diff --git a/litellm/integrations/otel/logger.py b/litellm/integrations/otel/logger.py
index 70a6a051ec5..4ecde6f998b 100644
--- a/litellm/integrations/otel/logger.py
+++ b/litellm/integrations/otel/logger.py
@@ -9,7 +9,15 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Final, cast
 from opentelemetry.context import Context, attach, get_current
 from opentelemetry.sdk._logs import LoggerProvider
 from opentelemetry.sdk.trace import TracerProvider
-from opentelemetry.trace import Span, Tracer, get_current_span, use_span
+from opentelemetry.trace import (
+    INVALID_SPAN,
+    Link,
+    Span,
+    Tracer,
+    get_current_span,
+    set_span_in_context,
+    use_span,
+)
 
 import litellm
 from litellm._logging import verbose_logger
@@ -114,6 +122,12 @@ _OTEL_MODULES: Final = (
 _OPEN_CALLS_MAX: Final = 10_000
 
 
+def _request_trace_links(context: Context | None) -> tuple[Link, ...] | None:
+    """A link back to the request trace, for a span detached into its own trace."""
+    anchor: Final = get_current_span(context).get_span_context()
+    return (Link(anchor),) if anchor.is_valid else None
+
+
 class _LLMCallSpan:
     """The state carried from the ``pre_call`` boundary to span close.
 
@@ -259,14 +273,20 @@ class OpenTelemetryV2(CustomLogger):
         # falling back to ambient on the SDK path. Open the span live only when
         # that resolves to a recordable parent; otherwise defer to the close
         # callback (the thread-pool case, where the anchor isn't visible here).
+        # A detached route roots its own trace instead (linked to the request
+        # trace) — see ``TenantRoute.detached``.
+        route: Final = self._tenant_tracers.route_for(self.tracer, call.dynamic_params, call.auth_metadata)
         parent_context: Final = resolve_request_span_context()
         if is_recordable_span(get_current_span(parent_context)):
             span = self._emitter.start_span(
                 SpanRole.LLM_CALL,
                 call.provisional_span_name,
-                parent_context=parent_context,
+                parent_context=(
+                    set_span_in_context(INVALID_SPAN, parent_context) if route.detached else parent_context
+                ),
                 start_time_ns=start_time_ns,
-                tracer=self._tenant_tracers.tracer_for(self.tracer, call.dynamic_params, call.auth_metadata),
+                tracer=route.tracer,
+                links=_request_trace_links(parent_context) if route.detached else None,
             )
         self._open_llm_calls[call_id] = _LLMCallSpan(span=span, start_time_ns=start_time_ns)
         # Evict the oldest open call if the map is over budget. A call that opens
@@ -368,16 +388,17 @@ class OpenTelemetryV2(CustomLogger):
         # as a phantom LLM span.
         if data.identity.call_id:
             self._open_llm_calls.pop(data.identity.call_id, None)
+        route: Final = self._tenant_tracers.route_for(self.tracer, None, auth_metadata(payload, kwargs))
         parent_context, links = resolve_mcp_span_context()
-        parent_context = self._seed_identity_baggage(data.identity, None, parent_context)
+        seeded: Final = self._seed_identity_baggage(data.identity, None, parent_context)
         self._emitter.emit(
             SpanRole.MCP_TOOL_CALL,
             data,
-            parent_context=parent_context,
+            parent_context=(set_span_in_context(INVALID_SPAN, seeded) if route.detached else seeded),
             start_time_ns=to_ns(start_time),
             end_time_ns=to_ns(end_time),
-            links=links,
-            tracer=self._tenant_tracers.tracer_for(self.tracer, None, auth_metadata(payload, kwargs)),
+            links=((*(links or ()), *(_request_trace_links(seeded) or ())) if route.detached else links),
+            tracer=route.tracer,
         )
         return True
 
@@ -405,16 +426,17 @@ class OpenTelemetryV2(CustomLogger):
         )
         if data.identity.call_id:
             self._open_llm_calls.pop(data.identity.call_id, None)
+        route: Final = self._tenant_tracers.route_for(self.tracer, None, auth_metadata(payload, kwargs))
         parent_context, links = resolve_mcp_span_context()
-        parent_context = self._seed_identity_baggage(data.identity, None, parent_context)
+        seeded: Final = self._seed_identity_baggage(data.identity, None, parent_context)
         self._emitter.emit(
             SpanRole.MCP_LIST_TOOLS,
             data,
-            parent_context=parent_context,
+            parent_context=(set_span_in_context(INVALID_SPAN, seeded) if route.detached else seeded),
             start_time_ns=to_ns(start_time),
             end_time_ns=to_ns(end_time),
-            links=links,
-            tracer=self._tenant_tracers.tracer_for(self.tracer, None, auth_metadata(payload, kwargs)),
+            links=((*(links or ()), *(_request_trace_links(seeded) or ())) if route.detached else links),
+            tracer=route.tracer,
         )
         return True
 
@@ -460,15 +482,17 @@ class OpenTelemetryV2(CustomLogger):
         # The worker copied the request task's context, which carries the anchored
         # root span — parent to it (ambient fallback on the SDK path). Seed identity
         # Baggage so the span — and the SDK path, which has none — is labeled
-        # consistently.
+        # consistently. A detached route roots its own trace instead, linked back.
+        route: Final = self._tenant_tracers.route_for(self.tracer, call.dynamic_params, call.auth_metadata)
         parent_ctx = self._seed_identity_baggage(data.identity, data.request_model, resolve_request_span_context())
         return self._emitter.emit(
             SpanRole.LLM_CALL,
             data,
-            parent_context=parent_ctx,
+            parent_context=(set_span_in_context(INVALID_SPAN, parent_ctx) if route.detached else parent_ctx),
             start_time_ns=carrier.start_time_ns,
             end_time_ns=end_time_ns,
-            tracer=self._tenant_tracers.tracer_for(self.tracer, call.dynamic_params, call.auth_metadata),
+            tracer=route.tracer,
+            links=_request_trace_links(parent_ctx) if route.detached else None,
         )
 
     # ====================================================================== #
diff --git a/litellm/integrations/otel/plumbing/routing.py b/litellm/integrations/otel/plumbing/routing.py
index f236343fae4..2377cac3d97 100644
--- a/litellm/integrations/otel/plumbing/routing.py
+++ b/litellm/integrations/otel/plumbing/routing.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ needing a logger per tenant.
 
 from collections import OrderedDict
 from collections.abc import Mapping
+from dataclasses import dataclass
 from types import MappingProxyType
 from typing import Any, Final, TypeAlias
 from urllib.parse import quote
@@ -76,6 +77,23 @@ def _encoded_header_string(headers: Mapping[str, str]) -> str:
     return ",".join(f"{key}={quote(value, safe='')}" for key, value in headers.items())
 
 
+@dataclass(frozen=True, slots=True)
+class TenantRoute:
+    """The tracer to create a span on, plus whether it must root its own trace.
+
+    ``detached`` is True when project routing engaged. Phoenix assigns a whole
+    trace to one project by whichever of its spans arrives first, so a
+    project-routed span parented into the request trace gets dragged into the
+    project of the default-exported request spans and the header does nothing.
+    The span must therefore start a fresh trace (with a link back to the
+    request trace for correlation) — which is also how the v1 Phoenix logger
+    behaved, exporting each request under its own Phoenix-local parent span.
+    """
+
+    tracer: Tracer
+    detached: bool
+
+
 class TenantTracerCache:
     """Credential/project-scoped ``TracerProvider`` cache keyed by the routing headers."""
 
@@ -95,13 +113,13 @@ class TenantTracerCache:
         )
         self._warned_project_unroutable = False
 
-    def tracer_for(
+    def route_for(
         self,
         default: Tracer,
         dynamic_params: Any,
         auth_metadata: Mapping[str, str] | None = None,
-    ) -> Tracer:
-        """Return the tracer for this request.
+    ) -> TenantRoute:
+        """Return the tracer (and trace-detachment flag) for this request.
 
         Use ``default`` unless the request's dynamic credentials or its key/team
         project require a scoped tracer, in which case build (or reuse) one. The
@@ -111,7 +129,7 @@ class TenantTracerCache:
         credential_headers: Final = dynamic_otlp_headers(self._callback_name, dynamic_params) or _NO_HEADERS
         project_headers: Final = self._project_headers(auth_metadata)
         if not credential_headers and not project_headers:
-            return default
+            return TenantRoute(tracer=default, detached=False)
         cache_key: Final = (
             tuple(sorted(credential_headers.items())),
             tuple(sorted(project_headers.items())),
@@ -125,7 +143,7 @@ class TenantTracerCache:
             if len(self._providers) > _MAX_CACHED_PROVIDERS:
                 _, evicted = self._providers.popitem(last=False)
                 _shutdown_provider(evicted)
-        return get_tracer(provider, self._tracer_name)
+        return TenantRoute(tracer=get_tracer(provider, self._tracer_name), detached=bool(project_headers))
 
     def _project_headers(self, auth_metadata: Mapping[str, str] | None) -> Mapping[str, str]:
         """The per-request project-routing headers, if this cache can apply them.
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/integrations/otel/test_otel_v2_dynamic.py b/tests/test_litellm/integrations/otel/test_otel_v2_dynamic.py
index 41a5e38be18..7e7af9c725a 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/integrations/otel/test_otel_v2_dynamic.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/integrations/otel/test_otel_v2_dynamic.py
@@ -75,10 +75,10 @@ def test_provider_cached_per_credential_set():
     creds_a = {"arize_space_id": "S", "arize_api_key": "K"}
     creds_b = {"arize_space_id": "S2", "arize_api_key": "K2"}
 
-    cache.tracer_for(default, creds_a)
-    cache.tracer_for(default, creds_a)  # same set → reuse, no new provider
+    cache.route_for(default, creds_a)
+    cache.route_for(default, creds_a)  # same set → reuse, no new provider
     assert len(cache._providers) == 1
-    cache.tracer_for(default, creds_b)  # new set → new provider
+    cache.route_for(default, creds_b)  # new set → new provider
     assert len(cache._providers) == 2
 
 
@@ -101,10 +101,10 @@ def test_provider_cache_is_bounded_and_evicts_lru(monkeypatch):
     def creds(space):
         return {"arize_space_id": space, "arize_api_key": "K"}
 
-    cache.tracer_for(default, creds("1"))
-    cache.tracer_for(default, creds("2"))
-    cache.tracer_for(default, creds("1"))  # touch "1" → "2" is now LRU
-    cache.tracer_for(default, creds("3"))  # overflow → evict "2"
+    cache.route_for(default, creds("1"))
+    cache.route_for(default, creds("2"))
+    cache.route_for(default, creds("1"))  # touch "1" → "2" is now LRU
+    cache.route_for(default, creds("3"))  # overflow → evict "2"
 
     assert len(cache._providers) == 2
     assert len(shut_down) == 1  # exactly the evicted provider was shut down
@@ -113,14 +113,14 @@ def test_provider_cache_is_bounded_and_evicts_lru(monkeypatch):
 def test_no_dynamic_params_uses_default_tracer():
     cache = _cache("arize")
     default = NoOpTracer()
-    assert cache.tracer_for(default, {}) is default
+    assert cache.route_for(default, {}).tracer is default
     assert cache._providers == {}
 
 
 def test_non_participating_callback_uses_default_tracer():
     cache = _cache("arize_phoenix")
     default = NoOpTracer()
-    assert cache.tracer_for(default, {"arize_api_key": "K"}) is default
+    assert cache.route_for(default, {"arize_api_key": "K"}).tracer is default
     assert cache._providers == {}
 
 
@@ -258,11 +258,12 @@ def test_project_header_does_not_touch_other_exporters():
 def test_provider_cached_per_project():
     cache = _phoenix_cache()
     default = NoOpTracer()
-    routed = cache.tracer_for(default, None, {"phoenix_project_name": "proj-a"})
-    assert routed is not default
-    cache.tracer_for(default, None, {"phoenix_project_name": "proj-a"})
+    routed = cache.route_for(default, None, {"phoenix_project_name": "proj-a"})
+    assert routed.tracer is not default
+    assert routed.detached is True  # project spans must root their own trace
+    cache.route_for(default, None, {"phoenix_project_name": "proj-a"})
     assert len(cache._providers) == 1
-    cache.tracer_for(default, None, {"phoenix_project_name": "proj-b"})
+    cache.route_for(default, None, {"phoenix_project_name": "proj-b"})
     assert len(cache._providers) == 2
     for provider in cache._providers.values():
         provider.shutdown()
@@ -274,9 +275,9 @@ def test_client_dynamic_params_cannot_choose_phoenix_project():
     # config (the ``auth_metadata`` argument).
     cache = _phoenix_cache()
     default = NoOpTracer()
-    assert cache.tracer_for(default, {"phoenix_project_name": "attacker"}) is default
+    assert cache.route_for(default, {"phoenix_project_name": "attacker"}).tracer is default
     assert (
-        cache.tracer_for(default, {"phoenix_project_name_override": "attacker"})
+        cache.route_for(default, {"phoenix_project_name_override": "attacker"}).tracer
         is default
     )
     assert cache._providers == {}
@@ -285,7 +286,7 @@ def test_client_dynamic_params_cannot_choose_phoenix_project():
 def test_auth_metadata_without_project_uses_default_tracer():
     cache = _phoenix_cache()
     default = NoOpTracer()
-    assert cache.tracer_for(default, None, {"logging_setting": "x"}) is default
+    assert cache.route_for(default, None, {"logging_setting": "x"}).tracer is default
     assert cache._providers == {}
 
 
@@ -294,6 +295,6 @@ def test_grpc_exporter_gets_no_project_routing():
     # gRPC-only Phoenix exporter stays on the default project (warned once).
     cache = _phoenix_cache(kind="otlp_grpc")
     default = NoOpTracer()
-    assert cache.tracer_for(default, None, {"phoenix_project_name": "proj"}) is default
+    assert cache.route_for(default, None, {"phoenix_project_name": "proj"}).tracer is default
     assert cache._providers == {}
     assert cache._warned_project_unroutable is True
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/integrations/otel/test_otel_v2_logger.py b/tests/test_litellm/integrations/otel/test_otel_v2_logger.py
index f077f58f209..de05b90676f 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/integrations/otel/test_otel_v2_logger.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/integrations/otel/test_otel_v2_logger.py
@@ -2335,6 +2335,7 @@ def test_key_team_auth_metadata_routes_llm_span_to_phoenix_project():
     assert parsed["authorization"] == "Bearer phoenix-key"
     routed_spans = captured[headers].get_finished_spans()
     assert len(routed_spans) == 1
+    assert routed_spans[0].parent is None  # own trace, so Phoenix can route it
 
 
 def test_client_request_metadata_cannot_route_phoenix_project():
@@ -2381,7 +2382,13 @@ def test_project_routing_resolves_at_pre_call_before_payload_exists():
     asyncio.run(logger.async_log_success_event(close_kwargs, None, None, None))
 
     (headers,) = captured
-    assert [s.name for s in captured[headers].get_finished_spans()] == ["chat gpt-4o"]
+    (routed_span,) = captured[headers].get_finished_spans()
+    assert routed_span.name == "chat gpt-4o"
+    # Phoenix pins a whole trace to one project by its first-arriving span, so
+    # the routed span must root its OWN trace, linked back to the request trace.
+    assert routed_span.parent is None
+    (link,) = routed_span.links
+    assert link.context.span_id == server.get_span_context().span_id
     assert all(
         s.name != "chat gpt-4o" for s in default_exporter.get_finished_spans()
     )