diff --git a/apps/www/src/content/docs/components/breadcrumb/demo.ts b/apps/www/src/content/docs/components/breadcrumb/demo.ts
index 866a05108..eafd22f3e 100644
--- a/apps/www/src/content/docs/components/breadcrumb/demo.ts
+++ b/apps/www/src/content/docs/components/breadcrumb/demo.ts
@@ -98,9 +98,9 @@ export const asDemo = {
   type: 'code',
   code: `
   <Breadcrumb>
-    <Breadcrumb.Item href="/home" as={<NextLink href="/" />}>Home</Breadcrumb.Item>
+    <Breadcrumb.Item href="/" as={NextLink}>Home</Breadcrumb.Item>
     <Breadcrumb.Separator/>
-    <Breadcrumb.Item href="/playground" as={<NextLink />}>Playground</Breadcrumb.Item>
+    <Breadcrumb.Item href="/playground" as={NextLink}>Playground</Breadcrumb.Item>
     <Breadcrumb.Separator/>
     <Breadcrumb.Item href="/docs" current>Docs</Breadcrumb.Item>
   </Breadcrumb>`
diff --git a/apps/www/src/content/docs/components/breadcrumb/index.mdx b/apps/www/src/content/docs/components/breadcrumb/index.mdx
index 0b2449853..e14bfc29b 100644
--- a/apps/www/src/content/docs/components/breadcrumb/index.mdx
+++ b/apps/www/src/content/docs/components/breadcrumb/index.mdx
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ Groups all parts of the breadcrumb navigation.
 
 ### Item
 
-Renders an individual breadcrumb link.
+Renders an individual breadcrumb link. Ref is forwarded to the link or custom component when using `as` (not when using `dropdownItems`).
 
 <auto-type-table path="./props.ts" name="BreadcrumbItem" />
 
@@ -94,9 +94,12 @@ Breadcrumb items can include dropdown menus for additional navigation options. S
 
 ### As
 
-Use the `as` prop to render the breadcrumb item as a custom component. By default, breadcrumb items are rendered as `a` tags.
+Use the `as` prop to render the breadcrumb item as a custom component. Pass the **component reference** (e.g. `as={NextLink}`), not a JSX element. Put `href` and other props on `Breadcrumb.Item`; they are passed through to the component. By default, items render as `a` tags.
 
-When a custom component is provided, the props are merged, with the custom component's props taking precedence over the breadcrumb item's props.
+```tsx
+// Correct: pass the component, set href on the item
+<Breadcrumb.Item href="/" as={NextLink}>Home</Breadcrumb.Item>
+```
 
 <Demo data={asDemo} />
 
diff --git a/apps/www/src/content/docs/components/breadcrumb/props.ts b/apps/www/src/content/docs/components/breadcrumb/props.ts
index 02b7d4ed9..6507786fa 100644
--- a/apps/www/src/content/docs/components/breadcrumb/props.ts
+++ b/apps/www/src/content/docs/components/breadcrumb/props.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { ReactElement, ReactEventHandler, ReactNode } from 'react';
+import { ElementType, ReactEventHandler, ReactNode } from 'react';
 
 export interface BreadcrumbItem {
   /** Text to display for the item */
@@ -29,13 +29,12 @@ export interface BreadcrumbItem {
   }[];
 
   /**
-   * Custom element used to render the Item.
+   * Component to render as (e.g. NextLink). Pass the component reference, not a JSX element.
+   * Receives breadcrumb item props (href, className, ref, children, etc.).
    *
-   * All props are merged, with the custom component's props taking precedence over the breadcrumb item's props.
-   *
-   * @default "<a />"
+   * @default "a"
    */
-  as?: ReactElement;
+  as?: ElementType;
 }
 
 export interface BreadcrumbProps {
diff --git a/packages/raystack/components/breadcrumb/__tests__/breadcrumb.test.tsx b/packages/raystack/components/breadcrumb/__tests__/breadcrumb.test.tsx
index 95b9587d7..ce49aa652 100644
--- a/packages/raystack/components/breadcrumb/__tests__/breadcrumb.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/raystack/components/breadcrumb/__tests__/breadcrumb.test.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { fireEvent, render, screen } from '@testing-library/react';
+import React, { forwardRef } from 'react';
 import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
 import { Breadcrumb } from '../breadcrumb';
 import styles from '../breadcrumb.module.css';
@@ -135,24 +136,32 @@ describe('Breadcrumb', () => {
         </Breadcrumb>
       );
 
-      const link = container.querySelector('a');
-      expect(link).toHaveClass(styles['breadcrumb-link-active']);
+      // Current page renders as <span> (non-link), not <a>
+      const currentEl = container.querySelector(
+        `span.${styles['breadcrumb-link-active']}`
+      );
+      expect(currentEl).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(currentEl).toHaveAttribute('aria-current', 'page');
     });
 
     it('renders with custom element using as prop', () => {
-      const CustomLink = ({ children, ...props }: any) => (
-        <button {...props}>{children}</button>
+      const CustomLink: React.ComponentType<
+        React.AnchorHTMLAttributes<HTMLAnchorElement>
+      > = ({ children, ...props }) => (
+        <a data-custom-link {...props}>
+          {children}
+        </a>
       );
 
       const { container } = render(
         <Breadcrumb>
-          <Breadcrumb.Item as={<CustomLink />}>Custom</Breadcrumb.Item>
+          <Breadcrumb.Item as={CustomLink}>Custom</Breadcrumb.Item>
         </Breadcrumb>
       );
 
-      const button = container.querySelector('button');
-      expect(button).toBeInTheDocument();
-      expect(button).toHaveClass(styles['breadcrumb-link']);
+      const link = container.querySelector('[data-custom-link]');
+      expect(link).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(link).toHaveClass(styles['breadcrumb-link']);
       expect(screen.getByText('Custom')).toBeInTheDocument();
     });
 
@@ -166,6 +175,26 @@ describe('Breadcrumb', () => {
       expect(ref).toHaveBeenCalled();
     });
 
+    it('forwards ref when using as prop (component)', () => {
+      const CustomLink = forwardRef<
+        HTMLAnchorElement,
+        React.AnchorHTMLAttributes<HTMLAnchorElement>
+      >(({ children, ...props }, ref) => (
+        <a ref={ref} data-custom-link {...props}>
+          {children}
+        </a>
+      ));
+      const ref = vi.fn();
+      render(
+        <Breadcrumb>
+          <Breadcrumb.Item ref={ref} as={CustomLink}>
+            Custom
+          </Breadcrumb.Item>
+        </Breadcrumb>
+      );
+      expect(ref).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
     it('applies custom className', () => {
       const { container } = render(
         <Breadcrumb>
diff --git a/packages/raystack/components/breadcrumb/breadcrumb-item.tsx b/packages/raystack/components/breadcrumb/breadcrumb-item.tsx
index 0b3471ac2..0a8fc1a30 100644
--- a/packages/raystack/components/breadcrumb/breadcrumb-item.tsx
+++ b/packages/raystack/components/breadcrumb/breadcrumb-item.tsx
@@ -2,13 +2,7 @@
 
 import { ChevronDownIcon } from '@radix-ui/react-icons';
 import { cx } from 'class-variance-authority';
-import React, {
-  cloneElement,
-  forwardRef,
-  HTMLAttributes,
-  ReactElement,
-  ReactNode
-} from 'react';
+import React, { forwardRef, HTMLAttributes, ReactNode } from 'react';
 import { Menu } from '../menu';
 import styles from './breadcrumb.module.css';
 
@@ -22,7 +16,8 @@ export interface BreadcrumbItemProps extends HTMLAttributes<HTMLAnchorElement> {
   current?: boolean;
   dropdownItems?: BreadcrumbDropdownItem[];
   href?: string;
-  as?: ReactElement;
+  /** Component to render as (e.g. NextLink). Receives our props (href, className, ref, etc.). Defaults to "a". */
+  as?: React.ElementType;
 }
 
 export const BreadcrumbItem = forwardRef<
@@ -42,14 +37,15 @@ export const BreadcrumbItem = forwardRef<
     },
     ref
   ) => {
-    const renderedElement = as ?? <a ref={ref} />;
-    const label = (
+    const Component = as ?? 'a';
+    // Only wrap in spans when needed for layout (leading icon); otherwise keep link content as plain text so DOM shows <a>Home</a> not <a><span>Home</span></a>
+    const label = leadingIcon ? (
       <>
-        {leadingIcon && (
-          <span className={styles['breadcrumb-icon']}>{leadingIcon}</span>
-        )}
-        {children && <span>{children}</span>}
+        <span className={styles['breadcrumb-icon']}>{leadingIcon}</span>
+        {children != null && <span>{children}</span>}
       </>
+    ) : (
+      children
     );
 
     if (dropdownItems) {
@@ -73,21 +69,35 @@ export const BreadcrumbItem = forwardRef<
         </Menu>
       );
     }
+    // Current page: render as non-link <span> (semantic; no href)
+    if (current) {
+      return (
+        <li className={cx(styles['breadcrumb-item'], className)}>
+          <span
+            ref={ref as React.RefObject<HTMLSpanElement>}
+            className={cx(
+              styles['breadcrumb-link'],
+              styles['breadcrumb-link-active']
+            )}
+            aria-current='page'
+            {...props}
+          >
+            {label}
+          </span>
+        </li>
+      );
+    }
+    // Link: render as <a> or custom Component (e.g. NextLink → <a> in DOM)
     return (
       <li className={cx(styles['breadcrumb-item'], className)}>
-        {cloneElement(
-          renderedElement,
-          {
-            className: cx(
-              styles['breadcrumb-link'],
-              current && styles['breadcrumb-link-active']
-            ),
-            href,
-            ...props,
-            ...renderedElement.props
-          },
-          label
-        )}
+        <Component
+          ref={ref}
+          className={cx(styles['breadcrumb-link'])}
+          href={href}
+          {...props}
+        >
+          {label}
+        </Component>
       </li>
     );
   }
diff --git a/packages/raystack/components/breadcrumb/breadcrumb-root.tsx b/packages/raystack/components/breadcrumb/breadcrumb-root.tsx
index 2fdded41e..0e4705b96 100644
--- a/packages/raystack/components/breadcrumb/breadcrumb-root.tsx
+++ b/packages/raystack/components/breadcrumb/breadcrumb-root.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 'use client';
 
-import { type VariantProps, cva } from 'class-variance-authority';
-import { HTMLAttributes, forwardRef } from 'react';
+import { cva, type VariantProps } from 'class-variance-authority';
+import { forwardRef, HTMLAttributes } from 'react';
 import styles from './breadcrumb.module.css';
 
 const breadcrumbVariants = cva(styles['breadcrumb'], {
@@ -21,11 +21,15 @@ export interface BreadcrumbProps
     HTMLAttributes<HTMLDivElement> {}
 
 export const BreadcrumbRoot = forwardRef<HTMLDivElement, BreadcrumbProps>(
-  ({ className, children, size = 'medium', ...props }, ref) => {
+  (
+    { className, children, size = 'medium', 'aria-label': ariaLabel, ...props },
+    ref
+  ) => {
     return (
       <nav
         className={breadcrumbVariants({ size, className })}
         ref={ref}
+        aria-label={ariaLabel ?? 'Breadcrumb'}
         {...props}
       >
         <ol className={styles['breadcrumb-list']}>{children}</ol>