diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/models/instance.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/models/instance.go
index 8cb42bfc42d..513ce1a3c85 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/models/instance.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/models/instance.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 type AlertInstance struct {
 	AlertInstanceKey  `xorm:"extends"`
 	Labels            InstanceLabels
+	Annotations       InstanceAnnotations
 	CurrentState      InstanceStateType
 	CurrentReason     string
 	CurrentStateSince time.Time
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/models/instance_annotations.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/models/instance_annotations.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7eee394ec33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/models/instance_annotations.go
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+package models
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+)
+
+// InstanceAnnotations is an extension to map[string]string with methods
+// for database serialization.
+type InstanceAnnotations map[string]string
+
+// FromDB loads annotations stored in the database as JSON into InstanceAnnotations.
+// FromDB is part of the xorm Conversion interface.
+func (a *InstanceAnnotations) FromDB(b []byte) error {
+	if len(b) == 0 {
+		*a = nil
+		return nil
+	}
+	annotations := make(map[string]string)
+	err := json.Unmarshal(b, &annotations)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	*a = annotations
+	return nil
+}
+
+// ToDB serializes InstanceAnnotations to JSON for database storage.
+// ToDB is part of the xorm Conversion interface.
+func (a *InstanceAnnotations) ToDB() ([]byte, error) {
+	if a == nil || len(*a) == 0 {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	return json.Marshal(*a)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/models/testing.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/models/testing.go
index d2fa78db913..886f13d029a 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/models/testing.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/models/testing.go
@@ -32,9 +32,10 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	RuleMuts = AlertRuleMutators{}
-	NSMuts   = NotificationSettingsMutators{}
-	RuleGen  = &AlertRuleGenerator{
+	RuleMuts     = AlertRuleMutators{}
+	NSMuts       = NotificationSettingsMutators{}
+	InstanceMuts = AlertInstanceMutators{}
+	RuleGen      = &AlertRuleGenerator{
 		mutators: []AlertRuleMutator{
 			RuleMuts.WithUniqueUID(), RuleMuts.WithUniqueTitle(),
 		},
@@ -928,6 +929,50 @@ func AlertInstanceGen(mutators ...AlertInstanceMutator) *AlertInstance {
 	return instance
 }
 
+type AlertInstanceMutators struct{}
+
+func (a AlertInstanceMutators) WithOrgID(orgID int64) AlertInstanceMutator {
+	return func(i *AlertInstance) {
+		i.RuleOrgID = orgID
+	}
+}
+
+func (a AlertInstanceMutators) WithRuleUID(ruleUID string) AlertInstanceMutator {
+	return func(i *AlertInstance) {
+		i.RuleUID = ruleUID
+	}
+}
+
+func (a AlertInstanceMutators) WithLabelsHash(hash string) AlertInstanceMutator {
+	return func(i *AlertInstance) {
+		i.LabelsHash = hash
+	}
+}
+
+func (a AlertInstanceMutators) WithReason(reason string) AlertInstanceMutator {
+	return func(i *AlertInstance) {
+		i.CurrentReason = reason
+	}
+}
+
+func (a AlertInstanceMutators) WithState(state InstanceStateType) AlertInstanceMutator {
+	return func(i *AlertInstance) {
+		i.CurrentState = state
+	}
+}
+
+func (a AlertInstanceMutators) WithLabels(labels InstanceLabels) AlertInstanceMutator {
+	return func(i *AlertInstance) {
+		i.Labels = labels
+	}
+}
+
+func (a AlertInstanceMutators) WithAnnotations(annotations InstanceAnnotations) AlertInstanceMutator {
+	return func(i *AlertInstance) {
+		i.Annotations = annotations
+	}
+}
+
 type Mutator[T any] func(*T)
 
 // CopyNotificationSettings creates a deep copy of NotificationSettings.
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/state/cache.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/state/cache.go
index c1598d4aa3b..b52a8a5fd6c 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/state/cache.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/state/cache.go
@@ -341,6 +341,7 @@ func (c *cache) GetAlertInstances() []ngModels.AlertInstance {
 				states = append(states, ngModels.AlertInstance{
 					AlertInstanceKey:  key,
 					Labels:            ngModels.InstanceLabels(v2.Labels),
+					Annotations:       v2.Annotations,
 					CurrentState:      ngModels.InstanceStateType(v2.State.String()),
 					CurrentReason:     v2.StateReason,
 					LastEvalTime:      v2.LastEvaluationTime,
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/state/manager.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/state/manager.go
index 401eeb079cf..4d6e066f2bf 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/state/manager.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/state/manager.go
@@ -184,8 +184,11 @@ func (st *Manager) Warm(ctx context.Context, orgReader OrgReader, rulesReader Ru
 				continue
 			}
 
-			// nil safety.
-			annotations := ruleForEntry.Annotations
+			// Use persisted annotations if available, otherwise fall back to rule annotations
+			annotations := entry.Annotations
+			if len(annotations) == 0 {
+				annotations = ruleForEntry.Annotations
+			}
 			if annotations == nil {
 				annotations = make(map[string]string)
 			}
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/state/manager_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/state/manager_test.go
index 363d7aef78d..9dccbe52d2d 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/state/manager_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/state/manager_test.go
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func TestIntegrationWarmStateCache(t *testing.T) {
 			LastEvaluationTime: evaluationTime,
 			LastSentAt:         util.Pointer(evaluationTime),
 			ResolvedAt:         util.Pointer(evaluationTime),
-			Annotations:        map[string]string{"testAnnoKey": "testAnnoValue"},
+			Annotations:        rule.Annotations, // alert instance has no stored annotations, falls back to the rule annotations
 			ResultFingerprint:  data.Fingerprint(math.MaxUint64),
 		}, {
 			AlertRuleUID:       rule.UID,
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ func TestIntegrationWarmStateCache(t *testing.T) {
 			LastEvaluationTime: evaluationTime,
 			LastSentAt:         util.Pointer(evaluationTime.Add(-1 * time.Minute)),
 			ResolvedAt:         nil,
-			Annotations:        map[string]string{"testAnnoKey": "testAnnoValue"},
+			Annotations:        map[string]string{"testAnnotation": "value-2"},
 			ResultFingerprint:  data.Fingerprint(math.MaxUint64 - 1),
 		},
 		{
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ func TestIntegrationWarmStateCache(t *testing.T) {
 			LastEvaluationTime: evaluationTime,
 			LastSentAt:         util.Pointer(evaluationTime.Add(-1 * time.Minute)),
 			ResolvedAt:         nil,
-			Annotations:        map[string]string{"testAnnoKey": "testAnnoValue"},
+			Annotations:        map[string]string{"testAnnotation": "value-3"},
 			ResultFingerprint:  data.Fingerprint(0),
 		},
 		{
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ func TestIntegrationWarmStateCache(t *testing.T) {
 			LastEvaluationTime: evaluationTime,
 			LastSentAt:         util.Pointer(evaluationTime.Add(-1 * time.Minute)),
 			ResolvedAt:         nil,
-			Annotations:        map[string]string{"testAnnoKey": "testAnnoValue"},
+			Annotations:        map[string]string{"testAnnotation": "value-4"},
 			ResultFingerprint:  data.Fingerprint(1),
 		},
 		{
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ func TestIntegrationWarmStateCache(t *testing.T) {
 			LastEvaluationTime: evaluationTime,
 			LastSentAt:         nil,
 			ResolvedAt:         nil,
-			Annotations:        map[string]string{"testAnnoKey": "testAnnoValue"},
+			Annotations:        map[string]string{"testAnnotation": "value-5"},
 			ResultFingerprint:  data.Fingerprint(2),
 		},
 	}
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ func TestIntegrationWarmStateCache(t *testing.T) {
 		LastSentAt:        util.Pointer(evaluationTime.Add(-1 * time.Minute)),
 		ResolvedAt:        nil,
 		Labels:            labels,
+		Annotations:       models.InstanceAnnotations{"testAnnotation": "value-2"},
 		ResultFingerprint: data.Fingerprint(math.MaxUint64 - 1).String(),
 	})
 
@@ -187,6 +188,7 @@ func TestIntegrationWarmStateCache(t *testing.T) {
 		LastSentAt:        util.Pointer(evaluationTime.Add(-1 * time.Minute)),
 		ResolvedAt:        nil,
 		Labels:            labels,
+		Annotations:       models.InstanceAnnotations{"testAnnotation": "value-3"},
 		ResultFingerprint: data.Fingerprint(0).String(),
 	})
 
@@ -205,6 +207,7 @@ func TestIntegrationWarmStateCache(t *testing.T) {
 		LastSentAt:        util.Pointer(evaluationTime.Add(-1 * time.Minute)),
 		ResolvedAt:        nil,
 		Labels:            labels,
+		Annotations:       models.InstanceAnnotations{"testAnnotation": "value-4"},
 		ResultFingerprint: data.Fingerprint(1).String(),
 	})
 
@@ -223,6 +226,7 @@ func TestIntegrationWarmStateCache(t *testing.T) {
 		LastSentAt:        nil,
 		ResolvedAt:        nil,
 		Labels:            labels,
+		Annotations:       models.InstanceAnnotations{"testAnnotation": "value-5"},
 		ResultFingerprint: data.Fingerprint(2).String(),
 	})
 
@@ -241,6 +245,7 @@ func TestIntegrationWarmStateCache(t *testing.T) {
 		LastSentAt:        nil,
 		ResolvedAt:        nil,
 		Labels:            labels,
+		Annotations:       models.InstanceAnnotations{"testAnnotation": "value-6"},
 		ResultFingerprint: data.Fingerprint(2).String(),
 	})
 
@@ -1497,6 +1502,7 @@ func TestIntegrationStaleResultsHandler(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			CurrentState:      models.InstanceStateNormal,
 			Labels:            labels1,
+			Annotations:       rule.Annotations,
 			LastEvalTime:      lastEval,
 			CurrentStateSince: lastEval,
 			CurrentStateEnd:   lastEval.Add(3 * interval),
@@ -1512,6 +1518,7 @@ func TestIntegrationStaleResultsHandler(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			CurrentState:      models.InstanceStateFiring,
 			Labels:            labels2,
+			Annotations:       rule.Annotations,
 			LastEvalTime:      lastEval,
 			CurrentStateSince: lastEval,
 			CurrentStateEnd:   lastEval.Add(3 * interval),
@@ -1562,7 +1569,7 @@ func TestIntegrationStaleResultsHandler(t *testing.T) {
 					LastSentAt:         &lastEval,
 					ResolvedAt:         &lastEval,
 					EvaluationDuration: 0,
-					Annotations:        map[string]string{"testAnnoKey": "testAnnoValue"},
+					Annotations:        rule.Annotations,
 					ResultFingerprint:  data.Labels{"test1": "testValue1"}.Fingerprint(),
 				},
 			},
@@ -1810,7 +1817,7 @@ func TestIntegrationDeleteStateByRuleUID(t *testing.T) {
 					Labels:             data.Labels{"test1": "testValue1"},
 					State:              eval.Normal,
 					EvaluationDuration: 0,
-					Annotations:        map[string]string{"testAnnoKey": "testAnnoValue"},
+					Annotations:        map[string]string{"testAnnotation": "value-2"},
 				},
 				{
 					AlertRuleUID:       rule.UID,
@@ -1818,7 +1825,7 @@ func TestIntegrationDeleteStateByRuleUID(t *testing.T) {
 					Labels:             data.Labels{"test2": "testValue2"},
 					State:              eval.Alerting,
 					EvaluationDuration: 0,
-					Annotations:        map[string]string{"testAnnoKey": "testAnnoValue"},
+					Annotations:        map[string]string{"testAnnotation": "value-2"},
 				},
 			},
 			startingStateCacheCount: 2,
@@ -1959,7 +1966,7 @@ func TestIntegrationResetStateByRuleUID(t *testing.T) {
 					Labels:             data.Labels{"test1": "testValue1"},
 					State:              eval.Normal,
 					EvaluationDuration: 0,
-					Annotations:        map[string]string{"testAnnoKey": "testAnnoValue"},
+					Annotations:        map[string]string{"testAnnotation": "value-2"},
 				},
 				{
 					AlertRuleUID:       rule.UID,
@@ -1967,7 +1974,7 @@ func TestIntegrationResetStateByRuleUID(t *testing.T) {
 					Labels:             data.Labels{"test2": "testValue2"},
 					State:              eval.Alerting,
 					EvaluationDuration: 0,
-					Annotations:        map[string]string{"testAnnoKey": "testAnnoValue"},
+					Annotations:        map[string]string{"testAnnotation": "value-2"},
 				},
 			},
 			startingStateCacheCount:  2,
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/state/persister_sync.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/state/persister_sync.go
index 8a22afb9ca3..707afed7069 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/state/persister_sync.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/state/persister_sync.go
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ func (a *SyncStatePersister) saveAlertStates(ctx context.Context, states ...Stat
 		instance := ngModels.AlertInstance{
 			AlertInstanceKey:  key,
 			Labels:            ngModels.InstanceLabels(s.Labels),
+			Annotations:       s.Annotations,
 			CurrentState:      ngModels.InstanceStateType(s.State.State.String()),
 			CurrentReason:     s.StateReason,
 			LastEvalTime:      s.LastEvaluationTime,
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/state/persister_sync_rule.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/state/persister_sync_rule.go
index a237d2983f2..f2c2b69a2a7 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/state/persister_sync_rule.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/state/persister_sync_rule.go
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ func (a *SyncRuleStatePersister) Sync(ctx context.Context, span trace.Span, rule
 		instance := models.AlertInstance{
 			AlertInstanceKey:  key,
 			Labels:            models.InstanceLabels(s.Labels),
+			Annotations:       s.Annotations,
 			CurrentState:      models.InstanceStateType(s.State.State.String()),
 			CurrentReason:     s.StateReason,
 			LastEvalTime:      s.LastEvaluationTime,
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/store/instance_database.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/store/instance_database.go
index 44822f72e99..a9d57d1ab8f 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/store/instance_database.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/store/instance_database.go
@@ -99,6 +99,10 @@ func (st InstanceDBStore) SaveAlertInstance(ctx context.Context, alertInstance m
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+		annotationsJSON, err := alertInstance.Annotations.ToDB()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 		params := append(make([]any, 0),
 			alertInstance.RuleOrgID,
 			alertInstance.RuleUID,
@@ -113,12 +117,13 @@ func (st InstanceDBStore) SaveAlertInstance(ctx context.Context, alertInstance m
 			nullableTimeToUnix(alertInstance.ResolvedAt),
 			nullableTimeToUnix(alertInstance.LastSentAt),
 			alertInstance.ResultFingerprint,
+			annotationsJSON,
 		)
 
 		upsertSQL := st.SQLStore.GetDialect().UpsertSQL(
 			"alert_instance",
 			[]string{"rule_org_id", "rule_uid", "labels_hash"},
-			[]string{"rule_org_id", "rule_uid", "labels", "labels_hash", "current_state", "current_reason", "current_state_since", "current_state_end", "last_eval_time", "fired_at", "resolved_at", "last_sent_at", "result_fingerprint"})
+			[]string{"rule_org_id", "rule_uid", "labels", "labels_hash", "current_state", "current_reason", "current_state_since", "current_state_end", "last_eval_time", "fired_at", "resolved_at", "last_sent_at", "result_fingerprint", "annotations"})
 		_, err = sess.SQL(upsertSQL, params...).Query()
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -359,10 +364,10 @@ func (st InstanceDBStore) insertInstancesBatch(sess *sqlstore.DBSession, batch [
 
 	query := strings.Builder{}
 	placeholders := make([]string, 0, len(batch))
-	args := make([]any, 0, len(batch)*12)
+	args := make([]any, 0, len(batch)*13)
 
 	query.WriteString("INSERT INTO alert_instance ")
-	query.WriteString("(rule_org_id, rule_uid, labels, labels_hash, current_state, current_reason, current_state_since, current_state_end, last_eval_time, fired_at, resolved_at, last_sent_at) VALUES ")
+	query.WriteString("(rule_org_id, rule_uid, labels, labels_hash, current_state, current_reason, current_state_since, current_state_end, last_eval_time, fired_at, resolved_at, last_sent_at, annotations) VALUES ")
 
 	for _, instance := range batch {
 		if err := models.ValidateAlertInstance(instance); err != nil {
@@ -376,7 +381,13 @@ func (st InstanceDBStore) insertInstancesBatch(sess *sqlstore.DBSession, batch [
 			continue
 		}
 
-		placeholders = append(placeholders, "(?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?)")
+		annotationsJSON, err := instance.Annotations.ToDB()
+		if err != nil {
+			st.Logger.Warn("Skipping instance with invalid annotations", "err", err, "rule_uid", instance.RuleUID)
+			continue
+		}
+
+		placeholders = append(placeholders, "(?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?)")
 		args = append(args,
 			instance.RuleOrgID,
 			instance.RuleUID,
@@ -390,6 +401,7 @@ func (st InstanceDBStore) insertInstancesBatch(sess *sqlstore.DBSession, batch [
 			nullableTimeToUnix(instance.FiredAt),
 			nullableTimeToUnix(instance.ResolvedAt),
 			nullableTimeToUnix(instance.LastSentAt),
+			annotationsJSON,
 		)
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/store/instance_database_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/store/instance_database_test.go
index ce0d9c795da..3cf264d4a36 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/store/instance_database_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/store/instance_database_test.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/ngalert/models"
 	pb "github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/ngalert/store/proto/v1"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/ngalert/tests"
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/util"
 )
 
 const baseIntervalSeconds = 10
@@ -51,7 +50,15 @@ func TestIntegration_CompressedAlertRuleStateOperations(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "can save and read alert rule state",
 			setupInstances: func() []models.AlertInstance {
 				return []models.AlertInstance{
-					createAlertInstance(alertRule1.OrgID, alertRule1.UID, "labelsHash1", string(models.InstanceStateError), models.InstanceStateFiring),
+					*models.AlertInstanceGen(
+						models.InstanceMuts.WithOrgID(alertRule1.OrgID),
+						models.InstanceMuts.WithRuleUID(alertRule1.UID),
+						models.InstanceMuts.WithLabelsHash("labelsHash1"),
+						models.InstanceMuts.WithReason(string(models.InstanceStateError)),
+						models.InstanceMuts.WithState(models.InstanceStateFiring),
+						models.InstanceMuts.WithLabels(models.InstanceLabels{"label1": "value1"}),
+						models.InstanceMuts.WithAnnotations(models.InstanceAnnotations{"annotation1": "value1"}),
+					),
 				}
 			},
 			listQuery: &models.ListAlertInstancesQuery{
@@ -67,8 +74,22 @@ func TestIntegration_CompressedAlertRuleStateOperations(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "can save and read alert rule state with multiple instances",
 			setupInstances: func() []models.AlertInstance {
 				return []models.AlertInstance{
-					createAlertInstance(alertRule1.OrgID, alertRule1.UID, "hash1", "", models.InstanceStateFiring),
-					createAlertInstance(alertRule1.OrgID, alertRule1.UID, "hash2", "", models.InstanceStateFiring),
+					*models.AlertInstanceGen(
+						models.InstanceMuts.WithOrgID(alertRule1.OrgID),
+						models.InstanceMuts.WithRuleUID(alertRule1.UID),
+						models.InstanceMuts.WithLabelsHash("hash1"),
+						models.InstanceMuts.WithState(models.InstanceStateFiring),
+						models.InstanceMuts.WithLabels(models.InstanceLabels{"label1": "value1"}),
+						models.InstanceMuts.WithAnnotations(models.InstanceAnnotations{"annotation1": "value1"}),
+					),
+					*models.AlertInstanceGen(
+						models.InstanceMuts.WithOrgID(alertRule1.OrgID),
+						models.InstanceMuts.WithRuleUID(alertRule1.UID),
+						models.InstanceMuts.WithLabelsHash("hash2"),
+						models.InstanceMuts.WithState(models.InstanceStateFiring),
+						models.InstanceMuts.WithLabels(models.InstanceLabels{"label1": "value1"}),
+						models.InstanceMuts.WithAnnotations(models.InstanceAnnotations{"annotation1": "value1"}),
+					),
 				}
 			},
 			listQuery: &models.ListAlertInstancesQuery{
@@ -109,19 +130,6 @@ func containsHash(t *testing.T, instances []*models.AlertInstance, hash string)
 	require.Fail(t, fmt.Sprintf("%v does not contain an instance with hash %s", instances, hash))
 }
 
-func createAlertInstance(orgID int64, ruleUID, labelsHash, reason string, state models.InstanceStateType) models.AlertInstance {
-	return models.AlertInstance{
-		AlertInstanceKey: models.AlertInstanceKey{
-			RuleOrgID:  orgID,
-			RuleUID:    ruleUID,
-			LabelsHash: labelsHash,
-		},
-		CurrentState:  state,
-		CurrentReason: reason,
-		Labels:        models.InstanceLabels{"label1": "value1"},
-	}
-}
-
 func TestIntegrationAlertInstanceOperations(t *testing.T) {
 	testutil.SkipIntegrationTestInShortMode(t)
 
@@ -312,7 +320,10 @@ func TestIntegrationFullSync(t *testing.T) {
 
 	instances := make([]models.AlertInstance, len(ruleUIDs))
 	for i, ruleUID := range ruleUIDs {
-		instances[i] = generateTestAlertInstance(orgID, ruleUID)
+		instances[i] = *models.AlertInstanceGen(
+			models.InstanceMuts.WithOrgID(orgID),
+			models.InstanceMuts.WithRuleUID(ruleUID),
+		)
 	}
 
 	t.Run("Should do a proper full sync", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -356,7 +367,7 @@ func TestIntegrationFullSync(t *testing.T) {
 
 	t.Run("Should add new entries on sync", func(t *testing.T) {
 		newRuleUID := "y"
-		err := ng.InstanceStore.FullSync(ctx, append(instances, generateTestAlertInstance(orgID, newRuleUID)), batchSize, nil)
+		err := ng.InstanceStore.FullSync(ctx, append(instances, *models.AlertInstanceGen(models.InstanceMuts.WithOrgID(orgID), models.InstanceMuts.WithRuleUID(newRuleUID))), batchSize, nil)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
 		res, err := ng.InstanceStore.ListAlertInstances(ctx, &models.ListAlertInstancesQuery{
@@ -381,7 +392,7 @@ func TestIntegrationFullSync(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("Should save all instances when batch size is bigger than 1", func(t *testing.T) {
 		batchSize = 2
 		newRuleUID := "y"
-		err := ng.InstanceStore.FullSync(ctx, append(instances, generateTestAlertInstance(orgID, newRuleUID)), batchSize, nil)
+		err := ng.InstanceStore.FullSync(ctx, append(instances, *models.AlertInstanceGen(models.InstanceMuts.WithOrgID(orgID), models.InstanceMuts.WithRuleUID(newRuleUID))), batchSize, nil)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
 		res, err := ng.InstanceStore.ListAlertInstances(ctx, &models.ListAlertInstancesQuery{
@@ -406,8 +417,8 @@ func TestIntegrationFullSync(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("Should not fail when the instances are empty", func(t *testing.T) {
 		// First, insert some data into the table.
 		initialInstances := []models.AlertInstance{
-			generateTestAlertInstance(orgID, "preexisting-1"),
-			generateTestAlertInstance(orgID, "preexisting-2"),
+			*models.AlertInstanceGen(models.InstanceMuts.WithOrgID(orgID), models.InstanceMuts.WithRuleUID("preexisting-1")),
+			*models.AlertInstanceGen(models.InstanceMuts.WithOrgID(orgID), models.InstanceMuts.WithRuleUID("preexisting-2")),
 		}
 		err := ng.InstanceStore.FullSync(ctx, initialInstances, 5, nil)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -439,9 +450,9 @@ func TestIntegrationFullSync(t *testing.T) {
 
 	t.Run("Should handle invalid instances by skipping them", func(t *testing.T) {
 		// Create a batch with one valid and one invalid instance
-		validInstance := generateTestAlertInstance(orgID, "valid")
+		validInstance := *models.AlertInstanceGen(models.InstanceMuts.WithOrgID(orgID), models.InstanceMuts.WithRuleUID("valid"))
 
-		invalidInstance := generateTestAlertInstance(orgID, "")
+		invalidInstance := *models.AlertInstanceGen(models.InstanceMuts.WithOrgID(orgID), models.InstanceMuts.WithRuleUID(""))
 		// Make the invalid instance actually invalid
 		invalidInstance.RuleUID = ""
 
@@ -460,8 +471,8 @@ func TestIntegrationFullSync(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("Should handle batchSize larger than the number of instances", func(t *testing.T) {
 		// Insert a small number of instances but use a large batchSize
 		smallSet := []models.AlertInstance{
-			generateTestAlertInstance(orgID, "batch-test1"),
-			generateTestAlertInstance(orgID, "batch-test2"),
+			*models.AlertInstanceGen(models.InstanceMuts.WithOrgID(orgID), models.InstanceMuts.WithRuleUID("batch-test1")),
+			*models.AlertInstanceGen(models.InstanceMuts.WithOrgID(orgID), models.InstanceMuts.WithRuleUID("batch-test2")),
 		}
 
 		err := ng.InstanceStore.FullSync(ctx, smallSet, 100, nil)
@@ -493,7 +504,7 @@ func TestIntegrationFullSync(t *testing.T) {
 		largeCount := 300
 		largeSet := make([]models.AlertInstance, largeCount)
 		for i := 0; i < largeCount; i++ {
-			largeSet[i] = generateTestAlertInstance(orgID, fmt.Sprintf("large-%d", i))
+			largeSet[i] = *models.AlertInstanceGen(models.InstanceMuts.WithOrgID(orgID), models.InstanceMuts.WithRuleUID(fmt.Sprintf("large-%d", i)))
 		}
 
 		err = ng.InstanceStore.FullSync(ctx, largeSet, 50, nil)
@@ -520,7 +531,10 @@ func TestIntegrationFullSyncWithJitter(t *testing.T) {
 
 	instances := make([]models.AlertInstance, len(ruleUIDs))
 	for i, ruleUID := range ruleUIDs {
-		instances[i] = generateTestAlertInstance(orgID, ruleUID)
+		instances[i] = *models.AlertInstanceGen(
+			models.InstanceMuts.WithOrgID(orgID),
+			models.InstanceMuts.WithRuleUID(ruleUID),
+		)
 	}
 
 	// Simple jitter function for testing
@@ -565,7 +579,7 @@ func TestIntegrationFullSyncWithJitter(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("Should handle zero delays (immediate execution)", func(t *testing.T) {
 		testInstances := make([]models.AlertInstance, 2)
 		for i := 0; i < 2; i++ {
-			testInstances[i] = generateTestAlertInstance(orgID, fmt.Sprintf("immediate-%d", i))
+			testInstances[i] = *models.AlertInstanceGen(models.InstanceMuts.WithOrgID(orgID), models.InstanceMuts.WithRuleUID(fmt.Sprintf("immediate-%d", i)))
 		}
 
 		// Function that returns zero delays
@@ -592,7 +606,7 @@ func TestIntegrationFullSyncWithJitter(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("Should execute jitter delays correctly and save data", func(t *testing.T) {
 		testInstances := make([]models.AlertInstance, 4)
 		for i := 0; i < 4; i++ {
-			testInstances[i] = generateTestAlertInstance(orgID, fmt.Sprintf("jitter-test-%d", i))
+			testInstances[i] = *models.AlertInstanceGen(models.InstanceMuts.WithOrgID(orgID), models.InstanceMuts.WithRuleUID(fmt.Sprintf("jitter-test-%d", i)))
 		}
 
 		// Track jitter function calls
@@ -652,11 +666,16 @@ func TestIntegration_ProtoInstanceDBStore_VerifyCompressedData(t *testing.T) {
 
 	alertRule := tests.CreateTestAlertRule(t, ctx, dbstore, 60, 1)
 
-	labelsHash := "hash1"
-	reason := "reason"
-	state := models.InstanceStateFiring
 	instances := []models.AlertInstance{
-		createAlertInstance(alertRule.OrgID, alertRule.UID, labelsHash, reason, state),
+		*models.AlertInstanceGen(
+			models.InstanceMuts.WithOrgID(alertRule.OrgID),
+			models.InstanceMuts.WithRuleUID(alertRule.UID),
+			models.InstanceMuts.WithLabelsHash("hash1"),
+			models.InstanceMuts.WithReason("reason"),
+			models.InstanceMuts.WithState(models.InstanceStateFiring),
+			models.InstanceMuts.WithLabels(models.InstanceLabels{"label1": "value1"}),
+			models.InstanceMuts.WithAnnotations(models.InstanceAnnotations{"annotation1": "value1"}),
+		),
 	}
 
 	err := ng.InstanceStore.SaveAlertInstancesForRule(ctx, alertRule.GetKeyWithGroup(), instances)
@@ -704,25 +723,3 @@ func decompressAlertInstances(compressed []byte) ([]*pb.AlertInstance, error) {
 
 	return instances.Instances, nil
 }
-
-func generateTestAlertInstance(orgID int64, ruleID string) models.AlertInstance {
-	return models.AlertInstance{
-		AlertInstanceKey: models.AlertInstanceKey{
-			RuleOrgID:  orgID,
-			RuleUID:    ruleID,
-			LabelsHash: "abc",
-		},
-		CurrentState: models.InstanceStateFiring,
-		Labels: map[string]string{
-			"hello": "world",
-		},
-		ResultFingerprint: "abc",
-		CurrentStateEnd:   time.Now(),
-		CurrentStateSince: time.Now(),
-		LastEvalTime:      time.Now(),
-		LastSentAt:        util.Pointer(time.Now()),
-		FiredAt:           util.Pointer(time.Now()),
-		ResolvedAt:        util.Pointer(time.Now()),
-		CurrentReason:     "abc",
-	}
-}
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/store/proto/v1/alert_rule_state.pb.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/store/proto/v1/alert_rule_state.pb.go
index 4c32cc2f879..a494c767a45 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/store/proto/v1/alert_rule_state.pb.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/store/proto/v1/alert_rule_state.pb.go
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ type AlertInstance struct {
 	ResolvedAt        *timestamppb.Timestamp `protobuf:"bytes,9,opt,name=resolved_at,json=resolvedAt,proto3" json:"resolved_at,omitempty"`
 	ResultFingerprint string                 `protobuf:"bytes,10,opt,name=result_fingerprint,json=resultFingerprint,proto3" json:"result_fingerprint,omitempty"`
 	FiredAt           *timestamppb.Timestamp `protobuf:"bytes,11,opt,name=fired_at,json=firedAt,proto3" json:"fired_at,omitempty"`
+	Annotations       map[string]string      `protobuf:"bytes,12,rep,name=annotations,proto3" json:"annotations,omitempty" protobuf_key:"bytes,1,opt,name=key" protobuf_val:"bytes,2,opt,name=value"`
 	unknownFields     protoimpl.UnknownFields
 	sizeCache         protoimpl.SizeCache
 }
@@ -146,6 +147,13 @@ func (x *AlertInstance) GetFiredAt() *timestamppb.Timestamp {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (x *AlertInstance) GetAnnotations() map[string]string {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.Annotations
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 type AlertInstances struct {
 	state         protoimpl.MessageState `protogen:"open.v1"`
 	Instances     []*AlertInstance       `protobuf:"bytes,1,rep,name=instances,proto3" json:"instances,omitempty"`
@@ -197,7 +205,7 @@ var file_alert_rule_state_proto_rawDesc = string([]byte{
 	0x74, 0x65, 0x2e, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x12, 0x10, 0x6e, 0x67, 0x61, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x72,
 	0x74, 0x2e, 0x73, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x72, 0x65, 0x2e, 0x76, 0x31, 0x1a, 0x1f, 0x67, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x67,
 	0x6c, 0x65, 0x2f, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x62, 0x75, 0x66, 0x2f, 0x74, 0x69, 0x6d, 0x65,
-	0x73, 0x74, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x70, 0x2e, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x22, 0xb3, 0x05, 0x0a, 0x0d,
+	0x73, 0x74, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x70, 0x2e, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x22, 0xc7, 0x06, 0x0a, 0x0d,
 	0x41, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x72, 0x74, 0x49, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x74, 0x61, 0x6e, 0x63, 0x65, 0x12, 0x1f, 0x0a,
 	0x0b, 0x6c, 0x61, 0x62, 0x65, 0x6c, 0x73, 0x5f, 0x68, 0x61, 0x73, 0x68, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x01,
 	0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x0a, 0x6c, 0x61, 0x62, 0x65, 0x6c, 0x73, 0x48, 0x61, 0x73, 0x68, 0x12, 0x43,
@@ -237,20 +245,29 @@ var file_alert_rule_state_proto_rawDesc = string([]byte{
 	0x35, 0x0a, 0x08, 0x66, 0x69, 0x72, 0x65, 0x64, 0x5f, 0x61, 0x74, 0x18, 0x0b, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28,
 	0x0b, 0x32, 0x1a, 0x2e, 0x67, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x67, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x2e, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f,
 	0x62, 0x75, 0x66, 0x2e, 0x54, 0x69, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x70, 0x52, 0x07, 0x66,
-	0x69, 0x72, 0x65, 0x64, 0x41, 0x74, 0x1a, 0x39, 0x0a, 0x0b, 0x4c, 0x61, 0x62, 0x65, 0x6c, 0x73,
-	0x45, 0x6e, 0x74, 0x72, 0x79, 0x12, 0x10, 0x0a, 0x03, 0x6b, 0x65, 0x79, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x01,
-	0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x03, 0x6b, 0x65, 0x79, 0x12, 0x14, 0x0a, 0x05, 0x76, 0x61, 0x6c, 0x75, 0x65,
-	0x18, 0x02, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x05, 0x76, 0x61, 0x6c, 0x75, 0x65, 0x3a, 0x02, 0x38,
-	0x01, 0x22, 0x4f, 0x0a, 0x0e, 0x41, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x72, 0x74, 0x49, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x74, 0x61, 0x6e,
-	0x63, 0x65, 0x73, 0x12, 0x3d, 0x0a, 0x09, 0x69, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x74, 0x61, 0x6e, 0x63, 0x65, 0x73,
-	0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x03, 0x28, 0x0b, 0x32, 0x1f, 0x2e, 0x6e, 0x67, 0x61, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x72, 0x74,
-	0x2e, 0x73, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x72, 0x65, 0x2e, 0x76, 0x31, 0x2e, 0x41, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x72, 0x74, 0x49,
-	0x6e, 0x73, 0x74, 0x61, 0x6e, 0x63, 0x65, 0x52, 0x09, 0x69, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x74, 0x61, 0x6e, 0x63,
-	0x65, 0x73, 0x42, 0x40, 0x5a, 0x3e, 0x67, 0x69, 0x74, 0x68, 0x75, 0x62, 0x2e, 0x63, 0x6f, 0x6d,
-	0x2f, 0x67, 0x72, 0x61, 0x66, 0x61, 0x6e, 0x61, 0x2f, 0x67, 0x72, 0x61, 0x66, 0x61, 0x6e, 0x61,
-	0x2f, 0x70, 0x6b, 0x67, 0x2f, 0x73, 0x65, 0x72, 0x76, 0x69, 0x63, 0x65, 0x73, 0x2f, 0x6e, 0x67,
-	0x61, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x72, 0x74, 0x2f, 0x73, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x72, 0x65, 0x2f, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74,
-	0x6f, 0x2f, 0x76, 0x31, 0x62, 0x06, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x33,
+	0x69, 0x72, 0x65, 0x64, 0x41, 0x74, 0x12, 0x52, 0x0a, 0x0b, 0x61, 0x6e, 0x6e, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x61,
+	0x74, 0x69, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x18, 0x0c, 0x20, 0x03, 0x28, 0x0b, 0x32, 0x30, 0x2e, 0x6e, 0x67,
+	0x61, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x72, 0x74, 0x2e, 0x73, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x72, 0x65, 0x2e, 0x76, 0x31, 0x2e, 0x41,
+	0x6c, 0x65, 0x72, 0x74, 0x49, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x74, 0x61, 0x6e, 0x63, 0x65, 0x2e, 0x41, 0x6e, 0x6e,
+	0x6f, 0x74, 0x61, 0x74, 0x69, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x45, 0x6e, 0x74, 0x72, 0x79, 0x52, 0x0b, 0x61,
+	0x6e, 0x6e, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x61, 0x74, 0x69, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x1a, 0x39, 0x0a, 0x0b, 0x4c, 0x61,
+	0x62, 0x65, 0x6c, 0x73, 0x45, 0x6e, 0x74, 0x72, 0x79, 0x12, 0x10, 0x0a, 0x03, 0x6b, 0x65, 0x79,
+	0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x03, 0x6b, 0x65, 0x79, 0x12, 0x14, 0x0a, 0x05, 0x76,
+	0x61, 0x6c, 0x75, 0x65, 0x18, 0x02, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x05, 0x76, 0x61, 0x6c, 0x75,
+	0x65, 0x3a, 0x02, 0x38, 0x01, 0x1a, 0x3e, 0x0a, 0x10, 0x41, 0x6e, 0x6e, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x61, 0x74,
+	0x69, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x45, 0x6e, 0x74, 0x72, 0x79, 0x12, 0x10, 0x0a, 0x03, 0x6b, 0x65, 0x79,
+	0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x03, 0x6b, 0x65, 0x79, 0x12, 0x14, 0x0a, 0x05, 0x76,
+	0x61, 0x6c, 0x75, 0x65, 0x18, 0x02, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x05, 0x76, 0x61, 0x6c, 0x75,
+	0x65, 0x3a, 0x02, 0x38, 0x01, 0x22, 0x4f, 0x0a, 0x0e, 0x41, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x72, 0x74, 0x49, 0x6e,
+	0x73, 0x74, 0x61, 0x6e, 0x63, 0x65, 0x73, 0x12, 0x3d, 0x0a, 0x09, 0x69, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x74, 0x61,
+	0x6e, 0x63, 0x65, 0x73, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x03, 0x28, 0x0b, 0x32, 0x1f, 0x2e, 0x6e, 0x67, 0x61,
+	0x6c, 0x65, 0x72, 0x74, 0x2e, 0x73, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x72, 0x65, 0x2e, 0x76, 0x31, 0x2e, 0x41, 0x6c,
+	0x65, 0x72, 0x74, 0x49, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x74, 0x61, 0x6e, 0x63, 0x65, 0x52, 0x09, 0x69, 0x6e, 0x73,
+	0x74, 0x61, 0x6e, 0x63, 0x65, 0x73, 0x42, 0x40, 0x5a, 0x3e, 0x67, 0x69, 0x74, 0x68, 0x75, 0x62,
+	0x2e, 0x63, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x2f, 0x67, 0x72, 0x61, 0x66, 0x61, 0x6e, 0x61, 0x2f, 0x67, 0x72, 0x61,
+	0x66, 0x61, 0x6e, 0x61, 0x2f, 0x70, 0x6b, 0x67, 0x2f, 0x73, 0x65, 0x72, 0x76, 0x69, 0x63, 0x65,
+	0x73, 0x2f, 0x6e, 0x67, 0x61, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x72, 0x74, 0x2f, 0x73, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x72, 0x65, 0x2f,
+	0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x2f, 0x76, 0x31, 0x62, 0x06, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x33,
 })
 
 var (
@@ -265,27 +282,29 @@ func file_alert_rule_state_proto_rawDescGZIP() []byte {
 	return file_alert_rule_state_proto_rawDescData
 }
 
-var file_alert_rule_state_proto_msgTypes = make([]protoimpl.MessageInfo, 3)
+var file_alert_rule_state_proto_msgTypes = make([]protoimpl.MessageInfo, 4)
 var file_alert_rule_state_proto_goTypes = []any{
 	(*AlertInstance)(nil),         // 0: ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstance
 	(*AlertInstances)(nil),        // 1: ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstances
 	nil,                           // 2: ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstance.LabelsEntry
-	(*timestamppb.Timestamp)(nil), // 3: google.protobuf.Timestamp
+	nil,                           // 3: ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstance.AnnotationsEntry
+	(*timestamppb.Timestamp)(nil), // 4: google.protobuf.Timestamp
 }
 var file_alert_rule_state_proto_depIdxs = []int32{
 	2, // 0: ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstance.labels:type_name -> ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstance.LabelsEntry
-	3, // 1: ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstance.current_state_since:type_name -> google.protobuf.Timestamp
-	3, // 2: ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstance.current_state_end:type_name -> google.protobuf.Timestamp
-	3, // 3: ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstance.last_eval_time:type_name -> google.protobuf.Timestamp
-	3, // 4: ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstance.last_sent_at:type_name -> google.protobuf.Timestamp
-	3, // 5: ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstance.resolved_at:type_name -> google.protobuf.Timestamp
-	3, // 6: ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstance.fired_at:type_name -> google.protobuf.Timestamp
-	0, // 7: ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstances.instances:type_name -> ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstance
-	8, // [8:8] is the sub-list for method output_type
-	8, // [8:8] is the sub-list for method input_type
-	8, // [8:8] is the sub-list for extension type_name
-	8, // [8:8] is the sub-list for extension extendee
-	0, // [0:8] is the sub-list for field type_name
+	4, // 1: ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstance.current_state_since:type_name -> google.protobuf.Timestamp
+	4, // 2: ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstance.current_state_end:type_name -> google.protobuf.Timestamp
+	4, // 3: ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstance.last_eval_time:type_name -> google.protobuf.Timestamp
+	4, // 4: ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstance.last_sent_at:type_name -> google.protobuf.Timestamp
+	4, // 5: ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstance.resolved_at:type_name -> google.protobuf.Timestamp
+	4, // 6: ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstance.fired_at:type_name -> google.protobuf.Timestamp
+	3, // 7: ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstance.annotations:type_name -> ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstance.AnnotationsEntry
+	0, // 8: ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstances.instances:type_name -> ngalert.store.v1.AlertInstance
+	9, // [9:9] is the sub-list for method output_type
+	9, // [9:9] is the sub-list for method input_type
+	9, // [9:9] is the sub-list for extension type_name
+	9, // [9:9] is the sub-list for extension extendee
+	0, // [0:9] is the sub-list for field type_name
 }
 
 func init() { file_alert_rule_state_proto_init() }
@@ -299,7 +318,7 @@ func file_alert_rule_state_proto_init() {
 			GoPackagePath: reflect.TypeOf(x{}).PkgPath(),
 			RawDescriptor: unsafe.Slice(unsafe.StringData(file_alert_rule_state_proto_rawDesc), len(file_alert_rule_state_proto_rawDesc)),
 			NumEnums:      0,
-			NumMessages:   3,
+			NumMessages:   4,
 			NumExtensions: 0,
 			NumServices:   0,
 		},
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/store/proto/v1/alert_rule_state.proto b/pkg/services/ngalert/store/proto/v1/alert_rule_state.proto
index e80ac93cd09..5b48b422c27 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/store/proto/v1/alert_rule_state.proto
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/store/proto/v1/alert_rule_state.proto
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ message AlertInstance {
     google.protobuf.Timestamp resolved_at = 9;
     string result_fingerprint = 10;
     google.protobuf.Timestamp fired_at = 11;
+    map<string, string> annotations = 12;
 }
 
 message AlertInstances {
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/store/proto_instance_database.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/store/proto_instance_database.go
index a9450d0851f..04ed45994e0 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/store/proto_instance_database.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/store/proto_instance_database.go
@@ -188,6 +188,7 @@ func alertInstanceModelToProto(modelInstance models.AlertInstance) *pb.AlertInst
 	return &pb.AlertInstance{
 		Labels:            modelInstance.Labels,
 		LabelsHash:        modelInstance.LabelsHash,
+		Annotations:       modelInstance.Annotations,
 		CurrentState:      string(modelInstance.CurrentState),
 		CurrentStateSince: timestamppb.New(modelInstance.CurrentStateSince),
 		CurrentStateEnd:   timestamppb.New(modelInstance.CurrentStateEnd),
@@ -255,6 +256,7 @@ func alertInstanceProtoToModel(ruleUID string, ruleOrgID int64, protoInstance *p
 			LabelsHash: protoInstance.LabelsHash,
 		},
 		Labels:            protoInstance.Labels,
+		Annotations:       protoInstance.Annotations,
 		CurrentState:      models.InstanceStateType(protoInstance.CurrentState),
 		CurrentStateSince: protoInstance.CurrentStateSince.AsTime(),
 		CurrentStateEnd:   protoInstance.CurrentStateEnd.AsTime(),
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/store/proto_instance_database_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/store/proto_instance_database_test.go
index c98923995dd..b8e809a88e8 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/store/proto_instance_database_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/store/proto_instance_database_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ func TestAlertInstanceModelToProto(t *testing.T) {
 	lastSentAt := currentStateSince.Add(-2 * time.Minute)
 	firedAt := currentStateSince.Add(-2 * time.Minute)
 	resolvedAt := currentStateSince.Add(-3 * time.Minute)
+	annotations := map[string]string{"summary": "value", "team": "alerting"}
 
 	tests := []struct {
 		name     string
@@ -28,7 +29,8 @@ func TestAlertInstanceModelToProto(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			name: "valid instance",
 			input: models.AlertInstance{
-				Labels: map[string]string{"key": "value"},
+				Labels:      map[string]string{"key": "value"},
+				Annotations: annotations,
 				AlertInstanceKey: models.AlertInstanceKey{
 					RuleUID:    "rule-uid-1",
 					RuleOrgID:  1,
@@ -46,6 +48,7 @@ func TestAlertInstanceModelToProto(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			expected: &pb.AlertInstance{
 				Labels:            map[string]string{"key": "value"},
+				Annotations:       annotations,
 				LabelsHash:        "hash123",
 				CurrentState:      "Alerting",
 				CurrentStateSince: timestamppb.New(currentStateSince),
@@ -75,6 +78,7 @@ func TestAlertInstanceProtoToModel(t *testing.T) {
 	lastSentAt := currentStateSince.Add(-2 * time.Minute).UTC()
 	firedAt := currentStateSince.Add(-2 * time.Minute).UTC()
 	resolvedAt := currentStateSince.Add(-3 * time.Minute).UTC()
+	annotations := map[string]string{"summary": "value", "team": "alerting"}
 	ruleUID := "rule-uid-1"
 	orgID := int64(1)
 
@@ -87,6 +91,7 @@ func TestAlertInstanceProtoToModel(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "valid instance",
 			input: &pb.AlertInstance{
 				Labels:            map[string]string{"key": "value"},
+				Annotations:       annotations,
 				LabelsHash:        "hash123",
 				CurrentState:      "Alerting",
 				CurrentStateSince: timestamppb.New(currentStateSince),
@@ -98,7 +103,8 @@ func TestAlertInstanceProtoToModel(t *testing.T) {
 				ResultFingerprint: "fingerprint",
 			},
 			expected: &models.AlertInstance{
-				Labels: map[string]string{"key": "value"},
+				Labels:      map[string]string{"key": "value"},
+				Annotations: annotations,
 				AlertInstanceKey: models.AlertInstanceKey{
 					RuleUID:    ruleUID,
 					RuleOrgID:  orgID,
@@ -132,7 +138,7 @@ func TestModelAlertInstanceMatchesProtobuf(t *testing.T) {
 	// and update them accordingly.
 	t.Run("when AlertInstance model changes", func(t *testing.T) {
 		modelType := reflect.TypeOf(models.AlertInstance{})
-		require.Equal(t, 11, modelType.NumField(), "AlertInstance model has changed, update the protobuf")
+		require.Equal(t, 12, modelType.NumField(), "AlertInstance model has changed, update the protobuf")
 	})
 }
 
@@ -142,6 +148,7 @@ func TestCompressAndDecompressAlertInstances(t *testing.T) {
 	alertInstances := []*pb.AlertInstance{
 		{
 			Labels:            map[string]string{"label-1": "value-1"},
+			Annotations:       map[string]string{"anno-1": "value-1"},
 			LabelsHash:        "hash-1",
 			CurrentState:      "normal",
 			CurrentStateSince: timestamppb.New(now),
@@ -154,6 +161,7 @@ func TestCompressAndDecompressAlertInstances(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		{
 			Labels:            map[string]string{"label-2": "value-2"},
+			Annotations:       map[string]string{"anno-2": "value-2"},
 			LabelsHash:        "hash-2",
 			CurrentState:      "firing",
 			CurrentStateSince: timestamppb.New(now),
@@ -185,6 +193,7 @@ func TestConvertAndCompressAlertInstances(t *testing.T) {
 				LabelsHash: "hash-1",
 			},
 			Labels:            map[string]string{"label-1": "value-1"},
+			Annotations:       map[string]string{"anno-1": "value-1"},
 			CurrentState:      models.InstanceStateFiring,
 			CurrentStateSince: now,
 			CurrentStateEnd:   now.Add(time.Hour),
@@ -202,6 +211,7 @@ func TestConvertAndCompressAlertInstances(t *testing.T) {
 				LabelsHash: "hash-2",
 			},
 			Labels:            map[string]string{"label-2": "value-2"},
+			Annotations:       map[string]string{"anno-2": "value-2"},
 			CurrentState:      models.InstanceStateNormal,
 			CurrentStateSince: now,
 			CurrentStateEnd:   now.Add(time.Hour),
@@ -227,6 +237,7 @@ func TestConvertAndCompressAlertInstances(t *testing.T) {
 	for i, protoInstance := range decompressedInstances {
 		modelInstance := alertInstanceProtoToModel("rule-uid-1", 1, protoInstance)
 		require.Equal(t, modelInstances[i].Labels, modelInstance.Labels)
+		require.Equal(t, modelInstances[i].Annotations, modelInstance.Annotations)
 		require.Equal(t, modelInstances[i].CurrentState, modelInstance.CurrentState)
 		require.Equal(t, modelInstances[i].LabelsHash, modelInstance.LabelsHash)
 		require.Equal(t, modelInstances[i].ResultFingerprint, modelInstance.ResultFingerprint)
diff --git a/pkg/services/sqlstore/migrations/migrations.go b/pkg/services/sqlstore/migrations/migrations.go
index 4fc4e1df131..e713525c0f6 100644
--- a/pkg/services/sqlstore/migrations/migrations.go
+++ b/pkg/services/sqlstore/migrations/migrations.go
@@ -163,5 +163,7 @@ func (oss *OSSMigrations) AddMigration(mg *Migrator) {
 
 	ualert.AddAlertRuleGroupIndexMigration(mg)
 
+	ualert.AddStateAnnotationsColumn(mg)
+
 	ualert.CollateBinAlertRuleGroup(mg)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/services/sqlstore/migrations/ualert/state_annotations_mig.go b/pkg/services/sqlstore/migrations/ualert/state_annotations_mig.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e4f599c9f44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/services/sqlstore/migrations/ualert/state_annotations_mig.go
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+package ualert
+
+import "github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/sqlstore/migrator"
+
+// AddStateAnnotationsColumn adds annotations column to alert_instance
+func AddStateAnnotationsColumn(mg *migrator.Migrator) {
+	mg.AddMigration("add annotations column to alert_instance table", migrator.NewAddColumnMigration(migrator.Table{Name: "alert_instance"}, &migrator.Column{
+		Name:     "annotations",
+		Type:     migrator.DB_Text,
+		Nullable: true,
+	}))
+}
diff --git a/pkg/storage/unified/resourcepb/search.pb.go b/pkg/storage/unified/resourcepb/search.pb.go
index 91f5aadfa97..459e9aa3429 100644
--- a/pkg/storage/unified/resourcepb/search.pb.go
+++ b/pkg/storage/unified/resourcepb/search.pb.go
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ func (x *ResourceSearchResponse) GetFacet() map[string]*ResourceSearchResponse_F
 
 type RebuildIndexesRequest struct {
 	state protoimpl.MessageState `protogen:"open.v1"`
-	// Namespace (tenant)
+	// Namespace (tenant) must be the same as all keys' namespace
 	Namespace string `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=namespace,proto3" json:"namespace,omitempty"`
 	// List of ResourceKeys (Namespace + Group + Resource)
 	Keys          []*ResourceKey `protobuf:"bytes,2,rep,name=keys,proto3" json:"keys,omitempty"`