diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b0f9262..6d902e8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ Full documentation: [`docs/api.md`](docs/api.md)
 | `/playlist` | GET | -- | Current week's playlist |
 | `/playlist/{position}` | GET | -- | Single track by position (1-indexed) |
 | `/shows` | GET | -- | List all shows (paginated) |
-| `/shows/{show_id}` | GET | -- | Specific show with tracks |
+| `/shows/by-episode/{episode_number}` | GET | -- | Look up show by episode number |
+| `/shows/{show_id}` | GET | -- | Specific show by internal ID |
 | `/admin/refresh` | POST | Bearer | Trigger immediate SoundCloud fetch |
 | `/admin/tracks` | POST | Bearer | Add track to current show |
 | `/admin/tracks/{track_id}` | DELETE | Bearer | Remove track from current show |
diff --git a/docs/api.md b/docs/api.md
index 31a83f0..252af22 100644
--- a/docs/api.md
+++ b/docs/api.md
@@ -117,9 +117,39 @@ Lists all shows, ordered by week start date (newest first).
 
 ---
 
+### `GET /shows/by-episode/{episode_number}`
+
+Look up a show by its episode number. This is the recommended endpoint for IRC bot integrations (e.g. `!playlist 530`).
+
+**Path Parameters**
+
+| Parameter | Type | Description |
+|-----------|------|-------------|
+| `episode_number` | integer | The episode number (e.g. 530) |
+
+**Response**
+
+```json
+{
+  "show_id": 10,
+  "episode_number": 530,
+  "week_start": "2026-03-05T02:00:00+00:00",
+  "week_end": "2026-03-12T02:00:00+00:00",
+  "tracks": [...]
+}
+```
+
+**Errors**
+
+| Status | Detail |
+|--------|--------|
+| 404 | `"No show with episode number {n}"` |
+
+---
+
 ### `GET /shows/{show_id}`
 
-Returns a specific show with its full track listing.
+Returns a specific show by internal database ID.
 
 **Path Parameters**
 
diff --git a/src/ntr_fetcher/api.py b/src/ntr_fetcher/api.py
index 2568029..88924fa 100644
--- a/src/ntr_fetcher/api.py
+++ b/src/ntr_fetcher/api.py
@@ -89,6 +89,20 @@ def create_app(
             for s in shows
         ]
 
+    @app.get("/shows/by-episode/{episode_number}")
+    def show_by_episode(episode_number: int):
+        show = db.get_show_by_episode_number(episode_number)
+        if show is None:
+            raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail=f"No show with episode number {episode_number}")
+        tracks = db.get_show_tracks(show.id)
+        return {
+            "show_id": show.id,
+            "episode_number": show.episode_number,
+            "week_start": show.week_start.isoformat(),
+            "week_end": show.week_end.isoformat(),
+            "tracks": tracks,
+        }
+
     @app.get("/shows/{show_id}")
     def show_detail(show_id: int):
         shows = db.list_shows(limit=1000, offset=0)
diff --git a/src/ntr_fetcher/db.py b/src/ntr_fetcher/db.py
index 42c0fcd..703f2fe 100644
--- a/src/ntr_fetcher/db.py
+++ b/src/ntr_fetcher/db.py
@@ -239,6 +239,24 @@ class Database:
             for row in rows
         ]
 
+    def get_show_by_episode_number(self, episode_number: int) -> Show | None:
+        conn = self._connect()
+        row = conn.execute(
+            "SELECT id, week_start, week_end, created_at, episode_number "
+            "FROM shows WHERE episode_number = ? LIMIT 1",
+            (episode_number,),
+        ).fetchone()
+        conn.close()
+        if row is None:
+            return None
+        return Show(
+            id=row["id"],
+            week_start=datetime.fromisoformat(row["week_start"]),
+            week_end=datetime.fromisoformat(row["week_end"]),
+            created_at=datetime.fromisoformat(row["created_at"]),
+            episode_number=row["episode_number"],
+        )
+
     def get_latest_episode_number(self) -> int | None:
         conn = self._connect()
         row = conn.execute(
diff --git a/tests/test_api.py b/tests/test_api.py
index dfedd21..d8609bd 100644
--- a/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_api.py
@@ -122,3 +122,23 @@ def test_admin_remove_track(client, db):
     assert resp.status_code == 200
     tracks = db.get_show_tracks(show.id)
     assert len(tracks) == 1
+
+
+def test_show_by_episode(client, db):
+    week_start = datetime(2026, 3, 12, 2, 0, 0, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+    week_end = datetime(2026, 3, 19, 2, 0, 0, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+    show = db.get_or_create_show(week_start, week_end, episode_number=530)
+    t1 = Track(1, "Song A", "Artist A", "https://soundcloud.com/a/1", None, 180000, "cc-by",
+               datetime(2026, 3, 14, 1, 0, 0, tzinfo=timezone.utc), "{}")
+    db.upsert_track(t1)
+    db.set_show_tracks(show.id, [t1.id])
+    resp = client.get("/shows/by-episode/530")
+    assert resp.status_code == 200
+    data = resp.json()
+    assert data["episode_number"] == 530
+    assert len(data["tracks"]) == 1
+
+
+def test_show_by_episode_not_found(client):
+    resp = client.get("/shows/by-episode/999")
+    assert resp.status_code == 404
diff --git a/tests/test_db.py b/tests/test_db.py
index c94b454..6af48c9 100644
--- a/tests/test_db.py
+++ b/tests/test_db.py
@@ -272,6 +272,20 @@ def test_update_show_episode_number(db):
     assert show2.episode_number == 521
 
 
+def test_get_show_by_episode_number(db):
+    week_start = datetime(2026, 1, 8, 3, 0, 0, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+    week_end = datetime(2026, 1, 15, 3, 0, 0, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+    show = db.get_or_create_show(week_start, week_end, episode_number=521)
+    result = db.get_show_by_episode_number(521)
+    assert result is not None
+    assert result.id == show.id
+    assert result.episode_number == 521
+
+
+def test_get_show_by_episode_number_missing(db):
+    assert db.get_show_by_episode_number(999) is None
+
+
 def test_has_track_in_show(db):
     week_start = datetime(2026, 3, 13, 2, 0, 0, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
     week_end = datetime(2026, 3, 20, 2, 0, 0, tzinfo=timezone.utc)