diff --git a/.changeset/tender-rice-dance.md b/.changeset/tender-rice-dance.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cd786b98
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/tender-rice-dance.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@omnidev/sigil": patch
+---
+
+Allow customization of `Combobox` async data fetch preloading via `preloadItems` prop
diff --git a/src/components/core/Combobox/Combobox.stories.tsx b/src/components/core/Combobox/Combobox.stories.tsx
index ec51a2da..12ffc741 100644
--- a/src/components/core/Combobox/Combobox.stories.tsx
+++ b/src/components/core/Combobox/Combobox.stories.tsx
@@ -105,6 +105,46 @@ export const AsyncItems: StoryObj = {
   },
 };
 
+/**
+ * Asynchronously load items without preloading them. To load items, the input field must be updated.
+ */
+export const AsyncItemsWithoutPreloading: StoryObj = {
+  render: () => {
+    const [items, setItems] = useState<CollectionItem[]>([]);
+
+    useEffect(() => {
+      // simulate async data fetching
+      const fetchItems = async () => {
+        const asyncData: CollectionItem[] = await new Promise((resolve) => {
+          setTimeout(() => {
+            resolve(
+              fruitBasket.map(({ name, icon }, idx) => ({
+                label: `${name} ${icon}`,
+                value: name,
+                disabled: idx === 2,
+              })),
+            );
+            // simulate 1s delay
+          }, 1000);
+        });
+
+        setItems(asyncData);
+      };
+
+      void fetchItems();
+    }, []);
+
+    return (
+      <Combobox
+        {...Default.args}
+        preloadItems={false}
+        placeholder="Search..."
+        collection={createListCollection({ items })}
+      />
+    );
+  },
+};
+
 /**
  * The input field and group labels can be hidden by setting the `displayFieldLabel` and `displayGroupLabel` props to `false`, respectively.
  */
diff --git a/src/components/core/Combobox/Combobox.tsx b/src/components/core/Combobox/Combobox.tsx
index 94ac5956..1f614d2f 100644
--- a/src/components/core/Combobox/Combobox.tsx
+++ b/src/components/core/Combobox/Combobox.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { Combobox as ArkCombobox } from "@ark-ui/react/combobox";
-import { useState } from "react";
+import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
 import { BiCheck, BiExpandVertical, BiX } from "react-icons/bi";
 
 import Button from "components/core/Button/Button";
@@ -116,13 +116,17 @@ export interface ComboboxTriggerProps
   extends AssignJSXStyleProps<ArkCombobox.TriggerProps> {}
 
 export interface ComboboxProps extends ComboboxRootProps {
+  /** Color palette. Defaults to "accent". */
   colorPalette?: ColorPalette;
-  /** Whether to display the input field label. */
+  /** Whether to display the input field label. Defaults to true. */
   displayFieldLabel?: boolean;
-  /** Whether to display the group label contained in the dropdown. */
+  /** Whether to display the group label contained in the dropdown. Defaults to true. */
   displayGroupLabel?: boolean;
-  /** Whether to display the clear trigger button. */
+  /** Whether to display the clear trigger button. Defaults to true. */
   displayClearTrigger?: boolean;
+  /** Whether to preload items (useful for async data fetching). Defaults to true. If false, items will be loaded on input change. */
+  preloadItems?: boolean;
+  /** Label. */
   label: {
     // TODO calculate ID from singular (add dashes, lowercase, etc.)
     id: string;
@@ -164,6 +168,7 @@ const Combobox = ({
   displayFieldLabel = true,
   displayGroupLabel = true,
   displayClearTrigger = true,
+  preloadItems = true,
   label,
   onInputValueChange,
   labelProps,
@@ -201,6 +206,10 @@ const Combobox = ({
     onInputValueChange?.(evt);
   };
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    preloadItems && setFilteredItems(collection.items);
+  }, [collection.items, preloadItems]);
+
   return (
     <ComboboxRoot
       collection={collection}