diff --git a/.changeset/fix-story-watching-chokidar-v4.md b/.changeset/fix-story-watching-chokidar-v4.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..62a31708
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/fix-story-watching-chokidar-v4.md
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+---
+"@ladle/react": patch
+---
+
+Fix story file watching for add/remove detection with chokidar v4
+
+Chokidar v4 no longer supports glob patterns directly, so the watcher now uses picomatch to:
+
+- Extract base directories from glob patterns using `picomatch.scan()`
+- Filter files using the user's configured story patterns (respects custom patterns)
+- Properly handle the case where `stats` is undefined during initial directory checks
+
+This fix ensures that adding or removing story files triggers a full reload as expected.
diff --git a/packages/ladle/lib/cli/story-watcher.js b/packages/ladle/lib/cli/story-watcher.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2b9be0b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ladle/lib/cli/story-watcher.js
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import chokidar from "chokidar";
+import picomatch from "picomatch";
+
+/**
+ * Creates a chokidar watcher configured to watch story files.
+ * @param {string | string[]} storyPatterns - Glob pattern(s) for stories
+ * @param {object} options - Optional chokidar options override
+ * @returns {import("chokidar").FSWatcher}
+ */
+export const createStoryWatcher = (storyPatterns, options = {}) => {
+  const patterns = Array.isArray(storyPatterns)
+    ? storyPatterns
+    : [storyPatterns];
+  const baseDirs = [
+    ...new Set(patterns.map((p) => picomatch.scan(p).base || ".")),
+  ];
+  const isMatch = picomatch(patterns);
+
+  return chokidar.watch(baseDirs, {
+    persistent: true,
+    ignoreInitial: true,
+    ignored: (filePath, stats) => {
+      // Don't ignore directories - we need to traverse into them
+      // In chokidar v4, stats can be undefined for initial directory checks
+      if (stats === undefined || stats?.isDirectory()) return false;
+      // Only watch files matching the user's configured story patterns
+      return !isMatch(filePath);
+    },
+    ...options,
+  });
+};
diff --git a/packages/ladle/lib/cli/vite-dev.js b/packages/ladle/lib/cli/vite-dev.js
index 8380bdfa..a8998e97 100644
--- a/packages/ladle/lib/cli/vite-dev.js
+++ b/packages/ladle/lib/cli/vite-dev.js
@@ -7,13 +7,13 @@ import path from "path";
 import getPort from "get-port";
 import { globby } from "globby";
 import boxen from "boxen";
-import chokidar from "chokidar";
 import openBrowser from "./open-browser.js";
 import debug from "./debug.js";
 import getBaseViteConfig from "./vite-base.js";
 import { getMetaJsonObject } from "./vite-plugin/generate/get-meta-json.js";
 import { getEntryData } from "./vite-plugin/parse/get-entry-data.js";
 import { connectToKoa } from "./vite-plugin/connect-to-koa.js";
+import { createStoryWatcher } from "./story-watcher.js";
 
 /**
  * @param config {import("../shared/types").Config}
@@ -167,10 +167,7 @@ const bundler = async (config, configFolder) => {
 
     if (config.noWatch === false) {
       // trigger full reload when new stories are added or removed
-      const watcher = chokidar.watch(config.stories, {
-        persistent: true,
-        ignoreInitial: true,
-      });
+      const watcher = createStoryWatcher(config.stories);
       let checkSum = "";
       const getChecksum = async () => {
         try {
diff --git a/packages/ladle/package.json b/packages/ladle/package.json
index 9cebff89..672c1fd0 100644
--- a/packages/ladle/package.json
+++ b/packages/ladle/package.json
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@
     "lodash.merge": "^4.6.2",
     "msw": "^2.7.0",
     "open": "^10.1.0",
+    "picomatch": "^2.3.1",
     "prism-react-renderer": "^2.4.1",
     "prop-types": "^15.8.1",
     "query-string": "^9.1.1",
@@ -91,6 +92,7 @@
     "@types/express": "^5.0.0",
     "@types/koa": "^2.15.0",
     "@types/lodash.merge": "^4.6.9",
+    "@types/picomatch": "^2.3.1",
     "@types/node": "^22.10.2",
     "@types/ws": "^8.5.13",
     "cross-env": "^7.0.3",
diff --git a/packages/ladle/tests/story-watcher.test.ts b/packages/ladle/tests/story-watcher.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8668ebd6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ladle/tests/story-watcher.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,254 @@
+import { test, expect, beforeEach, afterEach } from "vitest";
+import fs from "fs/promises";
+import path from "path";
+import os from "os";
+import { createStoryWatcher } from "../lib/cli/story-watcher.js";
+
+// Normalise path separators for cross-platform comparison
+const normalisePath = (p: string) => p.replace(/\\/g, "/");
+
+// ============================================
+// Integration tests for createStoryWatcher
+// ============================================
+
+let tempDir: string;
+
+beforeEach(async () => {
+  tempDir = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "ladle-watcher-test-"));
+  // Create a stories subdirectory
+  await fs.mkdir(path.join(tempDir, "stories"), { recursive: true });
+});
+
+afterEach(async () => {
+  try {
+    await fs.rm(tempDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  } catch {
+    // Ignore cleanup errors
+  }
+});
+
+test("createStoryWatcher detects new story file", async () => {
+  const watcher = createStoryWatcher(
+    normalisePath(path.join(tempDir, "stories/**/*.stories.tsx")),
+  );
+  const addedFiles: string[] = [];
+
+  watcher.on("add", (filePath) => {
+    addedFiles.push(filePath);
+  });
+
+  // Wait for watcher to be ready
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => watcher.on("ready", resolve));
+
+  // Create a new story file
+  const storyPath = path.join(tempDir, "stories", "Button.stories.tsx");
+  await fs.writeFile(storyPath, 'export const Button = () => "Hello";');
+
+  // Wait for the watcher to detect the file
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 200));
+
+  await watcher.close();
+
+  expect(addedFiles.length).toBe(1);
+  expect(normalisePath(addedFiles[0])).toBe(normalisePath(storyPath));
+});
+
+test("createStoryWatcher ignores non-story files", async () => {
+  const watcher = createStoryWatcher(
+    normalisePath(path.join(tempDir, "stories/**/*.stories.tsx")),
+  );
+  const addedFiles: string[] = [];
+
+  watcher.on("add", (filePath) => {
+    addedFiles.push(filePath);
+  });
+
+  // Wait for watcher to be ready
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => watcher.on("ready", resolve));
+
+  // Create a non-story file
+  const regularFile = path.join(tempDir, "stories", "utils.ts");
+  await fs.writeFile(regularFile, 'export const foo = "bar";');
+
+  // Wait a bit to ensure the watcher had time to process
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 200));
+
+  await watcher.close();
+
+  expect(addedFiles.length).toBe(0);
+});
+
+test("createStoryWatcher detects story file deletion", async () => {
+  // Create the story file first
+  const storyPath = path.join(tempDir, "stories", "Button.stories.tsx");
+  await fs.writeFile(storyPath, 'export const Button = () => "Hello";');
+
+  const watcher = createStoryWatcher(
+    normalisePath(path.join(tempDir, "stories/**/*.stories.tsx")),
+  );
+  const deletedFiles: string[] = [];
+
+  watcher.on("unlink", (filePath) => {
+    deletedFiles.push(filePath);
+  });
+
+  // Wait for watcher to be ready
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => watcher.on("ready", resolve));
+
+  // Delete the story file
+  await fs.unlink(storyPath);
+
+  // Wait for the watcher to detect the deletion
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 200));
+
+  await watcher.close();
+
+  expect(deletedFiles.length).toBe(1);
+  expect(normalisePath(deletedFiles[0])).toBe(normalisePath(storyPath));
+});
+
+test("createStoryWatcher detects story file changes", async () => {
+  // Create the story file first
+  const storyPath = path.join(tempDir, "stories", "Button.stories.tsx");
+  await fs.writeFile(storyPath, 'export const Button = () => "Hello";');
+
+  const watcher = createStoryWatcher(
+    normalisePath(path.join(tempDir, "stories/**/*.stories.tsx")),
+  );
+  const changedFiles: string[] = [];
+
+  watcher.on("change", (filePath) => {
+    changedFiles.push(filePath);
+  });
+
+  // Wait for watcher to be ready
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => watcher.on("ready", resolve));
+
+  // Modify the story file
+  await fs.writeFile(storyPath, 'export const Button = () => "World";');
+
+  // Wait for the watcher to detect the change
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 200));
+
+  await watcher.close();
+
+  expect(changedFiles.length).toBe(1);
+  expect(normalisePath(changedFiles[0])).toBe(normalisePath(storyPath));
+});
+
+test("createStoryWatcher handles multiple patterns (array)", async () => {
+  // Create additional directory
+  await fs.mkdir(path.join(tempDir, "components"), { recursive: true });
+
+  const watcher = createStoryWatcher([
+    normalisePath(path.join(tempDir, "stories/**/*.stories.tsx")),
+    normalisePath(path.join(tempDir, "components/**/*.stories.tsx")),
+  ]);
+  const addedFiles: string[] = [];
+
+  watcher.on("add", (filePath) => {
+    addedFiles.push(filePath);
+  });
+
+  // Wait for watcher to be ready
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => watcher.on("ready", resolve));
+
+  // Create story files in both directories
+  const storyPath1 = path.join(tempDir, "stories", "Story1.stories.tsx");
+  const storyPath2 = path.join(tempDir, "components", "Story2.stories.tsx");
+  await fs.writeFile(storyPath1, 'export const Story1 = () => "One";');
+  await fs.writeFile(storyPath2, 'export const Story2 = () => "Two";');
+
+  // Wait for the watcher to detect the files
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 300));
+
+  await watcher.close();
+
+  expect(addedFiles.length).toBe(2);
+  expect(addedFiles.map(normalisePath)).toContain(normalisePath(storyPath1));
+  expect(addedFiles.map(normalisePath)).toContain(normalisePath(storyPath2));
+});
+
+test("createStoryWatcher detects stories in nested directories", async () => {
+  // Create nested directory structure
+  await fs.mkdir(path.join(tempDir, "stories", "buttons", "primary"), {
+    recursive: true,
+  });
+
+  const watcher = createStoryWatcher(
+    normalisePath(path.join(tempDir, "stories/**/*.stories.tsx")),
+  );
+  const addedFiles: string[] = [];
+
+  watcher.on("add", (filePath) => {
+    addedFiles.push(filePath);
+  });
+
+  // Wait for watcher to be ready
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => watcher.on("ready", resolve));
+
+  // Create a story file in a nested directory
+  const storyPath = path.join(
+    tempDir,
+    "stories",
+    "buttons",
+    "primary",
+    "PrimaryButton.stories.tsx",
+  );
+  await fs.writeFile(storyPath, 'export const PrimaryButton = () => "Click";');
+
+  // Wait for the watcher to detect the file
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 200));
+
+  await watcher.close();
+
+  expect(addedFiles.length).toBe(1);
+  expect(normalisePath(addedFiles[0])).toBe(normalisePath(storyPath));
+});
+
+test("createStoryWatcher matches all story file extensions", async () => {
+  // Use a proper story glob pattern (like the default config)
+  const watcher = createStoryWatcher(
+    normalisePath(
+      path.join(tempDir, "stories/**/*.stories.{js,jsx,ts,tsx,mdx}"),
+    ),
+  );
+  const addedFiles: string[] = [];
+
+  watcher.on("add", (filePath) => {
+    addedFiles.push(filePath);
+  });
+
+  // Wait for watcher to be ready
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => watcher.on("ready", resolve));
+
+  // Create story files with different extensions
+  const extensions = ["js", "jsx", "ts", "tsx", "mdx"];
+  for (const ext of extensions) {
+    const storyPath = path.join(tempDir, "stories", `Test.stories.${ext}`);
+    await fs.writeFile(storyPath, `// ${ext} story file`);
+  }
+
+  // Create non-story files that should be ignored
+  await fs.writeFile(
+    path.join(tempDir, "stories", "utils.ts"),
+    "// utility file",
+  );
+  await fs.writeFile(
+    path.join(tempDir, "stories", "Button.tsx"),
+    "// component file",
+  );
+
+  // Wait for the watcher to detect the files
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 300));
+
+  await watcher.close();
+
+  // Should detect all 5 story files but not the 2 non-story files
+  expect(addedFiles.length).toBe(5);
+  for (const ext of extensions) {
+    expect(
+      addedFiles.some((f) => f.endsWith(`Test.stories.${ext}`)),
+    ).toBeTruthy();
+  }
+});
diff --git a/pnpm-lock.yaml b/pnpm-lock.yaml
index a2f8bdd1..156cc43d 100644
--- a/pnpm-lock.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-lock.yaml
@@ -458,6 +458,9 @@ importers:
       open:
         specifier: ^10.1.0
         version: 10.1.0
+      picomatch:
+        specifier: ^2.3.1
+        version: 2.3.1
       prism-react-renderer:
         specifier: ^2.4.1
         version: 2.4.1(react@19.0.0)
@@ -531,6 +534,9 @@ importers:
       '@types/node':
         specifier: ^22.10.2
         version: 22.10.2
+      '@types/picomatch':
+        specifier: ^2.3.1
+        version: 2.3.4
       '@types/ws':
         specifier: ^8.5.13
         version: 8.5.13
@@ -2885,6 +2891,9 @@ packages:
   '@types/parse-json@4.0.2':
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-dISoDXWWQwUquiKsyZ4Ng+HX2KsPL7LyHKHQwgGFEA3IaKac4Obd+h2a/a6waisAoepJlBcx9paWqjA8/HVjCw==}
 
+  '@types/picomatch@2.3.4':
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-0so8lU8O5zatZS/2Fi4zrwks+vZv7e0dygrgEZXljODXBig97l4cPQD+9LabXfGJOWwoRkTVz6Q4edZvD12UOA==}
+
   '@types/prismjs@1.26.5':
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-AUZTa7hQ2KY5L7AmtSiqxlhWxb4ina0yd8hNbl4TWuqnv/pFP0nDMb3YrfSBf4hJVGLh2YEIBfKaBW/9UEl6IQ==}
 
@@ -11884,6 +11893,8 @@ snapshots:
 
   '@types/parse-json@4.0.2': {}
 
+  '@types/picomatch@2.3.4': {}
+
   '@types/prismjs@1.26.5': {}
 
   '@types/qs@6.9.17': {}