diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/__init__.py b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/__init__.py
index 8e43061..6e6b4df 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/__init__.py
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/__init__.py
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
-"""Template system — rendering, variables, validation."""
+"""Template system — rendering, variables, validation, defaults."""
 
+from notify_bridge_core.templates.context import build_template_context
+from notify_bridge_core.templates.renderer import render_template
+from notify_bridge_core.templates.validator import validate_template
 from notify_bridge_core.templates.variables import (
     BASE_VARIABLES,
     TemplateVariableDefinition,
@@ -11,5 +14,8 @@ __all__ = [
     "BASE_VARIABLES",
     "TemplateVariableDefinition",
     "VariableRegistry",
+    "build_template_context",
     "registry",
+    "render_template",
+    "validate_template",
 ]
diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/context.py b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/context.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ef5bbf3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/context.py
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+"""Template context building — transforms ServiceEvent into template variables."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import Any
+
+from notify_bridge_core.models.events import ServiceEvent
+
+
+def build_template_context(
+    event: ServiceEvent,
+    target_type: str = "webhook",
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Build a flat template context dict from a ServiceEvent.
+
+    Merges base variables with provider-specific extras.
+    The context is passed directly to Jinja2 templates.
+
+    Args:
+        event: The service event to render.
+        target_type: "telegram" or "webhook" — for conditional formatting.
+
+    Returns:
+        Dict of template variables.
+    """
+    # Base variables (available to all providers)
+    ctx: dict[str, Any] = {
+        "event_type": event.event_type.value,
+        "timestamp": event.timestamp,
+        "service_name": event.provider_name,
+        "service_type": event.provider_type.value,
+        "collection_name": event.collection_name,
+        "collection_id": event.collection_id,
+        "added_count": event.added_count,
+        "removed_count": event.removed_count,
+        "old_name": event.old_name,
+        "new_name": event.new_name,
+        "target_type": target_type,
+    }
+
+    # Convert MediaAsset list to dicts for template access
+    assets = []
+    for asset in event.added_assets:
+        asset_dict: dict[str, Any] = {
+            "id": asset.id,
+            "type": asset.type.value.upper(),  # "IMAGE" or "VIDEO" for template compat
+            "filename": asset.filename,
+            "created_at": asset.created_at.isoformat() if asset.created_at else "",
+            "owner": asset.owner_name or "",
+            "description": asset.description or "",
+            "tags": asset.tags,
+            "thumbnail_url": asset.thumbnail_url or "",
+            "full_url": asset.full_url or "",
+        }
+        # Flatten extras into asset dict for template access
+        asset_dict.update(asset.extra)
+        assets.append(asset_dict)
+
+    ctx["assets"] = assets
+    ctx["added_assets"] = assets  # alias for backward compat
+
+    # Asset type flags
+    ctx["has_videos"] = any(a.get("type") == "VIDEO" for a in assets)
+    ctx["has_photos"] = any(a.get("type") == "IMAGE" for a in assets)
+
+    # Provider-specific extras merged at top level
+    ctx.update(event.extra)
+
+    # Provider-specific aliases for Immich
+    if event.provider_type.value == "immich":
+        ctx.setdefault("album_name", event.collection_name)
+        ctx.setdefault("album_id", event.collection_id)
+        if event.old_name:
+            ctx.setdefault("old_album_name", event.old_name)
+        if event.new_name:
+            ctx.setdefault("new_album_name", event.new_name)
+
+    return ctx
diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/__init__.py b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2be7eb0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+"""Default template files and loader."""
+
+from .loader import load_default_templates, get_available_locales
+
+__all__ = ["load_default_templates", "get_available_locales"]
diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/assets_added.jinja2 b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/assets_added.jinja2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e80e6e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/assets_added.jinja2
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+📷 {{ added_count }} new photo(s) added to album "{{ album_name }}".
+{%- if people %}
+👤 {{ people | join(", ") }}
+{%- endif %}
+{%- if added_assets %}
+{%- for asset in added_assets %}
+  • {%- if asset.type == "VIDEO" %} 🎬{% else %} 🖼️{% endif %} {{ asset.filename }}
+    {%- if asset.city %} 📍 {{ asset.city }}{% if asset.country %}, {{ asset.country }}{% endif %}{% endif %}
+    {%- if asset.is_favorite %} ❤️{% endif %}
+{%- endfor %}
+{%- endif %}
+{%- if target_type == "telegram" and has_videos %}
+
+⚠️ Videos may not be sent due to Telegram's 50 MB file size limit.
+{%- endif %}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/assets_removed.jinja2 b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/assets_removed.jinja2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dcd9587
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/assets_removed.jinja2
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+🗑️ {{ removed_count }} photo(s) removed from album "{{ album_name }}".
diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/collection_deleted.jinja2 b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/collection_deleted.jinja2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3513d0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/collection_deleted.jinja2
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+🗑️ Album "{{ collection_name }}" was deleted.
diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/collection_renamed.jinja2 b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/collection_renamed.jinja2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b6209fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/collection_renamed.jinja2
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+✏️ Album "{{ old_name }}" renamed to "{{ new_name }}".
diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/memory_mode.jinja2 b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/memory_mode.jinja2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..62d5984
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/memory_mode.jinja2
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+📅 On this day:
+{%- for asset in assets %}
+  • {%- if asset.type == "VIDEO" %} 🎬{% else %} 🖼️{% endif %} {{ asset.filename }} ({{ asset.created_at[:4] }})
+{%- endfor %}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/periodic_summary.jinja2 b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/periodic_summary.jinja2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2752d01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/periodic_summary.jinja2
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+📋 Tracked Albums Summary ({{ albums | length }} albums):
+{%- for album in albums %}
+  • {{ album.name }}: {{ album.asset_count }} assets
+    {%- if album.url %} — {{ album.url }}{% endif %}
+{%- endfor %}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/scheduled_assets.jinja2 b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/scheduled_assets.jinja2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4008258
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/scheduled_assets.jinja2
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+📸 Photos from "{{ album_name }}":
+{%- for asset in assets %}
+  • {%- if asset.type == "VIDEO" %} 🎬{% else %} 🖼️{% endif %} {{ asset.filename }}
+{%- endfor %}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/sharing_changed.jinja2 b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/sharing_changed.jinja2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0200c6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/en/sharing_changed.jinja2
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+🔗 Sharing changed for album "{{ album_name }}".
diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/loader.py b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/loader.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7f9bdbc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/loader.py
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+"""Default template loader — reads .jinja2 files for seeding into DB."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import logging
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any
+
+_LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+_DEFAULTS_DIR = Path(__file__).parent
+
+# Mapping of template slot names to file names
+SLOT_FILE_MAP: dict[str, str] = {
+    "message_assets_added": "assets_added.jinja2",
+    "message_assets_removed": "assets_removed.jinja2",
+    "message_collection_renamed": "collection_renamed.jinja2",
+    "message_collection_deleted": "collection_deleted.jinja2",
+    "message_sharing_changed": "sharing_changed.jinja2",
+    "periodic_summary_message": "periodic_summary.jinja2",
+    "scheduled_assets_message": "scheduled_assets.jinja2",
+    "memory_mode_message": "memory_mode.jinja2",
+}
+
+
+def load_default_templates(locale: str = "en") -> dict[str, str]:
+    """Load default template strings for a locale.
+
+    Args:
+        locale: "en" or "ru"
+
+    Returns:
+        Dict mapping slot name -> template string content.
+    """
+    locale_dir = _DEFAULTS_DIR / locale
+    if not locale_dir.is_dir():
+        _LOGGER.warning("No default templates for locale '%s'", locale)
+        return {}
+
+    templates: dict[str, str] = {}
+    for slot_name, filename in SLOT_FILE_MAP.items():
+        filepath = locale_dir / filename
+        if filepath.exists():
+            templates[slot_name] = filepath.read_text(encoding="utf-8").strip()
+        else:
+            _LOGGER.debug("Missing default template: %s/%s", locale, filename)
+
+    return templates
+
+
+def get_available_locales() -> list[str]:
+    """Return list of available locale codes."""
+    locales = []
+    for path in _DEFAULTS_DIR.iterdir():
+        if path.is_dir() and not path.name.startswith("_"):
+            locales.append(path.name)
+    return sorted(locales)
diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/assets_added.jinja2 b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/assets_added.jinja2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..045140e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/assets_added.jinja2
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+📷 {{ added_count }} новых фото добавлено в альбом "{{ album_name }}".
+{%- if people %}
+👤 {{ people | join(", ") }}
+{%- endif %}
+{%- if added_assets %}
+{%- for asset in added_assets %}
+  • {%- if asset.type == "VIDEO" %} 🎬{% else %} 🖼️{% endif %} {{ asset.filename }}
+    {%- if asset.city %} 📍 {{ asset.city }}{% if asset.country %}, {{ asset.country }}{% endif %}{% endif %}
+    {%- if asset.is_favorite %} ❤️{% endif %}
+{%- endfor %}
+{%- endif %}
+{%- if target_type == "telegram" and has_videos %}
+
+⚠️ Видео может не отправиться из-за ограничения Telegram в 50 МБ.
+{%- endif %}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/assets_removed.jinja2 b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/assets_removed.jinja2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a72c378
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/assets_removed.jinja2
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+🗑️ {{ removed_count }} фото удалено из альбома "{{ album_name }}".
diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/collection_deleted.jinja2 b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/collection_deleted.jinja2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9908f4d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/collection_deleted.jinja2
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+🗑️ Альбом "{{ collection_name }}" был удалён.
diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/collection_renamed.jinja2 b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/collection_renamed.jinja2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..76c07f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/collection_renamed.jinja2
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+✏️ Альбом "{{ old_name }}" переименован в "{{ new_name }}".
diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/memory_mode.jinja2 b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/memory_mode.jinja2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c1ecb71
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/memory_mode.jinja2
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+📅 В этот день:
+{%- for asset in assets %}
+  • {%- if asset.type == "VIDEO" %} 🎬{% else %} 🖼️{% endif %} {{ asset.filename }} ({{ asset.created_at[:4] }})
+{%- endfor %}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/periodic_summary.jinja2 b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/periodic_summary.jinja2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..26a9410
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/periodic_summary.jinja2
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+📋 Сводка альбомов ({{ albums | length }}):
+{%- for album in albums %}
+  • {{ album.name }}: {{ album.asset_count }} файлов
+    {%- if album.url %} — {{ album.url }}{% endif %}
+{%- endfor %}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/scheduled_assets.jinja2 b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/scheduled_assets.jinja2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8665fb5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/scheduled_assets.jinja2
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+📸 Фото из "{{ album_name }}":
+{%- for asset in assets %}
+  • {%- if asset.type == "VIDEO" %} 🎬{% else %} 🖼️{% endif %} {{ asset.filename }}
+{%- endfor %}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/sharing_changed.jinja2 b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/sharing_changed.jinja2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..43d27ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/defaults/ru/sharing_changed.jinja2
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+🔗 Изменён доступ к альбому "{{ album_name }}".
diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/renderer.py b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/renderer.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..72e4860
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/renderer.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+"""Template rendering engine using Jinja2 SandboxedEnvironment."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import logging
+from typing import Any
+
+import jinja2
+from jinja2.sandbox import SandboxedEnvironment
+
+_LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+_env = SandboxedEnvironment(autoescape=False)
+
+
+def render_template(template_str: str, context: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    """Render a Jinja2 template string with the given context.
+
+    Falls back to returning the raw template on error.
+    """
+    try:
+        return _env.from_string(template_str).render(**context)
+    except jinja2.TemplateError as e:
+        _LOGGER.error("Template render error: %s", e)
+        return template_str
diff --git a/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/validator.py b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/validator.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7198fac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/notify_bridge_core/templates/validator.py
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+"""Template validation — check variable references against provider type."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import re
+
+from notify_bridge_core.providers.base import ServiceProviderType
+from notify_bridge_core.templates.variables import registry
+
+
+def validate_template(
+    template_str: str,
+    provider_type: ServiceProviderType,
+) -> list[str]:
+    """Validate a template string against available variables for a provider type.
+
+    Returns a list of warning messages (empty if valid).
+    This is a best-effort check — it looks for {{ var }} references
+    and warns about unknown top-level variables.
+    """
+    warnings: list[str] = []
+    available = registry.get_variable_names(provider_type)
+
+    # Also allow common runtime variables not in the registry
+    runtime_vars = {
+        "target_type", "has_videos", "has_photos",
+        "added_assets", "assets", "albums",
+    }
+    allowed = available | runtime_vars
+
+    # Find all {{ var }} and {{ var.attr }} references
+    pattern = re.compile(r"\{\{-?\s*(\w+)")
+    referenced = set()
+    for match in pattern.finditer(template_str):
+        referenced.add(match.group(1))
+
+    # Also find {% for x in var %} loop variables
+    for_pattern = re.compile(r"\{%-?\s*for\s+\w+\s+in\s+(\w+)")
+    for match in for_pattern.finditer(template_str):
+        referenced.add(match.group(1))
+
+    # Also find {% if var %} conditionals
+    if_pattern = re.compile(r"\{%-?\s*if\s+(\w+)")
+    for match in if_pattern.finditer(template_str):
+        referenced.add(match.group(1))
+
+    # Filter out loop variables (from {% for x in ... %})
+    loop_vars = set()
+    loop_var_pattern = re.compile(r"\{%-?\s*for\s+(\w+)\s+in")
+    for match in loop_var_pattern.finditer(template_str):
+        loop_vars.add(match.group(1))
+
+    # Check for unknown variables
+    for var in referenced - allowed - loop_vars:
+        warnings.append(f"Unknown variable '{var}' for provider type '{provider_type.value}'")
+
+    return warnings