diff --git a/.github/scripts/validate_plugins.py b/.github/scripts/validate_plugins.py
index 4f5eb44..47ed67f 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/validate_plugins.py
+++ b/.github/scripts/validate_plugins.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 * `plugins.yaml` is valid YAML and has the expected top-level structure.
 * Every plugin entry has the required fields with the correct types.
 * `name` is unique, uses snake_case (no spaces).
-* `category` is one of the standard categories listed in the README.
+* `category` is a list containing one or more of the standard categories listed in the README.
 * `description` is short (<= 100 characters as recommended by the guidelines).
 * `repository` is a valid public Git URL (http(s) or git@).
 * `version` is either `latest` or looks like a (semver-ish) tag.
@@ -42,11 +42,9 @@
     "repository": str,
     "version": str,
     "author": str,
-    "category": str,
-}
-OPTIONAL_FIELDS: dict[str, type] = {
-    "tags": list,
+    "category": list,
 }
+OPTIONAL_FIELDS: dict[str, type] = {}
 
 ALLOWED_CATEGORIES = {
     "PerceptionStrategy",
@@ -145,11 +143,6 @@ def validate_entry(idx: int, entry: Any, problems: Problems) -> None:
         if field in entry and not isinstance(entry[field], expected):
             problems.error(f"{label}: field `{field}` must be a {expected.__name__}")
 
-    if "tags" in entry and isinstance(entry["tags"], list):
-        for i, tag in enumerate(entry["tags"]):
-            if not isinstance(tag, str) or not tag.strip():
-                problems.error(f"{label}: tags[{i}] must be a non-empty string")
-
     # Name format
     if isinstance(entry.get("name"), str):
         if " " in entry["name"]:
@@ -170,11 +163,17 @@ def validate_entry(idx: int, entry: Any, problems: Problems) -> None:
 
     # Category
     cat = entry.get("category")
-    if isinstance(cat, str) and cat not in ALLOWED_CATEGORIES:
-        problems.error(
-            f"{label}: category `{cat}` is not one of "
-            f"{sorted(ALLOWED_CATEGORIES)}"
-        )
+    if isinstance(cat, list):
+        if not cat:
+            problems.error(f"{label}: `category` must contain at least one entry")
+        for i, item in enumerate(cat):
+            if not isinstance(item, str) or not item.strip():
+                problems.error(f"{label}: category[{i}] must be a non-empty string")
+            elif item not in ALLOWED_CATEGORIES:
+                problems.error(
+                    f"{label}: category[{i}] `{item}` is not one of "
+                    f"{sorted(ALLOWED_CATEGORIES)}"
+                )
 
     # Repository URL
     repo = entry.get("repository")
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0ae38de..ec963f3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -13,12 +13,11 @@ A central registry of community-maintained plugins for [AVLite](https://github.c
 | `repository`  | URL (string)    | yes      | Public Git URL where the plugin source lives (typically a GitHub repository). |
 | `version`     | string          | yes      | Plugin version. Use a semver tag (e.g. `1.2.0`) or `latest` to track the default branch. |
 | `author`      | string          | yes      | Author name, GitHub user, or organization that maintains the plugin. |
-| `category`    | string          | yes      | Primary category. See [Categories](#categories) below. |
-| `tags`        | list of strings | no       | Free-form tags used for search and filtering (e.g. `lidar`, `ros2`, `simulation`). |
+| `category`    | list of strings | yes      | One or more categories that describe the plugin. See [Categories](#categories) below. |
 
 ### Categories
 
-Use one of the following standard categories for `category`. If your plugin doesn't fit, open an issue to propose a new one rather than inventing one ad hoc:
+Use one or more of the following standard categories for `category`. If your plugin doesn't fit, open an issue to propose a new one rather than inventing one ad hoc:
 
 - `PerceptionStrategy` — sensing, detection, tracking, segmentation, fusion
 - `LocalizationStrategy` — pose estimation, SLAM-based localization
@@ -37,10 +36,8 @@ plugins:
     repository: https://github.com/your-org/your-plugin-repo
     version: latest
     author: your-org
-    category: PerceptionStrategy
-    tags:
-      - perception
-      - computer-vision
+    category:
+      - PerceptionStrategy
 ```
 
 The authoritative list of registered plugins lives in [`plugins.yaml`](plugins.yaml). Tools and the AVLite runtime consume that file directly.
diff --git a/plugins.yaml b/plugins.yaml
index 1c8377a..9cd01da 100644
--- a/plugins.yaml
+++ b/plugins.yaml
@@ -8,4 +8,5 @@ plugins:
     repository: https://github.com/AV-Lab/sample-avlite-plugin
     version: latest
     author: AV-Lab
-    category: PerceptionStrategy
+    category:
+      - PerceptionStrategy