expiration_cond.signal();
+    }
+}
+
+} // namespace db
diff --git a/db/snapshot-ctl.hh b/db/snapshot-ctl.hh
index 1f22a20b8a..b0030bfc06 100644
--- a/db/snapshot-ctl.hh
+++ b/db/snapshot-ctl.hh
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include "tasks/task_manager.hh"
 #include <seastar/core/gate.hh>
 #include <seastar/core/rwlock.hh>
+#include <seastar/core/condition-variable.hh>
 
 using namespace seastar;
 
@@ -122,6 +123,9 @@ public:
     future<int64_t> true_snapshots_size(sstring ks, sstring cf);
 
     future<> disable_all_operations();
+
+    // Must be called on shard 0
+    void schedule_expiration(gc_clock::time_point when, sstring ks_name, sstring table_name, sstring tag);
 private:
     config _config;
     sharded<replica::database>& _db;
@@ -130,6 +134,16 @@ private:
     seastar::named_gate _ops;
     shared_ptr<snapshot::task_manager_module> _task_manager_module;
     sstables::storage_manager& _storage_manager;
+    condition_variable _expiration_cond;
+
+    struct expiration_info {
+        gc_clock::time_point expires_at;
+        sstring ks_name;
+        sstring table_name;
+        sstring tag;
+    };
+    std::vector<expiration_info> _expiration_queue;
+    future<> _delete_expired_snapshots = make_ready_future<>();
 
     future<> check_snapshot_not_exist(sstring ks_name, sstring name, std::optional<std::vector<sstring>> filter = {});
 
@@ -155,6 +169,8 @@ private:
     future<> do_take_snapshot(sstring tag, std::vector<sstring> keyspace_names, snapshot_options opts = {}  );
     future<> do_take_column_family_snapshot(sstring ks_name, std::vector<sstring> tables, sstring tag, snapshot_options opts = {});
     future<> do_take_cluster_column_family_snapshot(std::vector<sstring> ks_names, std::vector<sstring> tables, sstring tag, snapshot_options opts = {});
+
+    future<> delete_expired_snapshots();
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/main.cc b/main.cc
index d56c154f5c..1a1b9c10c3 100644
--- a/main.cc
+++ b/main.cc
@@ -2264,7 +2264,9 @@ To start the scylla server proper, simply invoke as: scylla server (or just scyl
                 .backup_sched_group = dbcfg.backup_scheduling_group,
             };
             snapshot_ctl.start(std::ref(db), std::ref(proxy), std::ref(task_manager), std::ref(sstm), snap_cfg).get();
-            auto stop_snapshot_ctl = defer_verbose_shutdown("snapshots", [&snapshot_ctl] {
+            db.local().plug_snapshot_ctl(snapshot_ctl.local());
+            auto stop_snapshot_ctl = defer_verbose_shutdown("snapshots", [&snapshot_ctl, &db] {
+                db.local().unplug_snapshot_ctl();
                 snapshot_ctl.stop().get();
             });
             auto backup_throughput_update = io_throughput_updater("backup", dbcfg.backup_scheduling_group, cfg->backup_io_throughput_mb_per_sec);
diff --git a/replica/database.cc b/replica/database.cc
index f772f4c58c..0ab367d0c9 100644
--- a/replica/database.cc
+++ b/replica/database.cc
@@ -3610,6 +3610,14 @@ void database::unplug_view_update_generator() noexcept {
     _view_update_generator = nullptr;
 }
 
+void database::plug_snapshot_ctl(db::snapshot_ctl& snapshot_ctl) noexcept {
+    _snapshot_ctl = &snapshot_ctl;
+}
+
+void database::unplug_snapshot_ctl() noexcept {
+    _snapshot_ctl = nullptr;
+}
+
 } // namespace replica
 
 mutation_reader make_multishard_streaming_reader(sharded<replica::database>& db,
diff --git a/replica/database.hh b/replica/database.hh
index c76e88ab19..8093c39312 100644
--- a/replica/database.hh
+++ b/replica/database.hh
@@ -1774,6 +1774,8 @@ private:
 
     utils::disk_space_monitor::subscription _out_of_space_subscription;
 
+    db::snapshot_ctl* _snapshot_ctl = nullptr;
+
 public:
     data_dictionary::database as_data_dictionary() const;
     db::commitlog* commitlog_for(const schema_ptr& schema);
@@ -1800,6 +1802,9 @@ public:
     void plug_view_update_generator(db::view::view_update_generator& generator) noexcept;
     void unplug_view_update_generator() noexcept;
 
+    void plug_snapshot_ctl(db::snapshot_ctl& snapshot_ctl) noexcept;
+    void unplug_snapshot_ctl() noexcept;
+
 private:
     future<> flush_non_system_column_families();
     future<> flush_system_column_families();
@@ -2100,6 +2105,10 @@ public:
     static future<> snapshot_tables_on_all_shards(sharded<database>& sharded_db, std::string_view ks_name, std::vector<sstring> table_names, sstring tag, db::snapshot_options opts);
     static future<> snapshot_keyspace_on_all_shards(sharded<database>& sharded_db, std::string_view ks_name, sstring tag, db::snapshot_options opts);
 
+    db::snapshot_ctl* get_snapshot_ctl_ptr() {
+        return _snapshot_ctl;
+    }
+
 public:
     bool update_column_family(schema_ptr s);
 private:
diff --git a/replica/table.cc b/replica/table.cc
index 3b14f34650..3a8165b79d 100644
--- a/replica/table.cc
+++ b/replica/table.cc
@@ -4355,7 +4355,7 @@ future<> database::snapshot_table_on_all_shards(sharded<database>& sharded_db, c
                 }
             }
         }
-        co_await write_manifest(topology, *writer, std::move(sstable_sets), std::move(tablets), name, std::move(opts), s,
+        co_await write_manifest(topology, *writer, std::move(sstable_sets), std::move(tablets), name, opts, s,
                                 tablet_count, tablet_layout).handle_exception([&] (std::exception_ptr ptr) {
             tlogger.error("Failed to seal snapshot in {}: {}.", name, ptr);
             ex = std::move(ptr);
@@ -4365,6 +4365,15 @@ future<> database::snapshot_table_on_all_shards(sharded<database>& sharded_db, c
         }
 
         co_await writer->sync();
+
+        if (opts.expires_at) {
+            tlogger.info("snapshot {}: scheduled to expire at {}", name, opts.expires_at.value());
+            co_await sharded_db.invoke_on(0, [when = *opts.expires_at, ks_name = s->ks_name(), table_name = s->cf_name(), name] (database& db) {
+                if (auto snap_ctl_ptr = db.get_snapshot_ctl_ptr()) {
+                    snap_ctl_ptr->schedule_expiration(when, ks_name, table_name, name);
+                }
+            });
+        }
     });
 }
 
diff --git a/test/boost/database_test.cc b/test/boost/database_test.cc
index 80724a408b..718747a54d 100644
--- a/test/boost/database_test.cc
+++ b/test/boost/database_test.cc
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include <seastar/core/thread.hh>
 #include <seastar/core/coroutine.hh>
 #include <seastar/core/bitops.hh>
+#include <seastar/core/sleep.hh>
 #include <seastar/util/file.hh>
 
 #undef SEASTAR_TESTING_MAIN
@@ -781,6 +782,14 @@ SEASTAR_THREAD_TEST_CASE(test_auto_snapshot_ttl) {
     std::string table_name = "test";
     size_t num_keys = 100;
     do_with_some_data_in_thread({table_name}, [&] (cql_test_env& e) {
+        sharded<db::snapshot_ctl> sc;
+        sc.start(std::ref(e.db()), std::ref(e.get_storage_proxy()), std::ref(e.get_task_manager()), std::ref(e.get_sstorage_manager()), db::snapshot_ctl::config{}).get();
+        auto stop_sc = deferred_stop(sc);
+        e.local_db().plug_snapshot_ctl(sc.local());
+        auto unplug_sc = deferred_action([&] () noexcept {
+            e.local_db().unplug_snapshot_ctl();
+        });
+
         auto min_time = gc_clock::now();
         take_snapshot(e, ks_name, table_name).get();
 
@@ -814,6 +823,16 @@ SEASTAR_THREAD_TEST_CASE(test_auto_snapshot_ttl) {
 
         const auto& topology = e.local_db().get_token_metadata().get_topology();
         validate_manifest(topology, snapshot_dir, in_snapshot_dir, min_time, tablets_enabled, ttl).get();
+
+        // Wait for snapshot garbage collection after expiry, polling for directory removal
+        auto deadline = std::chrono::steady_clock::now() + std::chrono::seconds((ttl + 10) * 1s);
+        sleep(ttl * 1s).get();
+        while (file_exists(snapshot_dir.native()).get()) {
+            if (std::chrono::steady_clock::now() > deadline) {
+                BOOST_FAIL(fmt::format("Snapshot directory {} still exists after waiting for TTL expiry", snapshot_dir));
+            }
+            sleep(100ms).get();
+        }
     }, create_mvs, db_cfg_ptr, num_keys).get();
 }