diff --git a/changelog.d/rust-event-fetch.misc b/changelog.d/rust-event-fetch.misc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bf5346b3b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/rust-event-fetch.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Load events from the database in Rust, for Python callers as well as the Rust readers, when the main database uses the native Postgres driver.
diff --git a/rust/src/storage/events.rs b/rust/src/storage/events.rs
index 41683cadb2..ee8cacb278 100644
--- a/rust/src/storage/events.rs
+++ b/rust/src/storage/events.rs
@@ -28,16 +28,20 @@
 
 use std::{
     collections::{HashMap, HashSet},
-    sync::{Arc, OnceLock},
+    sync::{
+        atomic::{AtomicU64, Ordering},
+        Arc, Mutex, OnceLock,
+    },
     time::{Duration, Instant},
 };
 
-use anyhow::{bail, Context};
+use anyhow::Context;
 use async_trait::async_trait;
 use log::{debug, error, info, warn};
 use pyo3::{Py, PyResult, Python};
 use tokio_postgres::{types::ToSql, Row};
 
+use crate::caches::lock_ignoring_poison;
 use crate::event_auth::get_domain_from_id;
 use crate::events::{
     constants::event_type::{M_ROOM_CREATE, M_ROOM_MEMBER, M_ROOM_REDACTION},
@@ -152,6 +156,39 @@ fn auth_event_ids_of(event: &Event) -> anyhow::Result<Box<[Arc<str>]>> {
     Ok(ids.into_iter().map(Arc::from).collect())
 }
 
+/// Why an event in the database cannot be used. Each kind is a Python
+/// error of the same name, which some callers catch to skip a broken room.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub enum UnusableEvent {
+    /// `InvalidEventError`.
+    Invalid(String),
+    /// `DatabaseCorruptionError`: the event ID computed from the stored
+    /// event doesn't match the stored ID.
+    Corrupt {
+        room_id: String,
+        persisted_event_id: String,
+        computed_event_id: String,
+    },
+}
+
+impl std::fmt::Display for UnusableEvent {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        match self {
+            UnusableEvent::Invalid(message) => f.write_str(message),
+            UnusableEvent::Corrupt {
+                room_id,
+                persisted_event_id,
+                computed_event_id,
+            } => write!(
+                f,
+                "Database corruption: event {persisted_event_id} in room {room_id} has event ID {computed_event_id}"
+            ),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl std::error::Error for UnusableEvent {}
+
 /// What to do with a redacted event. `EventRedactBehaviour`.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub enum RedactBehaviour {
@@ -187,6 +224,23 @@ pub struct EventLoadStats {
     pub parse_time: Duration,
 }
 
+impl EventLoadStats {
+    fn add(&mut self, other: &EventLoadStats) {
+        self.fetched += other.fetched;
+        self.cached += other.cached;
+        self.parse_time += other.parse_time;
+    }
+}
+
+/// `ids` without repeats, in order.
+fn dedup(ids: &[Arc<str>]) -> Vec<Arc<str>> {
+    let mut seen = HashSet::with_capacity(ids.len());
+    ids.iter()
+        .filter(|id| seen.insert(Arc::clone(id)))
+        .cloned()
+        .collect()
+}
+
 /// Loads events through `querier`, consulting `cache` first and filling it
 /// with what it loads.
 pub struct EventLoader<'a> {
@@ -239,38 +293,69 @@ impl<'a> EventLoader<'a> {
     /// database. Events that are not found are left out. The result can
     /// hold events that were not asked for: the redaction events read to
     /// check an unconfirmed redaction.
+    ///
+    /// With a cache, an event another caller is loading is waited for
+    /// rather than read again, and the rest are read in one go. Those that
+    /// were asked for are cached, unless invalidated while being read. The
+    /// extra redaction events are not, as nothing guards them against an
+    /// invalidation during the read.
     pub async fn load(
         &self,
         ids: &[Arc<str>],
         stats: &mut EventLoadStats,
     ) -> anyhow::Result<HashMap<Arc<str>, CachedEvent>> {
-        let mut events = HashMap::with_capacity(ids.len());
-        let mut missing: Vec<Arc<str>> = Vec::new();
-        for id in ids {
-            if events.contains_key(id) || missing.contains(id) {
-                continue;
-            }
-            match self.cache.and_then(|cache| cache.get_or_count_miss(id)) {
-                Some(event) => {
-                    events.insert(Arc::clone(id), event);
-                }
-                None => missing.push(Arc::clone(id)),
-            }
-        }
-        stats.cached += events.len() as u64;
-
-        if !missing.is_empty() {
-            let fetched = self.fetch_from_db(missing, stats).await?;
+        let Some(cache) = self.cache else {
+            let fetched = self.fetch_from_db(dedup(ids), stats).await?;
             stats.fetched += fetched.len() as u64;
-            for (event_id, event) in fetched {
-                if let Some(cache) = self.cache {
-                    drop(cache.insert(Arc::clone(&event_id), event.clone()));
+            return Ok(fetched);
+        };
+
+        // `get_or_load_many` takes a closure it may call more than once, so
+        // the closure cannot hold `stats` itself.
+        let load_stats = Mutex::new(EventLoadStats::default());
+        let loaded_requested = AtomicU64::new(0);
+        let events = cache
+            .get_or_load_many(ids, |missing| {
+                let load_stats = &load_stats;
+                let loaded_requested = &loaded_requested;
+                async move {
+                    let mut batch_stats = EventLoadStats::default();
+                    let fetched = self
+                        .fetch_from_db(missing.clone(), &mut batch_stats)
+                        .await?;
+                    let requested = missing.iter().filter(|id| fetched.contains_key(*id));
+                    loaded_requested.fetch_add(requested.count() as u64, Ordering::Relaxed);
+                    batch_stats.fetched += fetched.len() as u64;
+                    lock_ignoring_poison(load_stats).add(&batch_stats);
+                    Ok(fetched)
                 }
-                events.insert(event_id, event);
+            })
+            .await
+            .map_err(anyhow::Error::new)?;
+
+        let load_stats = lock_ignoring_poison(&load_stats);
+        stats.add(&load_stats);
+        let requested_found = ids.iter().filter(|id| events.contains_key(*id)).count() as u64;
+        stats.cached += requested_found.saturating_sub(loaded_requested.into_inner());
+        Ok(events)
+    }
+
+    /// [`EventLoader::load`] reading every event from the database, as
+    /// `_get_events_from_db`: for callers that must not trust the cache.
+    /// What it reads replaces what was cached.
+    pub async fn reload(
+        &self,
+        ids: &[Arc<str>],
+        stats: &mut EventLoadStats,
+    ) -> anyhow::Result<HashMap<Arc<str>, CachedEvent>> {
+        if let Some(cache) = self.cache {
+            // Invalidating also stops loads already in flight from caching
+            // what they read before ours.
+            for id in ids {
+                drop(cache.invalidate(id));
             }
         }
-
-        Ok(events)
+        self.load(ids, stats).await
     }
 
     /// `get_events_as_list`: the events in the order of `ids`, each as
@@ -777,17 +862,22 @@ fn event_from_row(row: &Row) -> anyhow::Result<Option<(Arc<str>, Event)>> {
     };
 
     if room_version_id.is_none() && event.type_() != M_ROOM_MEMBER {
-        bail!("Room for event {event_id} is unknown");
+        return Err(UnusableEvent::Invalid(format!(
+            "Room {} for event {event_id} is unknown",
+            event.room_id()
+        ))
+        .into());
     }
 
     // If the content was modified in the database, the computed event ID
     // will not match.
     if event.event_id() != event_id {
-        bail!(
-            "Database corruption: event {event_id} in room {} has event ID {}",
-            event.room_id(),
-            event.event_id()
-        );
+        return Err(UnusableEvent::Corrupt {
+            room_id: event.room_id().to_owned(),
+            persisted_event_id: event_id,
+            computed_event_id: event.event_id().to_owned(),
+        }
+        .into());
     }
 
     Ok(Some((Arc::from(event_id), event)))
diff --git a/rust/src/storage/mod.rs b/rust/src/storage/mod.rs
index 7756685db8..13e2a5c0e5 100644
--- a/rust/src/storage/mod.rs
+++ b/rust/src/storage/mod.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ pub mod caches;
 pub mod db;
 pub mod events;
 pub mod federation_store;
+pub mod pool_querier;
 pub mod python;
 pub mod store;
 pub mod sync_store;
diff --git a/rust/src/storage/pool_querier.rs b/rust/src/storage/pool_querier.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..14554c33ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rust/src/storage/pool_querier.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+/*
+ * This file is licensed under the Affero General Public License (AGPL) version 3.
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2026 Element Creations Ltd.
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * See the GNU Affero General Public License for more details:
+ * <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.html>.
+ */
+
+//! A [`Querier`] over the native driver's pool, outside any transaction.
+
+use anyhow::Context;
+use async_trait::async_trait;
+use tokio_postgres::{types::ToSql, Row};
+
+use crate::database::postgres::pool::{ConnectionPool, PooledConnection};
+use crate::storage::events::Querier;
+
+/// Runs each statement on its own, in autocommit, on one connection checked
+/// out of the pool, which goes back when this is dropped.
+///
+/// The connection is checked out up front, before the caller claims any
+/// event loads in the event cache. A load claimed first and then left
+/// waiting for a connection could stall until the checkout times out: the
+/// Rust readers that join it hold pooled connections while they wait, and
+/// enough of them leave none for the load.
+pub struct PoolQuerier {
+    conn: PooledConnection,
+}
+
+impl PoolQuerier {
+    pub async fn checkout(pool: &ConnectionPool) -> anyhow::Result<Self> {
+        let conn = pool
+            .get()
+            .await
+            .map_err(|e| anyhow::anyhow!("checking out a database connection: {e}"))?;
+        Ok(PoolQuerier { conn })
+    }
+}
+
+#[async_trait]
+impl Querier for PoolQuerier {
+    async fn query(&self, sql: &str, params: &[&(dyn ToSql + Sync)]) -> anyhow::Result<Vec<Row>> {
+        let statement = self
+            .conn
+            .prepare_cached(sql, false)
+            .await
+            .with_context(|| format!("preparing {}", sql.trim()))?;
+        self.conn
+            .query(&statement, params)
+            .await
+            .with_context(|| format!("running {}", sql.trim()))
+    }
+}
diff --git a/rust/src/storage/python.rs b/rust/src/storage/python.rs
index 4119504b61..3a7e6f14f3 100644
--- a/rust/src/storage/python.rs
+++ b/rust/src/storage/python.rs
@@ -34,33 +34,86 @@
 //! `register_cache` through [`RustStore::caches`], for metrics and cache
 //! factors.
 //!
+//! When the main database uses the native driver, events are loaded from
+//! the database here too, for Python as for Rust: `EventsWorkerStore` calls
+//! [`RustStore::load_events`] for the events its caches miss. So every event
+//! load goes through the one [`EventLoader`], and loads of the same event
+//! from either side coalesce in the event cache.
+//!
 //! The caches that mirror a Python `@cached` function reach the datastore
 //! through [`RustStore::mirrored_caches`], which attaches each to the
 //! Python cache it names, so that every invalidation of the Python cache
 //! reaches it.
 
-use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::{collections::HashMap, future::Future, sync::Arc};
 
 use pyo3::{
     exceptions::{PyRuntimeError, PyValueError},
-    pyclass, pymethods,
-    types::{PyAnyMethods, PyModule, PyModuleMethods, PyTuple},
-    Bound, Py, PyAny, PyClassInitializer, PyResult, Python,
+    import_exception, intern, pyclass, pymethods,
+    types::{
+        PyAnyMethods, PyDict, PyDictMethods, PyModule, PyModuleMethods, PyTuple, PyWeakrefMethods,
+        PyWeakrefReference,
+    },
+    Bound, IntoPyObject, Py, PyAny, PyClassInitializer, PyErr, PyResult, Python,
 };
 
 use crate::{
-    caches::python::{PyCacheKey, RustCache},
+    caches::{
+        python::{PyCacheKey, RustCache},
+        SharedError,
+    },
+    database::postgres::pool::{ConnectionPool, PyConnectionPool},
     deferred::{create_deferred, succeed},
     events::Event,
     runtime::RustRuntime,
     storage::{
         caches::{new_event_cache, EventCache, StoreCaches},
         db::python_db_pool::PythonDatabasePoolWrapper,
-        events::CachedEvent,
+        events::{CachedEvent, EventLoadStats, EventLoader, UnusableEvent},
+        pool_querier::PoolQuerier,
         store::{IsFeatureEnabledKey, PerUserExperimentalFeature, Store},
     },
 };
 
+import_exception!(
+    synapse.storage.databases.main.events_worker,
+    InvalidEventError
+);
+import_exception!(
+    synapse.storage.databases.main.events_worker,
+    DatabaseCorruptionError
+);
+
+/// The Python error for a failed event load: `InvalidEventError` or
+/// `DatabaseCorruptionError` for an event that cannot be used, as the
+/// Python loader raises, and `RuntimeError` for anything else.
+fn event_load_error_to_py(error: anyhow::Error) -> PyErr {
+    match unusable_event(&error) {
+        Some(UnusableEvent::Invalid(message)) => InvalidEventError::new_err(message.clone()),
+        Some(UnusableEvent::Corrupt {
+            room_id,
+            persisted_event_id,
+            computed_event_id,
+        }) => DatabaseCorruptionError::new_err((
+            room_id.clone(),
+            persisted_event_id.clone(),
+            computed_event_id.clone(),
+        )),
+        None => PyRuntimeError::new_err(format!("loading events failed: {error:#}")),
+    }
+}
+
+/// The [`UnusableEvent`] behind `error`, which may have reached us through
+/// another caller's load in the event cache.
+fn unusable_event(error: &anyhow::Error) -> Option<&UnusableEvent> {
+    if let Some(unusable) = error.downcast_ref::<UnusableEvent>() {
+        return Some(unusable);
+    }
+    error
+        .downcast_ref::<SharedError>()
+        .and_then(|shared| unusable_event(shared.inner()))
+}
+
 /// The Rust [`Store`], as the main datastore holds it.
 #[pyclass(frozen, name = "RustStore")]
 pub struct RustStore {
@@ -72,12 +125,132 @@ pub struct RustStore {
     caches: Vec<Py<RustCache>>,
     /// The caches that mirror a Python cache, with the Python cache's name.
     mirrored_caches: Vec<(&'static str, Py<RustCache>)>,
+    runtime: RustRuntime,
+    /// The datastore's `DatabasePool`, when it uses the native driver. Its
+    /// `_db_pool._pool` is read per call: `close()` and `start()` replace
+    /// the `_pool`, and the replication tests swap a worker's `_db_pool` for
+    /// the main process's. A weak reference, as the `DatabasePool` references
+    /// the homeserver, which owns this: see `PythonDatabasePoolWrapper`.
+    native_db_pool: Option<Py<PyWeakrefReference>>,
 }
 
 impl RustStore {
     pub fn store(&self) -> &Arc<Store> {
         &self.store
     }
+
+    /// The native driver's pool, or an error if the database does not use
+    /// that driver or the pool is closed.
+    fn pool(&self, py: Python<'_>) -> PyResult<ConnectionPool> {
+        let Some(db_pool) = &self.native_db_pool else {
+            return Err(PyRuntimeError::new_err(
+                "loading events in Rust needs the native Postgres driver",
+            ));
+        };
+        let db_pool = db_pool
+            .bind(py)
+            .upgrade()
+            .ok_or_else(|| PyRuntimeError::new_err("the database pool has been dropped"))?;
+        let pool = db_pool
+            .getattr(intern!(py, "_db_pool"))?
+            .getattr(intern!(py, "_pool"))?;
+        if pool.is_none() {
+            return Err(PyRuntimeError::new_err("the database pool is closed"));
+        }
+        Ok(pool.cast::<PyConnectionPool>()?.get().pool.clone())
+    }
+
+    fn start_load<'py>(
+        &self,
+        py: Python<'py>,
+        event_ids: Vec<String>,
+        reload: bool,
+    ) -> PyResult<Bound<'py, PyAny>> {
+        let load = self.load(py, event_ids, reload)?;
+        // Shared with other callers through the cache, so a cancelled caller
+        // must leave the load running for them.
+        create_deferred(py, &self.runtime, load)
+    }
+
+    /// [`RustStore::start_load`], blocking until the load is done, with the
+    /// GIL released.
+    fn load_blocking(
+        &self,
+        py: Python<'_>,
+        event_ids: Vec<String>,
+        reload: bool,
+    ) -> PyResult<LoadedEvents> {
+        let load = self.load(py, event_ids, reload)?;
+        let handle = self.runtime.tokio_handle()?;
+        py.detach(|| handle.block_on(load))
+    }
+
+    /// The future that loads `event_ids`, to run on the tokio runtime.
+    fn load(
+        &self,
+        py: Python<'_>,
+        event_ids: Vec<String>,
+        reload: bool,
+    ) -> PyResult<impl Future<Output = PyResult<LoadedEvents>> + Send + 'static> {
+        let pool = self.pool(py)?;
+        let store = Arc::clone(&self.store);
+        let ids: Vec<Arc<str>> = event_ids.into_iter().map(Arc::from).collect();
+        Ok(async move {
+            let mut stats = EventLoadStats::default();
+            let events = async {
+                let querier = PoolQuerier::checkout(&pool).await?;
+                let loader = EventLoader::new(&querier, Some(&store.caches.events));
+                if reload {
+                    loader.reload(&ids, &mut stats).await
+                } else {
+                    loader.load(&ids, &mut stats).await
+                }
+            }
+            .await;
+            events
+                .map(|events| LoadedEvents {
+                    events,
+                    fetched: stats.fetched,
+                })
+                .map_err(event_load_error_to_py)
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+/// `db_pool`, a `DatabasePool`, if it runs on the native driver.
+fn native_db_pool(db_pool: &Bound<'_, PyAny>) -> PyResult<Option<Py<PyWeakrefReference>>> {
+    let py = db_pool.py();
+    let connection_pool = db_pool.getattr(intern!(py, "_db_pool"))?;
+    let rust_connection_pool_class = py
+        .import("synapse.storage.rust_pool")?
+        .getattr("RustConnectionPool")?;
+    if !connection_pool.is_instance(&rust_connection_pool_class)? {
+        return Ok(None);
+    }
+    Ok(Some(PyWeakrefReference::new(db_pool)?.unbind()))
+}
+
+/// What [`RustStore::load_events`] answers: for each event ID, the event
+/// and its redacted form, as new Python objects sharing the cached data,
+/// and how many events this load read from the database. Events read by
+/// another caller's load that this one joined are not counted.
+struct LoadedEvents {
+    events: HashMap<Arc<str>, CachedEvent>,
+    fetched: u64,
+}
+
+impl<'py> IntoPyObject<'py> for LoadedEvents {
+    type Target = PyTuple;
+    type Output = Bound<'py, PyTuple>;
+    type Error = PyErr;
+
+    fn into_pyobject(self, py: Python<'py>) -> Result<Self::Output, Self::Error> {
+        let dict = PyDict::new(py);
+        for (event_id, event) in self.events {
+            dict.set_item(&*event_id, (event.to_py(py)?, event.redacted_to_py(py)?))?;
+        }
+        (dict, self.fetched).into_pyobject(py)
+    }
 }
 
 #[pymethods]
@@ -92,6 +265,7 @@ impl RustStore {
         db_pool: &Bound<'_, PyAny>,
         event_cache_size: usize,
     ) -> PyResult<Self> {
+        let native_db_pool = native_db_pool(db_pool)?;
         let db_pool = PythonDatabasePoolWrapper::new(db_pool, runtime.clone())?;
         let store = Arc::new(Store::new(
             Box::new(db_pool),
@@ -141,9 +315,67 @@ impl RustStore {
             event_cache,
             caches,
             mirrored_caches,
+            runtime: runtime.clone(),
+            native_db_pool,
         })
     }
 
+    /// Whether [`RustStore::load_events`] can be used: whether the database
+    /// uses the native driver.
+    #[getter]
+    fn loads_events(&self) -> bool {
+        self.native_db_pool.is_some()
+    }
+
+    /// `_get_events_from_db` behind the event cache: a deferred of the events
+    /// by ID, each with its redacted form if it has a valid redaction,
+    /// rejected events included and unknown ones left out, and the number of
+    /// events this call read from the database. Each event comes
+    /// from the cache, from a load already in flight, or from the database,
+    /// and those read from the database are cached.
+    ///
+    /// The result can hold events that were not asked for: the redaction
+    /// events read to check an unconfirmed redaction.
+    fn load_events<'py>(
+        &self,
+        py: Python<'py>,
+        event_ids: Vec<String>,
+    ) -> PyResult<Bound<'py, PyAny>> {
+        self.start_load(py, event_ids, false)
+    }
+
+    /// [`RustStore::load_events`] reading every event from the database,
+    /// for a caller that must not trust the cache. What it reads replaces
+    /// what was cached.
+    fn reload_events<'py>(
+        &self,
+        py: Python<'py>,
+        event_ids: Vec<String>,
+    ) -> PyResult<Bound<'py, PyAny>> {
+        self.start_load(py, event_ids, true)
+    }
+
+    /// As [`RustStore::load_events`], but blocks and returns the result.
+    /// For tests, which run Python's database transactions synchronously
+    /// too: see `_BlockingRustCalls`.
+    fn load_events_blocking(
+        &self,
+        py: Python<'_>,
+        event_ids: Vec<String>,
+    ) -> PyResult<LoadedEvents> {
+        self.load_blocking(py, event_ids, false)
+    }
+
+    /// As [`RustStore::reload_events`], but blocks and returns the result.
+    /// For tests.
+    fn reload_events_blocking(
+        &self,
+        py: Python<'_>,
+        event_ids: Vec<String>,
+    ) -> PyResult<LoadedEvents> {
+        self.load_blocking(py, event_ids, true)
+    }
+
     /// The caches that mirror a Python `@cached` function, each with the
     /// name of the function, for the datastore to attach as a mirror of
     /// that function's cache and to register for metrics.
@@ -384,7 +616,10 @@ impl RustEventCache {
         };
         match &self.store_caches {
             Some(store_caches) => store_caches.invalidate_room(&room_id),
-            None => drop(self.events.invalidate_index(&room_id)),
+            None => {
+                drop(self.events.invalidate_index(&room_id));
+                self.events.abandon_loads();
+            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/events_worker.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/events_worker.py
index bfab52fdcc..519f8f2778 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/events_worker.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/events_worker.py
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ from synapse.storage.util.id_generators import (
     MultiWriterIdGenerator,
 )
 from synapse.storage.util.sequence import build_sequence_generator
-from synapse.synapse_rust.storage import RustEventCache
+from synapse.synapse_rust.storage import RustEventCache, RustStore
 from synapse.types import JsonDict, get_domain_from_id
 from synapse.types.state import StateFilter
 from synapse.types.storage import _BackgroundUpdates
@@ -307,8 +307,15 @@ class EventsWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
         # state resolution read the same events. A datastore without a Rust
         # store, such as the database port script's, gets a cache of its own.
         self._get_event_cache: RustEventCache
+        # With the native Postgres driver, events are loaded from the database
+        # in Rust too, through the same loader as the Rust readers. Loads of
+        # the same event from either side then share one database read.
+        self._rust_event_loader: RustStore | None = None
         if isinstance(self, RustWorkerStore):
-            self._get_event_cache = self.get_or_build_rust_store(hs).event_cache
+            rust_store = self.get_or_build_rust_store(hs)
+            self._get_event_cache = rust_store.event_cache
+            if rust_store.loads_events:
+                self._rust_event_loader = rust_store
         else:
             self._get_event_cache = RustEventCache(
                 hs.get_rust_runtime(), hs.config.caches.event_cache_size
@@ -317,7 +324,8 @@ class EventsWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
 
         # Map from event ID to a deferred that will result in a map from event
         # ID to cache entry. Note that the returned dict may not have the
-        # requested event in it if the event isn't in the DB.
+        # requested event in it if the event isn't in the DB. Unused when
+        # loading in Rust, where the event cache coalesces loads instead.
         self._current_event_fetches: dict[
             str, ObservableDeferred[dict[str, EventCacheEntry]]
         ] = {}
@@ -878,6 +886,15 @@ class EventsWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
 
         missing_events_ids = {e for e in event_ids if e not in event_entry_map}
 
+        if self._rust_event_loader is not None:
+            if missing_events_ids:
+                event_entry_map.update(
+                    await self._load_events_in_rust(
+                        self._rust_event_loader, missing_events_ids, reload=False
+                    )
+                )
+            return self._filter_rejected(event_entry_map, allow_rejected)
+
         # We now look up if we're already fetching some of the events in the DB,
         # if so we wait for those lookups to finish instead of pulling the same
         # events out of the DB multiple times.
@@ -977,14 +994,56 @@ class EventsWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
                     if event_id in already_fetching_ids
                 )
 
-        if not allow_rejected:
-            event_entry_map = {
-                event_id: entry
-                for event_id, entry in event_entry_map.items()
-                if not entry.event.rejected_reason
-            }
+        return self._filter_rejected(event_entry_map, allow_rejected)
 
-        return event_entry_map
+    @staticmethod
+    def _filter_rejected(
+        event_entry_map: dict[str, EventCacheEntry], allow_rejected: bool
+    ) -> dict[str, EventCacheEntry]:
+        if allow_rejected:
+            return event_entry_map
+        return {
+            event_id: entry
+            for event_id, entry in event_entry_map.items()
+            if not entry.event.rejected_reason
+        }
+
+    async def _load_events_in_rust(
+        self, rust_store: RustStore, event_ids: Collection[str], reload: bool
+    ) -> dict[str, EventCacheEntry]:
+        """Load events through the Rust store, which checks the event cache,
+        joins loads already in flight and reads the rest from the database,
+        caching what it reads. With `reload`, every event is read from the
+        database.
+
+        May return rejected events, and events that weren't asked for.
+        """
+        ids = list(event_ids)
+        # Cancelling this leaves the load running in Rust for any other
+        # callers sharing it. It never uses our logcontext, so we don't wait
+        # for it.
+        if reload:
+            loaded, fetched = await rust_store.reload_events(ids)
+        else:
+            loaded, fetched = await rust_store.load_events(ids)
+        current_context().record_event_fetch(fetched)
+
+        result_map: dict[str, EventCacheEntry] = {}
+        for event_id, (event, redacted_event) in loaded.items():
+            if redacted_event is None:
+                # Keep handing out one object per event: a caller that joined
+                # another's load gets a new object, so use the one already
+                # handed out if there is one.
+                live = None if reload else self._event_ref.get(event_id)
+                if live is not None:
+                    event = live
+                else:
+                    # We only cache references to unredacted events.
+                    self._event_ref[event_id] = event
+            result_map[event_id] = EventCacheEntry(
+                event=event, redacted_event=redacted_event
+            )
+        return result_map
 
     def invalidate_get_event_cache_after_txn(
         self, txn: LoggingTransaction, event_id: str
@@ -1363,6 +1422,11 @@ class EventsWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
             str(len(event_ids)),
         )
 
+        if self._rust_event_loader is not None:
+            return await self._load_events_in_rust(
+                self._rust_event_loader, event_ids, reload=True
+            )
+
         fetched_event_ids: set[str] = set()
         fetched_events: dict[str, _EventRow] = {}
 
diff --git a/synapse/synapse_rust/storage.pyi b/synapse/synapse_rust/storage.pyi
index 69d74b8de6..4066918750 100644
--- a/synapse/synapse_rust/storage.pyi
+++ b/synapse/synapse_rust/storage.pyi
@@ -83,6 +83,40 @@ class RustStore:
     @property
     def is_feature_enabled_for_user(self) -> IsFeatureEnabledForUser: ...
     @property
+    def loads_events(self) -> bool:
+        """Whether `load_events` can be used: whether the database uses the
+        native Postgres driver."""
+
+    def load_events(
+        self, event_ids: list[str]
+    ) -> "Deferred[tuple[dict[str, tuple[Event, Event | None]], int]]":
+        """`_get_events_from_db` behind the event cache: the events by ID, each
+        with its redacted form if it has a valid redaction, rejected events
+        included and unknown ones left out. Each comes from the cache, from a
+        load already in flight, or from the database, and what is read from
+        the database is cached. Also the number of events this call read from
+        the database, which leaves out those of a load it joined.
+
+        May return events that weren't asked for: the redaction events read
+        to check an unconfirmed redaction. Cancelling the Deferred leaves the
+        load running for the other callers sharing it."""
+
+    def reload_events(
+        self, event_ids: list[str]
+    ) -> "Deferred[tuple[dict[str, tuple[Event, Event | None]], int]]":
+        """`load_events`, reading every event from the database. What it reads
+        replaces what was cached."""
+
+    def load_events_blocking(
+        self, event_ids: list[str]
+    ) -> tuple[dict[str, tuple[Event, Event | None]], int]:
+        """`load_events`, blocking. For tests."""
+
+    def reload_events_blocking(
+        self, event_ids: list[str]
+    ) -> tuple[dict[str, tuple[Event, Event | None]], int]:
+        """`reload_events`, blocking. For tests."""
+    @property
     def event_cache(self) -> RustEventCache:
         """The event cache, for `EventsWorkerStore` to bind as
         `_get_event_cache`."""
diff --git a/tests/replication/_base.py b/tests/replication/_base.py
index 310049bf89..3bb0c9fa5d 100644
--- a/tests/replication/_base.py
+++ b/tests/replication/_base.py
@@ -83,8 +83,11 @@ class BaseStreamTestCase(unittest.HomeserverTestCase):
         )
 
         # Since we use sqlite in memory databases we need to make sure the
-        # databases objects are the same.
-        self.worker_hs.get_datastores().main.db_pool = hs.get_datastores().main.db_pool
+        # databases objects are the same. The worker's Rust store keeps the
+        # worker's own `DatabasePool`, so point that at the same database too.
+        worker_store = self.worker_hs.get_datastores().main
+        worker_store.db_pool._db_pool = hs.get_datastores().main.db_pool._db_pool
+        worker_store.db_pool = hs.get_datastores().main.db_pool
 
         # Normally we'd pass in the handler to `setup_test_homeserver`, which would
         # eventually hit "Install @cache_in_self attributes" in tests/utils.py.
diff --git a/tests/server.py b/tests/server.py
index 45439187cb..e99c2cc195 100644
--- a/tests/server.py
+++ b/tests/server.py
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ from synapse.synapse_rust.runtime import RustRuntime, set_virtual_time_msec
 from synapse.synapse_rust.state import (
     StateResolutionHandler as RustStateResolutionHandler,
 )
+from synapse.synapse_rust.storage import RustStore
 from synapse.synapse_rust.sync import SyncHandler as RustSyncHandler
 from synapse.types import ISynapseReactor, JsonDict
 from synapse.util.clock import Clock
@@ -1530,10 +1531,21 @@ def setup_test_homeserver(
         sync_handler = hs.get_sync_handler()
         if sync_handler._rust_sync is not None:
             sync_handler._rust_sync = cast(
-                Any, _BlockingRustSyncHandler(sync_handler._rust_sync)
+                Any, _BlockingRustCalls(sync_handler._rust_sync)
             )
         sync_handler._rust_sync_strict = RUST_SYNC_STRICT_FOR_TESTS
 
+    # Likewise for event loads, when they run in Rust: code that loads events
+    # in the background would otherwise not have finished when a test checks.
+    # `GetEventCancellationTestCase` exercises the deferreds.
+    # (Some tests build a homeserver that is never set up.)
+    if hs.datastores is not None:
+        main_store = hs.get_datastores().main
+        if main_store._rust_event_loader is not None:
+            main_store._rust_event_loader = cast(
+                Any, _BlockingRustCalls(main_store._rust_event_loader)
+            )
+
     return hs
 
 
@@ -1584,16 +1596,16 @@ class _BlockingRustStateResolution:
             return fail()
 
 
-class _BlockingRustSyncHandler:
-    """Wraps the Rust `SyncHandler` so that each of its entry points blocks,
-    for the reason `_BlockingRustStateResolution` gives.
+class _BlockingRustCalls:
+    """Wraps the Rust `SyncHandler` or `RustStore` so that each of its entry
+    points blocks, for the reason `_BlockingRustStateResolution` gives.
 
-    Every entry point `name` on the Rust handler that returns a Deferred has a
-    `name_blocking` twin that returns the result directly. This wrapper
-    answers `name` with that twin's result in an already-fired Deferred.
+    Every entry point `name` that returns a Deferred has a `name_blocking`
+    twin that returns the result directly. This wrapper answers `name` with
+    that twin's result in an already-fired Deferred.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, handler: "RustSyncHandler") -> None:
+    def __init__(self, handler: "RustSyncHandler | RustStore") -> None:
         self._handler = handler
 
     def __getattr__(self, name: str) -> Any:
diff --git a/tests/storage/databases/main/test_events_worker.py b/tests/storage/databases/main/test_events_worker.py
index 108b3b8b6c..ea4e9866df 100644
--- a/tests/storage/databases/main/test_events_worker.py
+++ b/tests/storage/databases/main/test_events_worker.py
@@ -32,10 +32,12 @@ from synapse.logging.context import LoggingContext
 from synapse.rest import admin
 from synapse.rest.client import login, room
 from synapse.server import HomeServer
+from synapse.storage.database import make_conn
 from synapse.storage.databases.main.events_worker import (
     EVENT_QUEUE_THREADS,
     EventsWorkerStore,
 )
+from synapse.storage.rust_pool import RustConnectionPool
 from synapse.storage.types import Connection
 from synapse.util.async_helpers import yieldable_gather_results
 from synapse.util.clock import Clock
@@ -497,6 +499,23 @@ class DatabaseOutageTestCase(unittest.HomeserverTestCase):
         """
         connection_pool = self.store.db_pool._db_pool
 
+        if self.store._rust_event_loader is not None:
+            # Events load through the native pool, which doesn't use the
+            # connection factory. Point it at a server that isn't there.
+            assert isinstance(connection_pool, RustConnectionPool)
+            dsn = connection_pool._dsn
+            connection_pool.close()
+            connection_pool._dsn = "host=127.0.0.1 port=1 connect_timeout=1"
+            connection_pool.start()
+            try:
+                yield
+            finally:
+                connection_pool.close()
+                connection_pool._dsn = dsn
+                connection_pool.start()
+                self._populate_events()
+            return
+
         # Close all connections and shut down the database `ThreadPool`.
         connection_pool.close()
 
@@ -524,10 +543,28 @@ class DatabaseOutageTestCase(unittest.HomeserverTestCase):
             failure = self.get_failure(
                 self.store.get_event(self.event_ids[0]), Exception
             )
-            self.assertEqual(str(failure.value), "Could not connect to the database.")
+            if self.store._rust_event_loader is not None:
+                self.assertIn("loading events failed", str(failure.value))
+            else:
+                self.assertEqual(
+                    str(failure.value), "Could not connect to the database."
+                )
 
     def test_recovery(self) -> None:
         """Test that event fetchers recover after a database outage."""
+        if self.store._rust_event_loader is not None:
+            # There are no fetch threads to exhaust: each fetch fails on its
+            # own, and the next one after the outage succeeds.
+            with self._outage():
+                event_deferreds = [
+                    ensureDeferred(self.store.get_event(event_id))
+                    for event_id in self.event_ids
+                ]
+                for event_deferred in event_deferreds:
+                    self.get_failure(event_deferred, Exception)
+            self.get_success(self.store.get_event(self.event_ids[0]))
+            return
+
         with self.assertLogs(
             "synapse.metrics.background_process_metrics", level="ERROR"
         ):
@@ -579,6 +616,11 @@ class GetEventCancellationTestCase(unittest.HomeserverTestCase):
         # Reset the event cache so the tests start with it empty
         self.store._get_event_cache.clear()
 
+        # The test harness makes Rust event loads block. These tests are about
+        # the deferreds, so use the store itself.
+        if self.store._rust_event_loader is not None:
+            self.store._rust_event_loader = hs.get_rust_store()
+
     @contextmanager
     def blocking_get_event_calls(
         self,
@@ -596,6 +638,11 @@ class GetEventCancellationTestCase(unittest.HomeserverTestCase):
              * A cancellable `Deferred` for the first `get_event` call.
              * A cancellable `Deferred` for the second `get_event` call.
         """
+        if self.store._rust_event_loader is not None:
+            with self._blocking_rust_get_event_calls() as calls:
+                yield calls
+            return
+
         # Patch `DatabasePool.runWithConnection` to block.
         unblock: "Deferred[None]" = Deferred()
         original_runWithConnection = self.store.db_pool.runWithConnection
@@ -630,6 +677,58 @@ class GetEventCancellationTestCase(unittest.HomeserverTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(ctx1.get_resource_usage().evt_db_fetch_count, 1)
         self.assertEqual(ctx2.get_resource_usage().evt_db_fetch_count, 0)
 
+    @contextmanager
+    def _blocking_rust_get_event_calls(
+        self,
+    ) -> Generator[
+        tuple["Deferred[None]", "Deferred[None]", "Deferred[None]"], None, None
+    ]:
+        """`blocking_get_event_calls` when events load in Rust, through the
+        native pool rather than `runWithConnection`: another connection holds
+        a lock on `event_json` until `unblock` fires, which blocks the load's
+        query."""
+        lock_conn = make_conn(
+            db_config=self.store.db_pool._database_config,
+            engine=self.store.db_pool.engine,
+            default_txn_name="lock_event_json",
+            server_name=self.hs.hostname,
+        )
+        cur = lock_conn.cursor()
+        cur.execute("LOCK TABLE event_json IN ACCESS EXCLUSIVE MODE")
+
+        unblock: "Deferred[None]" = Deferred()
+        unblock.addCallback(lambda _: lock_conn.rollback())
+
+        ctx1 = LoggingContext(name="get_event1", server_name=self.hs.hostname)
+        ctx2 = LoggingContext(name="get_event2", server_name=self.hs.hostname)
+
+        async def get_event(ctx: LoggingContext) -> None:
+            with ctx:
+                await self.store.get_event(self.event_id)
+
+        try:
+            get_event1 = ensureDeferred(get_event(ctx1))
+            get_event2 = ensureDeferred(get_event(ctx2))
+
+            # Both `get_event` calls ought to be blocked.
+            self.assertNoResult(get_event1)
+            self.assertNoResult(get_event2)
+
+            yield unblock, get_event1, get_event2
+        finally:
+            if not unblock.called:
+                unblock.callback(None)
+            lock_conn.close()
+
+        # Confirm that the two `get_event` calls shared the same database
+        # fetch. Each call's load runs as its own tokio task, so either may be
+        # the one that reads, and a cancelled call records nothing.
+        self.assertLessEqual(
+            ctx1.get_resource_usage().evt_db_fetch_count
+            + ctx2.get_resource_usage().evt_db_fetch_count,
+            1,
+        )
+
     def test_first_get_event_cancelled(self) -> None:
         """Test cancellation of the first `get_event` call sharing a database fetch.
 
@@ -638,6 +737,17 @@ class GetEventCancellationTestCase(unittest.HomeserverTestCase):
         call must not abort before the fetch is complete, otherwise the fetch will be
         using a finished logging context.
         """
+        if self.store._rust_event_loader is not None:
+            # The load runs in Rust, on no logcontext of ours, so the first call
+            # is cancelled at once and the load carries on for the second.
+            with self.blocking_get_event_calls() as (unblock, get_event1, get_event2):
+                get_event1.cancel()
+                self.get_failure(get_event1, CancelledError)
+                self.assertNoResult(get_event2)
+                unblock.callback(None)
+                self.get_success(get_event2)
+            return
+
         with self.blocking_get_event_calls() as (unblock, get_event1, get_event2):
             # Cancel the first `get_event` call.
             get_event1.cancel()
diff --git a/tests/storage/test_sticky_events.py b/tests/storage/test_sticky_events.py
index e81ce129d4..1a11d708ca 100644
--- a/tests/storage/test_sticky_events.py
+++ b/tests/storage/test_sticky_events.py
@@ -1302,11 +1302,13 @@ class StickyEventsFederationBacklogTestCase(unittest.HomeserverTestCase):
         """
         room_id = self.helper.create_room_as(self.user_id, tok=self.token)
 
-        # A sticky event that expires almost immediately.
+        # A sticky event that expires soon. Not at once: making requests can
+        # advance the clock, and the background cleanup must not delete the
+        # event before we've read its stream ID.
         short_lived_event_id = self.helper.send_sticky_event(
             room_id,
             EventTypes.Message,
-            duration=Duration(milliseconds=1),
+            duration=Duration(minutes=10),
             content={"body": "short lived", "msgtype": "m.text"},
             tok=self.token,
         )["event_id"]
@@ -1326,7 +1328,7 @@ class StickyEventsFederationBacklogTestCase(unittest.HomeserverTestCase):
         )
 
         # Advance the reactor and trigger the deletion of expired sticky events
-        self.reactor.advance(0.002)
+        self.reactor.advance(Duration(minutes=10).as_secs() + 1)
         self.get_success(self.store._delete_expired_sticky_events())
 
         self.assertIsNone(