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The Open Home Foundation has released the Home Assistant 2026.11 beta, bringing Matter camera entities and a Labs preview of two-way audio to the frontend, alongside a built-in Marketplace. The beta is available for testing, with a public release scheduled for Nov. 4; some features and compatibility details may change before then.
The Open Home Foundation has released the Home Assistant 2026.11 beta, adding frontend support for Matter cameras and a Labs preview of two-way audio, plus bringing the Home Assistant Community Store into the platform as a built-in Marketplace. The changes let users view compatible camera streams in Home Assistant and, with supported setups, speak through a camera or doorbell.
With an updated Matter Server, compatible cameras appear as standard Home Assistant camera entities, with snapshots and live video. The report says video runs over WebRTC between the camera and the user’s browser, and the entity reflects device state, including whether privacy mode is on. The update brings camera features already supported by the backend into Home Assistant’s main interface.
Two-way audio is a Labs preview that users must enable in system settings. A talk button appears on live streams for supported cameras. At launch, the feature works with Matter cameras and Reolink cameras configured over RTSP; RTMP and FLV streams cannot carry return audio. The report says microphone access currently requires opening Home Assistant over HTTPS. Support for companion apps over HTTP is in development.
The beta also makes the Home Assistant Community Store (HACS) a built-in Marketplace accessible through the settings menu. Users can browse, install and update custom integrations, dashboard cards and themes there. Existing HACS setups are expected to migrate automatically, but community projects remain maintained by their individual developers and are not officially supported by Home Assistant.
Camera Features Reach the Dashboard
The update reduces the gap between Matter camera support in Home Assistant’s backend and features users can access in the interface. For households with compatible cameras, having live video and snapshots as standard entities may make it easier to include camera views in dashboards and automations. The addition of talkback also brings a common doorbell and security-camera function into the same interface, though it remains a preview feature with browser and stream requirements.
The Marketplace change may also simplify access to community-built additions. Users can manage custom integrations, cards and themes from Home Assistant’s settings rather than installing a separate store manually. That convenience does not change who maintains those projects: community developers remain responsible for them, and the source report says they are not officially supported by Home Assistant.
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Matter Support Moves Into View
The camera addition follows an earlier update to the Matter.js server, the backend used by Home Assistant’s Matter integration. According to Matter Alpha’s report, that server already supported camera capabilities; the 2026.11 beta connects them to the main Home Assistant interface so users can access compatible devices as camera entities.
Other Matter changes in the beta affect controls and device reporting. Climate entities now resume their last active heating or cooling mode when turned on, rather than reverting to a default. Tilt-only window coverings are represented as tilt covers, and the update adds controls including a reverse motor direction switch and lighting power-on color temperature. These changes may require users to revise older automations: climate routines may need to call a specific mode, while tilt-cover routines may need dedicated tilt actions instead of standard open and close commands.
The release also changes how some Matter air-quality sensors report units, displays bridged devices in the Matter network map, and includes developer and Thread integration updates. These additions sit alongside the camera and Marketplace changes in a beta intended for testing, rather than a final release.
““Video streams run over WebRTC directly between your browser and the camera.””
— Matter Alpha report
Beta Limits and Device Support
The beta status means the final feature set may differ. The source report cautions that features may not all be present in the beta build if they still need further work before rollout. It does not provide a complete list of compatible Matter cameras or specify which camera models have been tested.
It is also unclear when companion-app support for two-way talk over HTTP will arrive; the report describes that work as in development and says HTTPS is currently required for browser microphone access. The report does not give a date for that change or further detail about the limits of the audio preview. Users should check compatibility and review existing scripts and automations before updating.
Public Release Set for Nov. 4
Home Assistant 2026.11 is currently available through the beta channel, and the public release is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, according to Matter Alpha. Beta testers can check whether their cameras and streams are supported, confirm that HTTPS access is set up for browser talkback, and review automations affected by the Matter control changes. The final release may include adjustments as testing continues; the source material does not identify a separate date for the companion-app audio work.
Key Questions
When will Home Assistant 2026.11 be released publicly?
The public release is scheduled for Nov. 4, 2026. The version is currently available through the beta channel.
Which cameras support two-way audio in the beta?
The report says the preview works with Matter cameras and Reolink cameras configured over RTSP. RTMP and FLV streams cannot carry return audio, and the source does not list specific compatible camera models.
Does two-way talk require HTTPS?
Yes, for browser access, the report says Home Assistant must currently be opened over HTTPS to use the microphone. Companion-app support over HTTP is described as in development, with no release date given.
Will existing HACS installations move to the built-in Marketplace?
The report says existing HACS setups migrate automatically during the upgrade. Community projects remain maintained by their respective developers and are not officially supported by Home Assistant.
Could the update affect existing automations?
Yes. Some climate automations may need to specify a heating or cooling mode, and automations for tilt-only covers may need dedicated tilt actions instead of standard open and close commands. Users should review relevant scripts and routines after updating.
Source: matteralpha.com
