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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 release also brings HACS into the core interface as a built-in Marketplace and changes controls for several Matter devices. The beta is available for testing; the stated public release date is Nov. 4.
The Open Home Foundation has released the Home Assistant 2026.11 beta, adding Matter camera feeds to the platform’s frontend and a Labs preview of two-way audio. The update also moves the Home Assistant Community Store (HACS) into the core interface as a built-in Marketplace, while changing controls and behavior for a range of Matter devices.
With a compatible camera and an updated Matter Server, cameras can appear in Home Assistant as standard camera entities, with snapshots and live video. The report says video uses WebRTC between the browser and camera, and the entity reflects device state, including whether privacy mode is on. The change exposes camera functions already supported in the Matter.js server through Home Assistant’s main interface.
Two-way talk is a Labs preview that users must enable in system settings. A talk button then appears on supported live streams. At launch, the feature works with Matter cameras and Reolink cameras configured over RTSP; the report says RTMP and FLV streams cannot carry return audio. Reolink told Matter Alpha that its main-powered cameras with speakers should support the capabilities through the Home Assistant integration. Microphone access currently requires Home Assistant to be opened over HTTPS; companion-app support over HTTP is in development.
The beta also makes HACS available as a built-in Marketplace from the settings menu, for browsing, installing and updating custom integrations, dashboard cards and themes. Existing HACS setups are expected to migrate automatically, according to the report. Community projects remain maintained by their developers and are not thereby officially supported by Home Assistant. Other changes include updated climate-mode behavior, improved tilt-only blind controls, additional lighting and covering settings, Matter sensor-unit fixes, and bridged devices appearing on the Matter network map.
Camera Feeds and Talk in Home Assistant
The camera changes bring a device category that was supported in the Matter backend into the interface used by Home Assistant users. That means compatible cameras can be viewed as ordinary entities alongside other smart-home controls, rather than requiring users to treat the server capability as an unfinished backend feature. Live video and snapshots make the update relevant to people who want camera feeds within their existing dashboards.
Two-way audio adds a way to respond through a camera or doorbell from a live stream, but its initial limits matter: users need a supported camera and stream type, and a secure HTTPS connection for browser microphone access. The Marketplace change is a separate usability development, bringing community add-ons into the main settings experience. It does not change who supports those projects: community developers remain responsible for their own work.
Several device updates may also require user action. For example, scripts that relied on older blind open-and-close commands may need revisions for tilt-only covers, while automations depending on the prior climate fallback behavior may need to call a specific HVAC mode. The release therefore combines new capabilities with possible maintenance for existing setups.
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From Matter Server to Dashboard
The Matter.js server already provided backend camera capabilities, according to the source report. Home Assistant 2026.11 connects those capabilities to the frontend, where users can access camera entities and streams. The release pairs that work with two-way audio as an optional Labs feature, rather than presenting talkback as a mature, universally available function.
The update also changes how some device types are represented and controlled. Tilt-only Matter blinds will appear as tilt covers, and climate entities will resume their last active heating or cooling mode when switched back on. The report warns that existing scripts, voice routines and automations using older commands or fallback behavior may need adjustment. The sensor changes affect how reported units are handled, including potential cleanup for some existing TVOC entities.
The source identifies the release as a beta for testing, not the final rollout. It gives Nov. 4, 2026, as the scheduled public release date and cautions that features may not all be present in the beta if they need more work.
““Video streams run over WebRTC directly between your browser and the camera.””
— Matter Alpha, reporting on the Home Assistant 2026.11 beta
Compatibility and Beta Limits
The report does not provide a complete list of compatible Matter camera models or identify every required Matter Server version. It also does not specify when two-way talk will reach a stable release, or when companion-app access over HTTP will be supported. Browser use currently requires HTTPS, and the stated launch support excludes RTMP and FLV streams.
Because this is a beta, the final feature set may differ from what testers can access now. The report also does not detail the full migration process for existing HACS installations or explain how every custom project will appear in the Marketplace. Users should check release notes and test changes carefully, particularly where existing automations depend on climate modes, blind controls or sensor units.
Testing Before the Nov. 4 Release
Home Assistant users can test version 2026.11 through the beta channel. The source report schedules the public release for Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. Before upgrading a production system, users with device-specific automations can check whether the updated climate and covering behavior affects their scripts, and confirm that their camera, stream type and HTTPS setup meet the preview’s requirements.
The final rollout will show which beta features are ready for general use and whether compatibility or access details have changed. The source does not provide a separate timetable for HTTP companion-app support or for expanding two-way audio to other camera types.
Key Questions
What camera features are coming to Home Assistant 2026.11?
With a compatible Matter camera and updated Matter Server, Home Assistant can show a camera entity with snapshots and live video. The report says streams use WebRTC and the entity reflects device state, including privacy mode.
Which cameras support two-way audio in the beta?
The report lists Matter cameras and Reolink cameras configured over RTSP. It says RTMP and FLV streams cannot carry return audio. Reolink said main-powered cameras with speakers should support the integration, but the report does not name every compatible model.
Does two-way talk work without HTTPS?
Not in browser use as described in the report. Browser microphone access currently requires Home Assistant over HTTPS; companion-app support over HTTP is in development.
What is the built-in Marketplace?
It brings HACS into Home Assistant’s core interface, where users can browse, install and update custom integrations, dashboard cards and themes. Community projects continue to be maintained by their respective developers and are not automatically supported by Home Assistant.
When will Home Assistant 2026.11 be released publicly?
The source report says the public release is scheduled for Nov. 4, 2026. The version is currently available through the beta channel, and the final release may not include every feature present or planned for testing.
Source: matteralpha.com
