diff --git a/src/strands/session/file_session_manager.py b/src/strands/session/file_session_manager.py
index 491f7ad60..93adeb7f2 100644
--- a/src/strands/session/file_session_manager.py
+++ b/src/strands/session/file_session_manager.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 """File-based session manager for local filesystem storage."""
 
+import asyncio
 import json
 import logging
 import os
@@ -231,11 +232,20 @@ def list_messages(
         else:
             message_files = message_files[offset:]
 
-        # Load only the message files
-        messages: list[SessionMessage] = []
-        for filename in message_files:
+        return asyncio.run(self._load_messages_concurrently(messages_dir, message_files))
+
+    async def _load_messages_concurrently(self, messages_dir: str, message_files: list[str]) -> list[SessionMessage]:
+        """Load multiple message files concurrently using async."""
+        if not message_files:
+            return []
+
+        async def load_message(filename: str) -> SessionMessage:
             file_path = os.path.join(messages_dir, filename)
-            message_data = self._read_file(file_path)
-            messages.append(SessionMessage.from_dict(message_data))
+            loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
+            message_data = await loop.run_in_executor(None, self._read_file, file_path)
+            return SessionMessage.from_dict(message_data)
+
+        tasks = [load_message(filename) for filename in message_files]
+        messages = await asyncio.gather(*tasks)
 
         return messages
diff --git a/src/strands/session/s3_session_manager.py b/src/strands/session/s3_session_manager.py
index c6ce28d80..1f6ffe7f1 100644
--- a/src/strands/session/s3_session_manager.py
+++ b/src/strands/session/s3_session_manager.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 """S3-based session manager for cloud storage."""
 
+import asyncio
 import json
 import logging
 from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional, cast
@@ -283,14 +284,23 @@ def list_messages(
             else:
                 message_keys = message_keys[offset:]
 
-            # Load only the required message objects
-            messages: List[SessionMessage] = []
-            for key in message_keys:
-                message_data = self._read_s3_object(key)
-                if message_data:
-                    messages.append(SessionMessage.from_dict(message_data))
-
-            return messages
+            # Load message objects concurrently using async
+            return asyncio.run(self._load_messages_concurrently(message_keys))
 
         except ClientError as e:
             raise SessionException(f"S3 error reading messages: {e}") from e
+
+    async def _load_messages_concurrently(self, message_keys: List[str]) -> List[SessionMessage]:
+        """Load multiple message objects concurrently using async."""
+        if not message_keys:
+            return []
+
+        async def load_message(key: str) -> Optional[SessionMessage]:
+            loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
+            message_data = await loop.run_in_executor(None, self._read_s3_object, key)
+            return SessionMessage.from_dict(message_data) if message_data else None
+
+        tasks = [load_message(key) for key in message_keys]
+        loaded_messages = await asyncio.gather(*tasks)
+
+        return [msg for msg in loaded_messages if msg is not None]