diff --git a/litellm/__init__.py b/litellm/__init__.py
index 3b67d9e002..0c3d8f9926 100644
--- a/litellm/__init__.py
+++ b/litellm/__init__.py
@@ -376,6 +376,7 @@ datadog_params: Optional[Union[DatadogInitParams, Dict]] = None
 aws_sqs_callback_params: Optional[Dict] = None
 generic_logger_headers: Optional[Dict] = None
 default_key_generate_params: Optional[Dict] = None
+default_key_max_budget_alert_emails: Optional[Dict[str, list]] = None
 upperbound_key_generate_params: Optional[LiteLLM_UpperboundKeyGenerateParams] = None
 key_generation_settings: Optional["StandardKeyGenerationConfig"] = None
 default_internal_user_params: Optional[Dict] = None
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/auth/auth_checks.py b/litellm/proxy/auth/auth_checks.py
index fbc24ab17c..19751f6edc 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/auth/auth_checks.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/auth/auth_checks.py
@@ -2966,7 +2966,7 @@ async def _virtual_key_max_budget_alert_check(
         owner_email = user_obj.user_email if user_obj else None
         alert_email_config = (valid_token.metadata or {}).get(
             "max_budget_alert_emails"
-        )
+        ) or litellm.default_key_max_budget_alert_emails
 
         if isinstance(alert_email_config, dict) and alert_email_config:
             # New path: pass the map through, let the email handler decide what to fire
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/auth/test_auth_checks.py b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/auth/test_auth_checks.py
index d9ab8e06d0..0f7ffa541a 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/auth/test_auth_checks.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/auth/test_auth_checks.py
@@ -1652,6 +1652,86 @@ async def test_virtual_key_max_budget_alert_check_old_path_below_threshold_no_al
     assert alert_triggered is False
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_virtual_key_max_budget_alert_check_global_fallback():
+    """Test that litellm.default_key_max_budget_alert_emails is used when key metadata has no map"""
+    alert_triggered = False
+    captured_call_info = None
+
+    class MockProxyLogging:
+        async def budget_alerts(self, type, user_info):
+            nonlocal alert_triggered, captured_call_info
+            alert_triggered = True
+            captured_call_info = user_info
+
+    global_config = {
+        "50": ["global-finance@co.com"],
+        "75": ["global-finance@co.com", "global-lead@co.com"],
+    }
+    valid_token = UserAPIKeyAuth(
+        token="test-token",
+        spend=30.0,
+        max_budget=100.0,
+        user_id="test-user",
+        key_alias="test-key",
+        metadata={},  # no per-key config
+    )
+
+    import litellm
+    original = litellm.default_key_max_budget_alert_emails
+    try:
+        litellm.default_key_max_budget_alert_emails = global_config
+        await _virtual_key_max_budget_alert_check(
+            valid_token=valid_token,
+            proxy_logging_obj=MockProxyLogging(),
+            user_obj=None,
+        )
+        await asyncio.sleep(0.1)
+
+        assert alert_triggered is True
+        assert captured_call_info.max_budget_alert_emails == global_config
+    finally:
+        litellm.default_key_max_budget_alert_emails = original
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_virtual_key_max_budget_alert_check_per_key_overrides_global():
+    """Test that per-key metadata takes priority over global fallback"""
+    captured_call_info = None
+
+    class MockProxyLogging:
+        async def budget_alerts(self, type, user_info):
+            nonlocal captured_call_info
+            captured_call_info = user_info
+
+    per_key_config = {"50": ["per-key@co.com"]}
+    global_config = {"75": ["global@co.com"]}
+
+    valid_token = UserAPIKeyAuth(
+        token="test-token",
+        spend=30.0,
+        max_budget=100.0,
+        user_id="test-user",
+        key_alias="test-key",
+        metadata={"max_budget_alert_emails": per_key_config},
+    )
+
+    import litellm
+    original = litellm.default_key_max_budget_alert_emails
+    try:
+        litellm.default_key_max_budget_alert_emails = global_config
+        await _virtual_key_max_budget_alert_check(
+            valid_token=valid_token,
+            proxy_logging_obj=MockProxyLogging(),
+            user_obj=None,
+        )
+        await asyncio.sleep(0.1)
+
+        assert captured_call_info.max_budget_alert_emails == per_key_config
+    finally:
+        litellm.default_key_max_budget_alert_emails = original
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_get_fuzzy_user_object_case_insensitive_email():
     """Test that _get_fuzzy_user_object uses case-insensitive email lookup"""