diff --git a/backend/OBSController.py b/backend/OBSController.py
index 73b5d18..2dea994 100644
--- a/backend/OBSController.py
+++ b/backend/OBSController.py
@@ -11,26 +11,73 @@ def __init__(self):
         self.event_obs: obsws = None # All events are connected to this to avoid crash if a request is made in an event
         pass
 
-    def validate_ip(self, host: str):
-        if host in ("localhost", "127.0.0.1"):
+    def validate_dns(self, host: str) -> bool:
+        """
+        Validate hostname/DNS entry.
+
+        Valid hostname: alphanumeric, hyphens, dots, max 253 chars.
+        Each label (between dots) max 63 chars, can't start/end with hyphen.
+
+        Returns True if the hostname is valid, False otherwise.
+        """
+        # Valid hostname: alphanumeric, hyphens, dots, max 253 chars
+        # Each label (between dots) max 63 chars, can't start/end with hyphen
+        if len(host) > 253:
+            return False
+
+        # Allow localhost explicitly
+        if host.lower() == "localhost":
             return True
 
-        # We're explicitly disallowing non-localhost DNS entries here.
-        # Continuing this pattern for now, but this is probably the wrong thing
-        # to do long-term.
+        # Split into labels and validate each
+        labels = host.split('.')
+        if not labels:
+            return False
 
-        try:
-            addr = ipaddress.ip_address(host)
+        # Pattern for valid hostname labels
+        for label in labels:
+            if not label or len(label) > 63:
+                return False
+            # Must start and end with alphanumeric
+            if not (label[0].isalnum() and label[-1].isalnum()):
+                return False
+            # Labels can't be all numeric (would be confused with IP)
+            if label.isdigit():
+                # If all labels are numeric, it looks like an IP address
+                # and should have been caught by ipaddress.ip_address()
+                if all(l.isdigit() for l in labels):
+                    return False
+            # Middle characters can be alphanumeric or hyphen
+            for char in label:
+                if not (char.isalnum() or char == '-'):
+                    return False
+
+        return True
+
+    def validate_ip(self, host: str):
+        """
+        Validate host address (IPv4, IPv6, or hostname).
 
-            # And we're disallowing IPv6 entries here, for compatibility with
-            # previous implementations. Again, probably the wrong thing
-            # long-term, but implementing this way to mitigate risk while we're
-            # in a bad-push state.
-            if not addr.version == ipaddress.IPv4Address.version:
-                raise ValueError()
+        Returns True if the host is valid, False otherwise.
+        """
+        if not host or not host.strip():
+            return False
+
+        host = host.strip()
+
+        # Handle bracket-wrapped IPv6 addresses [::1]
+        if host.startswith('[') and host.endswith(']'):
+            host = host[1:-1]
+
+        # Try to parse as IP address (IPv4 or IPv6)
+        try:
+            ipaddress.ip_address(host)
             return True
         except ValueError:
-            return False
+            pass
+
+        # Try to validate as hostname/DNS entry
+        return self.validate_dns(host)
 
     def on_connect(self, obs):
         self.connected = True
@@ -58,18 +105,32 @@ def connect_to(self, host=None, port=None, timeout=1, legacy=False, **kwargs):
                     self.event_obs.disconnect()
             return False
 
+        # For IPv6 addresses, wrap in brackets if not already wrapped
+        # This is required for WebSocket URL construction (ws://[::1]:port)
+        connection_host = host
+        try:
+            addr = ipaddress.ip_address(host)
+            if isinstance(addr, ipaddress.IPv6Address):
+                # Only wrap if not already wrapped
+                if not (host.startswith('[') and host.endswith(']')):
+                    connection_host = f"[{host}]"
+                    log.debug(f"Wrapped IPv6 address: {host} -> {connection_host}")
+        except ValueError:
+            # Not an IP address, use as-is (hostname)
+            pass
+
         try:
             log.debug(f"Trying to connect to obs with legacy: {legacy}")
-            super().__init__(host=host, port=port, timeout=timeout, legacy=legacy, on_connect=self.on_connect, on_disconnect=self.on_disconnect, authreconnect=5, **kwargs)
-            self.event_obs = obsws(host=host, port=port, timeout=timeout, legacy=legacy, on_connect=self.on_connect, on_disconnect=self.on_disconnect, authreconnect=5, **kwargs)
+            super().__init__(host=connection_host, port=port, timeout=timeout, legacy=legacy, on_connect=self.on_connect, on_disconnect=self.on_disconnect, authreconnect=5, **kwargs)
+            self.event_obs = obsws(host=connection_host, port=port, timeout=timeout, legacy=legacy, on_connect=self.on_connect, on_disconnect=self.on_disconnect, authreconnect=5, **kwargs)
             self.connect()
             log.info("Successfully connected to OBS")
             return True
         except (obswebsocket.exceptions.ConnectionFailure, ValueError) as e:
             try:
                 log.error(f"Failed to connect to OBS with legacy: {legacy}, trying with legacy: {not legacy}")
-                super().__init__(host=host, port=port, timeout=timeout, legacy=not legacy, on_connect=self.on_connect, on_disconnect=self.on_disconnect, authreconnect=5, **kwargs)
-                self.event_obs = obsws(host=host, port=port, timeout=timeout, legacy=not legacy, on_connect=self.on_connect, on_disconnect=self.on_disconnect, authreconnect=5, **kwargs)
+                super().__init__(host=connection_host, port=port, timeout=timeout, legacy=not legacy, on_connect=self.on_connect, on_disconnect=self.on_disconnect, authreconnect=5, **kwargs)
+                self.event_obs = obsws(host=connection_host, port=port, timeout=timeout, legacy=not legacy, on_connect=self.on_connect, on_disconnect=self.on_disconnect, authreconnect=5, **kwargs)
                 self.connect()
                 log.info("Successfully connected to OBS")