diff --git a/autoload/nuwiki/colors.vim b/autoload/nuwiki/colors.vim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fda67e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/autoload/nuwiki/colors.vim
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+" autoload/nuwiki/colors.vim — conceal colour spans down to their text.
+"
+" `:VimwikiColorize NAME` wraps text in `<span style="color:NAME">TEXT</span>`.
+" This hides the two tags (conceal) and paints TEXT in NAME, so the buffer
+" shows just the coloured word — matching how the HTML export renders it.
+"
+" Pure syntax + `:highlight`, no LSP needed, so it works the same in Vim,
+" coc.nvim, and Neovim. New colours appear as the user runs :VimwikiColorize,
+" so the ftplugin re-runs refresh() on text changes; we track which colours
+" already have a syntax group in b:nuwiki_color_seen to stay idempotent.
+
+" Scan the buffer for `<span style="color:…">` and define a concealing,
+" colouring syntax region for each colour not yet seen.
+function! nuwiki#colors#refresh() abort
+  if !exists('b:nuwiki_color_seen')
+    let b:nuwiki_color_seen = {}
+  endif
+  let l:n = line('$')
+  let l:lnum = 1
+  while l:lnum <= l:n
+    let l:line = getline(l:lnum)
+    if stridx(l:line, '<span style="color:') >= 0
+      let l:pos = 0
+      while 1
+        let l:mp = matchstrpos(l:line, '<span style="color:[^"]\{-}">', l:pos)
+        if l:mp[1] < 0
+          break
+        endif
+        let l:pos = l:mp[2]
+        call s:define(matchstr(l:mp[0], 'color:\zs[^"]\{-}\ze">'))
+      endwhile
+    endif
+    let l:lnum += 1
+  endwhile
+endfunction
+
+" Define (once per colour) a region that conceals `<span …>` / `</span>` and
+" paints the wrapped text in that colour.
+function! s:define(color) abort
+  if a:color ==# '' || has_key(b:nuwiki_color_seen, a:color)
+    return
+  endif
+  let b:nuwiki_color_seen[a:color] = 1
+  let l:grp = 'nuwikiColorSpan_' . substitute(a:color, '[^A-Za-z0-9]', '_', 'g')
+  let l:esc = escape(a:color, '/\.*$^~[]')
+  " Clear first so re-runs / load-order never stack duplicate regions.
+  silent! execute 'syntax clear ' . l:grp
+  " `concealends` hides the start/end matches (the tags); the region body
+  " (the text) keeps the l:grp highlight. `oneline` since spans don't wrap.
+  execute 'syntax region ' . l:grp
+        \ . ' matchgroup=Conceal'
+        \ . ' start=/<span style="color:' . l:esc . '">/'
+        \ . ' end=#</span>#'
+        \ . ' oneline keepend concealends'
+  " guifg works for names and #hex under 'termguicolors'. ctermfg only accepts
+  " named colours, so try it for non-hex and swallow E254 for unknown names.
+  execute 'highlight default ' . l:grp . ' guifg=' . a:color
+  if a:color !~# '^#'
+    silent! execute 'highlight ' . l:grp . ' ctermfg=' . a:color
+  endif
+endfunction
diff --git a/autoload/nuwiki/commands.vim b/autoload/nuwiki/commands.vim
index ff0cfaa..b19d535 100644
--- a/autoload/nuwiki/commands.vim
+++ b/autoload/nuwiki/commands.vim
@@ -887,6 +887,7 @@ function! nuwiki#commands#colorize(...) abort
               \ . l:open_tag . strpart(l:line, l:sc - 1, l:ec - l:sc + 1) . l:close_tag
               \ . strpart(l:line, l:ec)
         call setline(l:sp[1], l:new)
+        call nuwiki#colors#refresh()
         return
       endif
     endif
@@ -912,6 +913,7 @@ function! nuwiki#commands#colorize(...) abort
         \ . l:open_tag . l:word . l:close_tag
         \ . strpart(l:line, l:right - 1)
   call setline('.', l:new)
+  call nuwiki#colors#refresh()
 endfunction
 " Cluster C — link helpers.
 
diff --git a/development/_common.sh b/development/_common.sh
index 1da5d49..1e297e7 100644
--- a/development/_common.sh
+++ b/development/_common.sh
@@ -97,7 +97,9 @@ super^script^ and sub,,script,,, and inline math $e^{i\pi} + 1 = 0$.
 
 Put the cursor on a word and run `:VimwikiColorize red` (or press
 `<Leader>wc` and type a colour); or visually select a phrase and press
-`<Leader>wc`. Each wraps the target in `<span style="color:…">…</span>`.
+`<Leader>wc`. Each wraps the target in `<span style="color:…">…</span>` —
+the tags are concealed, so you see just the word painted in that colour
+(move the cursor onto it to reveal the raw markup).
 
 - colorize this important word
 - now select and colour this whole phrase
diff --git a/development/tests/test-keymaps-vim.vim b/development/tests/test-keymaps-vim.vim
index 18ba507..ef9baeb 100644
--- a/development/tests/test-keymaps-vim.vim
+++ b/development/tests/test-keymaps-vim.vim
@@ -515,6 +515,36 @@ call s:record(
       \ 'colorize.ranged_command_no_error',
       \ 'err=' . s:cz_err . ' got ' . string(getline(1)))
 
+" Colour spans are concealed down to their text. Put the span on a non-cursor
+" line so concealcursor (=c) doesn't reveal it, then refresh + inspect.
+call s:set_buf(['plain line', '<span style="color:red">word</span> tail'])
+call cursor(1, 1)
+call nuwiki#colors#refresh()
+let s:cz_l = getline(2)
+let s:cz_open = synconcealed(2, 1)[0]
+let s:cz_word = synconcealed(2, stridx(s:cz_l, 'word') + 1)
+let s:cz_close = synconcealed(2, stridx(s:cz_l, '</span>') + 1)[0]
+call s:record(
+      \ s:cz_open == 1 && s:cz_close == 1 && s:cz_word[0] == 0
+      \   && synIDattr(synID(2, stridx(s:cz_l, 'word') + 1, 1), 'name') ==# 'nuwikiColorSpan_red' ? 1 : 0,
+      \ 'colorize.conceal_hides_tags_shows_text',
+      \ 'open=' . s:cz_open . ' close=' . s:cz_close . ' word=' . s:cz_word[0]
+      \   . ' grp=' . synIDattr(synID(2, stridx(s:cz_l, 'word') + 1, 1), 'name'))
+
+" Running the command conceals the new span immediately (colorize refreshes;
+" no manual step). Move the cursor off the line so concealcursor reveals nothing.
+call s:set_buf(['target word', 'other line'])
+call cursor(1, 1)
+silent VimwikiColorize teal
+call cursor(2, 1)
+let s:cz_l2 = getline(1)
+call s:record(
+      \ synconcealed(1, 1)[0] == 1
+      \   && synIDattr(synID(1, stridx(s:cz_l2, 'target') + 1, 1), 'name') ==# 'nuwikiColorSpan_teal' ? 1 : 0,
+      \ 'colorize.command_conceals_immediately',
+      \ 'concealed=' . synconcealed(1, 1)[0]
+      \   . ' grp=' . synIDattr(synID(1, stridx(s:cz_l2, 'target') + 1, 1), 'name'))
+
 " ===== Follow-link resolves + opens in the current window (regression) =====
 " follow_link_or_create() must resolve the definition itself and `:edit` the
 " target in the CURRENT window — including a page that does not exist yet
diff --git a/development/tests/test-keymaps.lua b/development/tests/test-keymaps.lua
index 0aaca16..153e29c 100644
--- a/development/tests/test-keymaps.lua
+++ b/development/tests/test-keymaps.lua
@@ -773,6 +773,22 @@ vim.defer_fn(function()
       error('ranged command did not wrap selection: ' .. got)
     end
   end)
+  -- Colour spans are concealed down to their coloured text. Put the span on a
+  -- non-cursor line so concealcursor (=c) doesn't reveal it, then refresh.
+  tobj_case('colorize.conceal_hides_tags_shows_text', function()
+    set_buf({ 'plain line', '<span style="color:red">word</span> tail' })
+    vim.api.nvim_win_set_cursor(0, { 1, 0 })
+    vim.fn['nuwiki#colors#refresh']()
+    local l = vim.fn.getline(2)
+    local wcol = (l:find('word')) -- 1-based
+    local open = vim.fn.synconcealed(2, 1)[1]
+    local close = vim.fn.synconcealed(2, (l:find('</span>')))[1]
+    local word = vim.fn.synconcealed(2, wcol)[1]
+    local grp = vim.fn.synIDattr(vim.fn.synID(2, wcol, 1), 'name')
+    if not (open == 1 and close == 1 and word == 0 and grp == 'nuwikiColorSpan_red') then
+      error(string.format('open=%s close=%s word=%s grp=%s', open, close, word, grp))
+    end
+  end)
 
   -- ===== Wiki picker (config-driven, no LSP) =====
   -- The picker must build its list from config so it works from any buffer
diff --git a/development/vimwiki-gap.md b/development/vimwiki-gap.md
index a2e27ec..26b2bb5 100644
--- a/development/vimwiki-gap.md
+++ b/development/vimwiki-gap.md
@@ -140,6 +140,18 @@ fix site.
   `colorize.visual_wraps_selection`, `cmd.Colorize_range_wraps_selection` in
   `test-keymaps.lua` and `colorize.{command_wraps_cword,visual_wraps_selection,
   ranged_command_no_error}` in `test-keymaps-vim.vim`.
+- [x] **Colour spans aren't concealed** — a colorized word shows the literal
+  `<span style="color:…">…</span>` markup instead of just the coloured text.
+  _Fix:_ `autoload/nuwiki/colors.vim` `nuwiki#colors#refresh()` scans the buffer
+  and defines, per colour, a syntax region that conceals the `<span …>`/`</span>`
+  tags (`concealends`) and paints the wrapped text in the span's *actual* colour
+  (`guifg`/`ctermfg`). Wired from the syntax file (initial + on `:colorscheme`
+  reload), an `ftplugin` `TextChanged` autocmd, and directly from `colorize()`
+  for immediate effect. The LSP `@vimwikiColor` token no longer links to
+  `Constant` so it doesn't override the real colour on the concealed text in
+  Neovim. Works in Vim, coc, and Neovim (pure syntax + `:highlight`, no LSP
+  needed). Covered by `colorize.conceal_hides_tags_shows_text` (both harnesses)
+  and `colorize.command_conceals_immediately` (`test-keymaps-vim.vim`).
 - [ ] **`VimwikiTableMoveColumn{Left,Right}` dispatch to different backing names
   per client** — Vim branch → `table_move_left/right`; Neovim branch →
   `table_move_column_left/right`. Harmless today (each name exists in its own
diff --git a/ftplugin/vimwiki.vim b/ftplugin/vimwiki.vim
index ec79ad5..79f152f 100644
--- a/ftplugin/vimwiki.vim
+++ b/ftplugin/vimwiki.vim
@@ -27,6 +27,16 @@ setlocal concealcursor=c
 
 let b:undo_ftplugin = 'setlocal commentstring< comments< formatoptions< suffixesadd< iskeyword< conceallevel< concealcursor<'
 
+" Conceal `:VimwikiColorize` spans down to their coloured text. New colours
+" appear as the user colorizes, so refresh the syntax groups on edits (and now,
+" for any spans already in the buffer). Both clients — it's pure syntax.
+augroup NuwikiColorConceal
+  autocmd! * <buffer>
+  autocmd TextChanged,TextChangedI,InsertLeave <buffer> call nuwiki#colors#refresh()
+augroup END
+call nuwiki#colors#refresh()
+let b:undo_ftplugin .= ' | execute "autocmd! NuwikiColorConceal * <buffer>"'
+
 if !has('nvim')
   " ===== Plain Vim path =====
   "
diff --git a/lua/nuwiki/commands.lua b/lua/nuwiki/commands.lua
index 233a292..14c3eb5 100644
--- a/lua/nuwiki/commands.lua
+++ b/lua/nuwiki/commands.lua
@@ -989,6 +989,7 @@ function M.colorize(color, visual)
         .. close_tag
         .. sline:sub(ec + 2)
       vim.api.nvim_buf_set_lines(0, sl - 1, sl, false, { new_line })
+      vim.fn['nuwiki#colors#refresh']()
       return
     end
     -- Multi-line or no usable selection: fall through to the cword.
@@ -1013,6 +1014,7 @@ function M.colorize(color, visual)
   local after = line:sub(right)
   local new_line = before .. open_tag .. word .. close_tag .. after
   vim.api.nvim_buf_set_lines(0, row - 1, row, false, { new_line })
+  vim.fn['nuwiki#colors#refresh']()
 end
 
 -- Cluster C — link helpers.
diff --git a/syntax/vimwiki.vim b/syntax/vimwiki.vim
index c9af182..1375426 100644
--- a/syntax/vimwiki.vim
+++ b/syntax/vimwiki.vim
@@ -54,9 +54,12 @@ if has('nvim')
 
   " Misc.
   highlight default link @vimwikiKeyword              Todo
-  highlight default link @vimwikiColor                Constant
   highlight default link @vimwikiComment              Comment
   highlight default link @vimwikiDefinitionTerm       Statement
+  " NOTE: no default for @vimwikiColor. Colour spans are coloured client-side
+  " in their *actual* colour by nuwiki#colors#refresh() (conceal + per-colour
+  " highlight); linking the LSP token to a fixed group here would override that
+  " real colour on the concealed text in Neovim.
 endif
 
 " ===== Static fallback (no LSP required) =====
@@ -205,4 +208,10 @@ endfunction
 
 call s:nuwiki_setup_nested()
 
+" Conceal `:VimwikiColorize` spans (`<span style="color:…">…</span>`) down to
+" their coloured text. Reset the per-buffer cache first so a syntax reload
+" (e.g. on :colorscheme) re-establishes the regions cleared by `:syntax clear`.
+let b:nuwiki_color_seen = {}
+call nuwiki#colors#refresh()
+
 let b:current_syntax = 'vimwiki'