diff --git a/contentcuration/contentcuration/frontend/channelEdit/components/sidePanels/SubmitToCommunityLibrarySidePanel/__tests__/SubmitToCommunityLibrarySidePanel.spec.js b/contentcuration/contentcuration/frontend/channelEdit/components/sidePanels/SubmitToCommunityLibrarySidePanel/__tests__/SubmitToCommunityLibrarySidePanel.spec.js
index 738c1086a2..5d3d907f88 100644
--- a/contentcuration/contentcuration/frontend/channelEdit/components/sidePanels/SubmitToCommunityLibrarySidePanel/__tests__/SubmitToCommunityLibrarySidePanel.spec.js
+++ b/contentcuration/contentcuration/frontend/channelEdit/components/sidePanels/SubmitToCommunityLibrarySidePanel/__tests__/SubmitToCommunityLibrarySidePanel.spec.js
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ jest.mock('shared/data/resources', () => ({
   CommunityLibrarySubmission: {
     create: jest.fn(() => Promise.resolve()),
   },
+  Channel: {
+    fetchModel: jest.fn(),
+    getCatalogChannel: jest.fn(() => Promise.resolve()),
+  },
 }));
 
 const store = factory();
@@ -33,6 +37,8 @@ const { nonePrimaryInfo$, flaggedPrimaryInfo$, approvedPrimaryInfo$, submittedPr
 async function makeWrapper({ channel, publishedData, latestSubmission }) {
   const isLoading = ref(true);
   const isFinished = ref(false);
+  const fetchPublishedData = jest.fn(() => Promise.resolve());
+  const fetchLatestSubmission = jest.fn(() => Promise.resolve());
 
   store.state.currentChannel.currentChannelId = channel.id;
   store.commit('channel/ADD_CHANNEL', channel);
@@ -41,12 +47,14 @@ async function makeWrapper({ channel, publishedData, latestSubmission }) {
     isLoading,
     isFinished,
     data: computed(() => publishedData),
+    fetchData: fetchPublishedData,
   });
 
   useLatestCommunityLibrarySubmission.mockReturnValue({
     isLoading,
     isFinished,
     data: computed(() => latestSubmission),
+    fetchData: fetchLatestSubmission,
   });
 
   const wrapper = mount(SubmitToCommunityLibrarySidePanel, {
@@ -265,6 +273,67 @@ describe('SubmitToCommunityLibrarySidePanel', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe('publishing state', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      jest.useFakeTimers();
+    });
+    afterEach(() => {
+      jest.useRealTimers();
+    });
+
+    it('disables form and shows loader when channel is publishing', async () => {
+      const channel = { ...publishedNonPublicChannel, publishing: true };
+      const wrapper = await makeWrapper({ channel, publishedData, latestSubmission: null });
+
+      // Loader/message container should exist
+      expect(wrapper.find('.publishing-loader').exists()).toBe(true);
+
+      const descriptionTextbox = wrapper.findComponent('.description-textbox');
+      expect(descriptionTextbox.exists()).toBe(false);
+      const submitButton = wrapper.find('[data-test="submit-button"]');
+      expect(submitButton.exists()).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    it('enables form after publishing flips to false (poll-driven)', async () => {
+      const { Channel } = require('shared/data/resources');
+      Channel.fetchModel.mockResolvedValue({
+        id: publishedNonPublicChannel.id,
+        publishing: false,
+        version: 3,
+      });
+
+      const channel = { ...publishedNonPublicChannel, publishing: true };
+      const publishedDataWithVersion3 = {
+        ...publishedData,
+        3: {
+          included_languages: ['en', null],
+          included_licenses: [1],
+          included_categories: [Categories.SCHOOL],
+        },
+      };
+      const wrapper = await makeWrapper({
+        channel,
+        publishedData: publishedDataWithVersion3,
+        latestSubmission: null,
+      });
+
+      const updatedChannel = { ...channel, publishing: false, version: 3 };
+      await wrapper.setProps({ channel: updatedChannel });
+      store.commit('channel/ADD_CHANNEL', updatedChannel);
+
+      await wrapper.vm.$nextTick();
+      await wrapper.vm.$nextTick();
+
+      const descriptionTextbox = wrapper.findComponent('.description-textbox');
+      expect(descriptionTextbox.props('disabled')).toBe(false);
+
+      await descriptionTextbox.vm.$emit('input', 'Some description');
+      await wrapper.vm.$nextTick();
+      const submitButton = wrapper.find('[data-test="submit-button"]');
+      expect(submitButton.attributes('disabled')).toBeUndefined();
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('show less button', () => {
     it('is displayed when additional info is shown', async () => {
       const wrapper = await makeWrapper({
diff --git a/contentcuration/contentcuration/frontend/channelEdit/components/sidePanels/SubmitToCommunityLibrarySidePanel/index.vue b/contentcuration/contentcuration/frontend/channelEdit/components/sidePanels/SubmitToCommunityLibrarySidePanel/index.vue
index 067335cae5..7b08ee54e8 100644
--- a/contentcuration/contentcuration/frontend/channelEdit/components/sidePanels/SubmitToCommunityLibrarySidePanel/index.vue
+++ b/contentcuration/contentcuration/frontend/channelEdit/components/sidePanels/SubmitToCommunityLibrarySidePanel/index.vue
@@ -12,117 +12,14 @@
 
       <template #default>
         <div class="content">
-          <KTransition kind="component-fade-out-in">
-            <div
-              v-if="latestSubmissionIsLoading"
-              class="loader-wrapper"
-            >
-              <KCircularLoader disableDefaultTransition />
-            </div>
-            <div
-              v-else-if="latestSubmissionIsFinished"
-              class="info-section"
-            >
-              <div class="info-text">
-                <template v-if="latestSubmissionStatus === null">
-                  <template v-if="showingMoreDetails">
-                    <div>{{ infoText }}</div>
-                    <div>{{ moreDetails$() }}</div>
-                    <KButton
-                      appearance="basic-link"
-                      data-test="less-details-button"
-                      @click="showingMoreDetails = false"
-                    >
-                      {{ lessDetailsButton$() }}
-                    </KButton>
-                  </template>
-                  <template v-else>
-                    <div>
-                      {{ infoText }}
-                    </div>
-                    <KButton
-                      appearance="basic-link"
-                      data-test="more-details-button"
-                      @click="showingMoreDetails = true"
-                    >
-                      {{ moreDetailsButton$() }}
-                    </KButton>
-                  </template>
-                </template>
-                <template v-else>
-                  {{ infoText }}
-                </template>
-              </div>
-              <StatusChip
-                v-if="latestSubmissionStatus"
-                :status="latestSubmissionStatus"
-                class="status-chip"
-              />
-            </div>
-          </KTransition>
-          <Box
-            v-if="!isPublished"
-            kind="warning"
-            data-test="not-published-warning"
-          >
-            <template #title>
-              {{ notPublishedWarningTitle$() }}
-            </template>
-            <template #description>
-              {{ notPublishedWarningDescription$() }}
-            </template>
-          </Box>
-          <Box
-            v-else-if="isPublic"
-            kind="warning"
-            data-test="public-warning"
-          >
-            <template #title>
-              {{ publicWarningTitle$() }}
-            </template>
-            <template #description>
-              {{ publicWarningDescription$() }}
-            </template>
-          </Box>
-          <Box
-            v-else-if="isCurrentVersionAlreadySubmitted"
-            kind="warning"
-            data-test="already-submitted-warning"
+          <div
+            v-if="isPublishing"
+            class="publishing-loader"
           >
-            <template #title>
-              {{ alreadySubmittedWarningTitle$() }}
-            </template>
-            <template #description>
-              {{ alreadySubmittedWarningDescription$() }}
-            </template>
-          </Box>
-          <div class="channel-title">
-            {{
-              channelVersion$({
-                name: currentChannel ? currentChannel.name : '',
-                version: currentChannel ? currentChannel.version : 0,
-              })
-            }}
-          </div>
-          <div class="metadata-line">
-            <LoadingText
-              :loading="publishedDataIsLoading"
-              :finishedLoading="publishedDataIsFinished"
-              :omitted="!detectedLanguages"
-            >
-              {{ detectedLanguages }}
-            </LoadingText>
-          </div>
-          <div class="metadata-line">
-            <LoadingText
-              :loading="publishedDataIsLoading"
-              :finishedLoading="publishedDataIsFinished"
-              :omitted="!detectedCategories"
-            >
-              {{ detectedCategories }}
-            </LoadingText>
+            <KCircularLoader disableDefaultTransition />
+            <div class="publishing-text">{{ publishingMessage$() }}</div>
           </div>
-          <div class="country-area">
+          <template v-else>
             <KTransition kind="component-fade-out-in">
               <div
                 v-if="latestSubmissionIsLoading"
@@ -130,41 +27,156 @@
               >
                 <KCircularLoader disableDefaultTransition />
               </div>
-              <CountryField
+              <div
                 v-else-if="latestSubmissionIsFinished"
-                v-model="countries"
-                class="country-field"
-                :disabled="!canBeEdited"
-                :label="countryLabel$()"
-                fullWidth
-                :hide-details="true"
-              />
+                class="info-section"
+              >
+                <div class="info-text">
+                  <template v-if="latestSubmissionStatus === null">
+                    <template v-if="showingMoreDetails">
+                      <div>{{ infoText }}</div>
+                      <div>{{ moreDetails$() }}</div>
+                      <KButton
+                        appearance="basic-link"
+                        data-test="less-details-button"
+                        @click="showingMoreDetails = false"
+                      >
+                        {{ lessDetailsButton$() }}
+                      </KButton>
+                    </template>
+                    <template v-else>
+                      <div>
+                        {{ infoText }}
+                      </div>
+                      <KButton
+                        appearance="basic-link"
+                        data-test="more-details-button"
+                        @click="showingMoreDetails = true"
+                      >
+                        {{ moreDetailsButton$() }}
+                      </KButton>
+                    </template>
+                  </template>
+                  <template v-else>
+                    {{ infoText }}
+                  </template>
+                </div>
+                <StatusChip
+                  v-if="latestSubmissionStatus"
+                  :status="latestSubmissionStatus"
+                  class="status-chip"
+                />
+              </div>
             </KTransition>
-          </div>
-          <KTextbox
-            v-model="description"
-            :disabled="!canBeEdited"
-            :invalid="description.length < 1"
-            :invalidText="descriptionRequired$()"
-            textArea
-            :label="descriptionLabel$()"
-            :maxlength="250"
-            style="width: 100%"
-            class="description-textbox"
-          />
-          <KCheckbox
-            v-if="needsReplacementConfirmation"
-            :checked="replacementConfirmed"
-            :label="confirmReplacementText$()"
-            data-test="replacement-confirmation-checkbox"
-            class="replacement-checkbox"
-            @change="onReplacementChange"
-          />
+            <Box
+              v-if="!isPublished"
+              kind="warning"
+              data-test="not-published-warning"
+            >
+              <template #title>
+                {{ notPublishedWarningTitle$() }}
+              </template>
+              <template #description>
+                {{ notPublishedWarningDescription$() }}
+              </template>
+            </Box>
+            <Box
+              v-else-if="isPublic"
+              kind="warning"
+              data-test="public-warning"
+            >
+              <template #title>
+                {{ publicWarningTitle$() }}
+              </template>
+              <template #description>
+                {{ publicWarningDescription$() }}
+              </template>
+            </Box>
+            <Box
+              v-else-if="isCurrentVersionAlreadySubmitted"
+              kind="warning"
+              data-test="already-submitted-warning"
+            >
+              <template #title>
+                {{ alreadySubmittedWarningTitle$() }}
+              </template>
+              <template #description>
+                {{ alreadySubmittedWarningDescription$() }}
+              </template>
+            </Box>
+            <div class="channel-title">
+              {{
+                channelVersion$({
+                  name: channel ? channel.name : '',
+                  version: displayedVersion,
+                })
+              }}
+            </div>
+            <div class="metadata-line">
+              <LoadingText
+                :loading="publishedDataIsLoading"
+                :finishedLoading="publishedDataIsFinished"
+                :omitted="!detectedLanguages"
+              >
+                {{ detectedLanguages }}
+              </LoadingText>
+            </div>
+            <div class="metadata-line">
+              <LoadingText
+                :loading="publishedDataIsLoading"
+                :finishedLoading="publishedDataIsFinished"
+                :omitted="!detectedCategories"
+              >
+                {{ detectedCategories }}
+              </LoadingText>
+            </div>
+            <div class="country-area">
+              <KTransition kind="component-fade-out-in">
+                <div
+                  v-if="latestSubmissionIsLoading"
+                  class="loader-wrapper"
+                >
+                  <KCircularLoader disableDefaultTransition />
+                </div>
+                <CountryField
+                  v-else-if="latestSubmissionIsFinished"
+                  v-model="countries"
+                  class="country-field"
+                  :disabled="!canBeEdited"
+                  :label="countryLabel$()"
+                  fullWidth
+                  :hide-details="true"
+                />
+              </KTransition>
+            </div>
+            <KTextbox
+              v-model="description"
+              :disabled="!canBeEdited"
+              :invalid="description.length < 1"
+              :invalidText="descriptionRequired$()"
+              textArea
+              :label="descriptionLabel$()"
+              :maxlength="250"
+              style="width: 100%"
+              class="description-textbox"
+            />
+            <KCheckbox
+              v-if="needsReplacementConfirmation"
+              :checked="replacementConfirmed"
+              :label="confirmReplacementText$()"
+              data-test="replacement-confirmation-checkbox"
+              class="replacement-checkbox"
+              @change="onReplacementChange"
+            />
+          </template>
         </div>
       </template>
 
       <template #bottomNavigation>
-        <div class="footer">
+        <div
+          v-if="!isPublishing"
+          class="footer"
+        >
           <KButton
             data-test="cancel-button"
             @click="$emit('close')"
@@ -189,7 +201,7 @@
 
 <script>
 
-  import { computed, getCurrentInstance, ref, watch } from 'vue';
+  import { computed, getCurrentInstance, onMounted, ref, watch } from 'vue';
   import { themeTokens, themePalette } from 'kolibri-design-system/lib/styles/theme';
 
   import camelCase from 'lodash/camelCase';
@@ -203,7 +215,7 @@
   import { translateMetadataString } from 'shared/utils/metadataStringsTranslation';
   import countriesUtil from 'shared/utils/countries';
   import { communityChannelsStrings } from 'shared/strings/communityChannelsStrings';
-  import { Channel, CommunityLibrarySubmission } from 'shared/data/resources';
+  import { CommunityLibrarySubmission } from 'shared/data/resources';
 
   import SidePanelModal from 'shared/views/SidePanelModal';
   import CountryField from 'shared/views/form/CountryField';
@@ -227,9 +239,6 @@
       const { proxy } = getCurrentInstance();
       const store = proxy.$store;
 
-      // Get currentChannel from store reactively - this will update when store changes
-      const currentChannel = computed(() => store.getters['currentChannel/currentChannel']);
-
       // Destructure translation functions from communityChannelsStrings
       const {
         submitToCommunityLibrary$,
@@ -255,6 +264,7 @@
         submittedSnackbar$,
         errorSnackbar$,
         submittingSnackbar$,
+        publishingMessage$,
         confirmReplacementText$,
       } = communityChannelsStrings;
 
@@ -264,12 +274,15 @@
       const showingMoreDetails = ref(false);
       const countries = ref([]);
       const description = ref('');
+      const isPublishing = computed(() => props.channel?.publishing === true);
+      const currentChannelVersion = computed(() => props.channel?.version);
       const replacementConfirmed = ref(false);
 
       const {
         isLoading: latestSubmissionIsLoading,
         isFinished: latestSubmissionIsFinished,
         data: latestSubmissionData,
+        fetchData: fetchLatestSubmission,
       } = useLatestCommunityLibrarySubmission(props.channel.id);
 
       function countryCodeToName(code) {
@@ -329,14 +342,15 @@
 
       const infoText = computed(() => infoConfig.value?.primaryText);
 
-      const isPublished = computed(() => currentChannel.value?.published);
-      const isPublic = computed(() => currentChannel.value?.public);
+      const isPublished = computed(() => props.channel?.published);
+      const isPublic = computed(() => props.channel?.public);
       const isCurrentVersionAlreadySubmitted = computed(() => {
         if (!latestSubmissionData.value) return false;
-        return latestSubmissionData.value.channel_version === currentChannel.value?.version;
+        return latestSubmissionData.value.channel_version === currentChannelVersion.value;
       });
 
       const canBeEdited = computed(() => {
+        if (isPublishing.value) return false;
         if (isCurrentVersionAlreadySubmitted.value) {
           return false;
         }
@@ -355,6 +369,7 @@
       });
 
       const canBeSubmitted = computed(() => {
+        if (isPublishing.value) return false;
         const baseCondition =
           canBeEdited.value && publishedDataIsFinished.value && description.value.length >= 1;
 
@@ -369,23 +384,38 @@
         isLoading: publishedDataIsLoading,
         isFinished: publishedDataIsFinished,
         data: publishedData,
+        fetchData: fetchPublishedData,
       } = usePublishedData(props.channel.id);
 
-      // Watch for when publishing completes and reload channel from backend
-      watch(
-        () => currentChannel.value?.publishing,
-        async (isPublishing, wasPublishing) => {
-          if (wasPublishing === true && isPublishing === false && props.channel.id) {
-            await Channel.fetchModel(props.channel.id);
-            await store.dispatch('channel/loadChannel', props.channel.id);
-          }
-        },
-      );
+      // Use the latest version available from either channel or publishedData
+      const displayedVersion = computed(() => {
+        const channelVersion = currentChannelVersion.value || 0;
+        if (publishedData.value && Object.keys(publishedData.value).length > 0) {
+          const publishedVersions = Object.keys(publishedData.value).map(v => parseInt(v, 10));
+          const maxPublishedVersion = Math.max(...publishedVersions);
+          return Math.max(channelVersion, maxPublishedVersion);
+        }
+        return channelVersion;
+      });
 
       const latestPublishedData = computed(() => {
-        if (!publishedData.value) return undefined;
+        if (!publishedData.value || !displayedVersion.value) return undefined;
+        return publishedData.value[displayedVersion.value];
+      });
+
+      // Watch for when publishing completes - fetch publishedData to get the new version's data
+      watch(isPublishing, async (newIsPublishing, oldIsPublishing) => {
+        if (oldIsPublishing === true && newIsPublishing === false) {
+          await fetchPublishedData();
+        }
+      });
+
+      onMounted(async () => {
+        await fetchLatestSubmission();
 
-        return publishedData.value[currentChannel.value?.version];
+        if (!isPublishing.value) {
+          await fetchPublishedData();
+        }
       });
 
       const detectedLanguages = computed(() => {
@@ -468,7 +498,6 @@
       }
 
       return {
-        currentChannel,
         annotationColor,
         infoTextColor,
         showingMoreDetails,
@@ -485,6 +514,7 @@
         isPublic,
         isCurrentVersionAlreadySubmitted,
         canBeEdited,
+        displayedVersion,
         canBeSubmitted,
         publishedDataIsLoading,
         publishedDataIsFinished,
@@ -508,6 +538,8 @@
         alreadySubmittedWarningDescription$,
         submitButton$,
         cancelAction$,
+        isPublishing,
+        publishingMessage$,
         confirmReplacementText$,
       };
     },
@@ -598,6 +630,21 @@
     max-width: 100%;
   }
 
+  .publishing-loader {
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    gap: 16px;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: center;
+    width: 100%;
+    padding: 48px 0;
+  }
+
+  .publishing-text {
+    font-size: 14px;
+    color: v-bind('infoTextColor');
+  }
+
   .info-section {
     display: flex;
     flex-direction: column;
diff --git a/contentcuration/contentcuration/frontend/channelEdit/composables/useFetch.js b/contentcuration/contentcuration/frontend/channelEdit/composables/useFetch.js
index eadf93ed35..7fef1922c8 100644
--- a/contentcuration/contentcuration/frontend/channelEdit/composables/useFetch.js
+++ b/contentcuration/contentcuration/frontend/channelEdit/composables/useFetch.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { ref } from 'vue';
 
 export function useFetch({ asyncFetchFunc }) {
-  const isLoading = ref(true);
+  const isLoading = ref(false);
   const isFinished = ref(false);
   const data = ref(null);
   const error = ref(null);
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ export function useFetch({ asyncFetchFunc }) {
       isLoading.value = false;
     }
   }
-  fetchData();
 
-  return { isLoading, isFinished, data, error };
+  return { isLoading, isFinished, data, error, fetchData };
 }
diff --git a/contentcuration/contentcuration/frontend/shared/strings/communityChannelsStrings.js b/contentcuration/contentcuration/frontend/shared/strings/communityChannelsStrings.js
index 6ef0ac77c7..9d2fef53c5 100644
--- a/contentcuration/contentcuration/frontend/shared/strings/communityChannelsStrings.js
+++ b/contentcuration/contentcuration/frontend/shared/strings/communityChannelsStrings.js
@@ -90,6 +90,11 @@ export const communityChannelsStrings = createTranslator('CommunityChannelsStrin
     message: 'Submit to Community Library',
     context: 'The title of the "Submit to Community Library" panel',
   },
+  publishingMessage: {
+    message: 'Channel is being published',
+    context:
+      'Shown in the Submit to Community Library side panel when the channel is currently publishing',
+  },
   submittedPrimaryInfo: {
     message:
       'A previous version is still pending review. Reviewers will see the latest submission first.',
diff --git a/contentcuration/contentcuration/tests/viewsets/test_community_library_submission.py b/contentcuration/contentcuration/tests/viewsets/test_community_library_submission.py
index 10c7e56dd1..acb73dd6e5 100644
--- a/contentcuration/contentcuration/tests/viewsets/test_community_library_submission.py
+++ b/contentcuration/contentcuration/tests/viewsets/test_community_library_submission.py
@@ -166,6 +166,30 @@ def test_create_submission__explicit_channel_version(self):
         # The explicitly set channel version should be ignored by the serializer
         self.assertEqual(created_submission.channel_version, 1)
 
+    def test_create_submission__publishing_channel(self):
+        self.client.force_authenticate(user=self.editor_user)
+
+        submission_metadata = self.new_submission_metadata
+
+        # Mark the channel referenced by the metadata as publishing
+        from contentcuration.models import Channel
+        from contentcuration.models import ContentNode
+
+        channel = Channel.objects.get(id=submission_metadata["channel"])
+        # Ensure main_tree exists; mark its publishing flag
+        main_tree = channel.main_tree or ContentNode.objects.get(
+            id=channel.main_tree_id
+        )
+        main_tree.publishing = True
+        main_tree.save()
+
+        response = self.client.post(
+            reverse("community-library-submission-list"),
+            submission_metadata,
+            format="json",
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 400, response.content)
+
     def test_list_submissions__is_editor(self):
         self.client.force_authenticate(user=self.editor_user)
         response = self.client.get(
diff --git a/contentcuration/contentcuration/viewsets/channel.py b/contentcuration/contentcuration/viewsets/channel.py
index 78b76bfa70..7ef13f8934 100644
--- a/contentcuration/contentcuration/viewsets/channel.py
+++ b/contentcuration/contentcuration/viewsets/channel.py
@@ -573,6 +573,7 @@ def publish(self, pk, version_notes="", language=None):
                             {
                                 "published": True,
                                 "publishing": False,
+                                "version": channel.version,
                                 "primary_token": channel.get_human_token().token,
                                 "last_published": channel.last_published,
                                 "unpublished_changes": _unpublished_changes_query(
diff --git a/contentcuration/contentcuration/viewsets/community_library_submission.py b/contentcuration/contentcuration/viewsets/community_library_submission.py
index 771e0afd34..abaf1c8521 100644
--- a/contentcuration/contentcuration/viewsets/community_library_submission.py
+++ b/contentcuration/contentcuration/viewsets/community_library_submission.py
@@ -54,6 +54,12 @@ def create(self, validated_data):
         channel = validated_data["channel"]
         user = self.context["request"].user
 
+        # Prevent creating submissions while a publish is in progress
+        if getattr(getattr(channel, "main_tree", None), "publishing", False):
+            raise ValidationError(
+                "Cannot create a community library submission while the channel is being published."
+            )
+
         if channel.version == 0:
             # The channel is not published
             raise ValidationError(