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The Open Home Foundation has released the Home Assistant 2026.11 beta, exposing Matter camera feeds in the frontend and adding a Labs preview for two-way audio. The update also brings HACS into the core interface as a built-in Marketplace and changes controls for several Matter devices. The public release is scheduled for Nov. 4, according to the report.
The Open Home Foundation has released the Home Assistant 2026.11 beta, adding frontend support for Matter camera feeds and a Labs preview of two-way audio. The update also integrates the Home Assistant Community Store (HACS) into the core interface as a built-in Marketplace, making the beta a substantial update for users managing cameras, community add-ons and Matter devices.
With an updated Matter Server, compatible cameras can appear in Home Assistant as standard camera entities, with snapshots and live video available in the interface. The report says streams use WebRTC between the browser and camera, and the entity reflects hardware state such as whether the camera’s privacy mode is active. The change brings camera features already present in the Matter.js server into Home Assistant’s main frontend.
Two-way audio is a Labs preview, rather than a general default feature. Once enabled in system settings, a talk button appears on supported live streams. At launch, the report lists Matter cameras and Reolink cameras configured through RTSP as supported; RTMP and FLV streams cannot carry the return audio described. Browser microphone access currently requires opening Home Assistant over HTTPS. Support for companion apps over HTTP is in development, according to the report.
The release also makes HACS available from the main settings menu as the Marketplace, where users can browse, install and update custom integrations, dashboard cards and themes. Existing HACS installations are reported to migrate automatically. The community projects remain maintained by their individual developers and are not officially supported by Home Assistant, the source report cautions.
Matter Cameras Reach the Dashboard
The camera change closes a gap between backend protocol support and the controls most Home Assistant users interact with. Instead of relying on the Matter server’s underlying capabilities alone, users with compatible hardware can access snapshots and live feeds as camera entities in the platform. The addition of talkback, where supported, also lets a user speak through a camera or doorbell from its live stream.
Those capabilities could make Matter cameras more practical within a Home Assistant setup, but the beta’s limitations matter: audio support depends on the stream type, and browser use requires HTTPS. The feature is also marked as a preview, so users should treat behavior and availability as subject to change before the stable release.
The built-in Marketplace is a separate but related convenience for users who customize their systems. Putting community integrations and interface components in the core settings may simplify access, while the distinction between community-maintained projects and officially supported Home Assistant features remains important for troubleshooting and expectations.
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From Matter Server to Frontend
Home Assistant’s Matter integration uses the Matter.js server as its backend. According to the source report, camera capabilities were supported there before this beta exposed them through Home Assistant’s frontend. The 2026.11 change is therefore an interface and user-access update as well as a protocol-related development: compatible devices can now be presented as ordinary camera entities in the dashboard.
Other changes address how existing devices and automations behave. Matter climate entities now restore their last active heating or cooling mode when switched back on, rather than reverting to a default mode. The report warns that automations relying on the old fallback behavior may need to specify HVAC modes directly. Tilt-only Matter covers now appear as tilt covers, with dedicated tilt actions; scripts and voice routines using standard open and close commands may need adjustment.
Additional listed changes include reverse motor direction for Matter window coverings, a travel-time selector for WAGO Home Blind Control, a power-on color-temperature entity for lighting and support for Matter thermostat setpoint attributes. The update also changes how some air-quality sensor units are handled and adds bridged devices to the Matter network map. These accompanying items are part of the beta, but the source does not provide a full compatibility matrix or device-by-device test results.
“The update bridges the gap between the recent Matter.js server upgrade and the main Home Assistant interface.”
— Matter Alpha report
Compatibility and Beta Limits
The source does not identify every compatible Matter camera model or give a complete list of hardware tested with the beta. It also does not specify whether all features described will be present in the final build. Because 2026.11 is a beta, the report cautions that some announced features may not yet be available in the test release if they need more work.
It remains unclear when companion-app support for two-way audio over HTTP will arrive; the report says that work is in development but gives no release date. Users should also check whether their camera uses a supported stream type and whether their Home Assistant connection meets the HTTPS requirement before expecting browser talkback to work.
The effects of unit handling changes on existing air-quality sensors may vary with the units they report. The report says convertible readings such as ppb may be converted to match an existing entity’s unit, while certain density-based TVOC sensors will change device class and may require a statistics update or cleanup. It does not detail how every database or automation will be affected.
Stable Release Due Nov. 4
The source report says the public Home Assistant 2026.11 release is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 4, following the beta. That timing is the next stated milestone; the report does not provide a separate date for companion-app talkback or other features still under development.
Users testing the beta can check the release notes and verify camera compatibility, HTTPS access and automation behavior before relying on the new controls. Those upgrading should review climate automations and scripts or voice routines for tilt-only covers, since the changed entity behavior may require explicit modes or tilt actions. The final feature set and any adjustments made during beta testing remain subject to confirmation at public release.
Key Questions
What camera features are new in Home Assistant 2026.11?
The beta exposes compatible Matter cameras as standard camera entities, with snapshots and live video. The source says video uses WebRTC between the browser and camera when paired with an updated Matter Server.
How does two-way talk work, and what are its limits?
Two-way audio is a Labs preview that adds a talk button to supported live streams once enabled. The report lists Matter cameras and Reolink cameras using RTSP; it says RTMP and FLV cannot carry return audio. Browser access currently requires HTTPS.
What is the new Home Assistant Marketplace?
It brings HACS into the core interface, where users can browse, install and update community integrations, dashboard cards and themes. The listed projects remain maintained by their developers and are not officially supported by Home Assistant.
Could the update require changes to my automations?
Possibly. Climate entities now resume their last active mode, so automations that depended on the former fallback may need to name an HVAC mode directly. Scripts and voice routines for tilt-only covers may also need to use the new tilt actions.
When is Home Assistant 2026.11 expected to be released?
The source report says the public release is scheduled for Nov. 4. The current build is a beta, and the report warns that not every feature is guaranteed to be present before the final rollout.
Source: matteralpha.com
