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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. The release also brings HACS into the core interface as a Marketplace and updates Matter device controls; the public release is scheduled for Nov. 4, 2026.
The Home Assistant 2026.11 beta adds frontend support for Matter cameras and a Labs preview of two-way audio, bringing live video and camera talkback into the smart-home platform’s interface. The Open Home Foundation’s update also moves the Home Assistant Community Store (HACS) into the core platform as a built-in Marketplace, while the public release is scheduled for Nov. 4, 2026.
With a compatible camera and an updated Matter Server, cameras can appear in Home Assistant as standard camera entities, with snapshot and live-video support. Video uses WebRTC between the camera and the user’s browser, and the entity tracks device state, including whether the camera’s privacy mode is active. The change exposes camera capabilities already supported in the Matter.js server through Home Assistant’s main interface.
Two-way audio is a preview feature that users must enable through the Labs menu in system settings. Once enabled, a talk button appears on live streams. At launch, talkback is supported for Matter cameras and Reolink cameras configured over RTSP; RTMP and FLV streams do not support the return audio described in the report. Browser-based talk also requires Home Assistant to be opened over HTTPS because browsers require a secure connection for microphone access.
The update includes changes for other Matter devices. Climate entities can resume their last heating or cooling mode when switched back on, while tilt-only window coverings are represented as tilt covers with dedicated tilt actions. Other additions include a reverse motor-direction option for Matter covers, a power-on color-temperature entity for lights, and support for Matter thermostat setpoint attributes. The release also corrects unit handling for several air-quality sensors and adds bridged devices to the Matter network map.
Camera Video Enters the Dashboard
For Home Assistant users with compatible Matter cameras, the update brings camera feeds into the same interface used to control other connected devices. Snapshots, live video and device privacy state can be represented as camera entities, reducing the separation between Matter support in the server and its day-to-day use in the frontend.
The audio preview adds a way to speak through supported cameras or doorbells from a live stream. Its current limits matter: users need a supported camera connection, an enabled Labs setting and an HTTPS browser session. The feature is not described as universal support for all camera brands or streaming protocols.
The built-in Marketplace is another user-facing change. The report says users will be able to browse, install and update community integrations, dashboard cards and themes from Home Assistant’s settings, without a separate manual HACS installation or a mandatory GitHub account for catalog items. Community projects remain maintained by their own developers, not officially supported by Home Assistant.
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From Matter Server to Interface
The camera update connects two parts of Home Assistant’s Matter support. According to Matter Alpha’s report, the Matter.js server already supported camera capabilities on the backend; the 2026.11 change exposes those capabilities in the Home Assistant frontend. That distinction explains why the announcement is about cameras becoming directly usable in the interface, rather than the first appearance of camera-related support anywhere in the system.
The release also changes how some existing devices and automations behave. Climate entities now resume the last active mode instead of falling back to a default mode, which may affect automations built around the former behavior. Tilt-only covers now use specific tilt actions, so scripts, routines and automations that rely on standard open-and-close commands may need changes. These are functional adjustments, not just new display options.
Home Assistant 2026.11 is currently a beta test release. Matter Alpha reported that the public version was scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, and cautioned that features might not all be present in the beta if they still need work before the final rollout.
“Video streams run over WebRTC directly between your browser and the camera.”
— Matter Alpha
Compatibility and Beta Limits
The report does not provide a complete list of compatible Matter camera models, nor does it say whether every camera that meets the Matter requirements will work identically with Home Assistant. Model-by-model compatibility and any device-specific limitations are not detailed.
Two-way audio is still marked as a Labs preview, and support is limited by connection type: the report identifies Matter cameras and Reolink cameras using RTSP, while stating that RTMP and FLV cannot carry return audio. Support for using talkback through the Home Assistant companion apps over HTTP is described as in development, not available now.
The beta may not include every feature planned for the final release. The report also does not specify whether the Nov. 4 public release date could change. Users upgrading existing setups should account for the noted climate-automation and tilt-cover behavior changes, but the report provides no full migration guide.
Final Release and Feature Testing
The next milestone is the planned public release on Nov. 4, 2026. Until then, the 2026.11 beta gives users and developers a chance to test camera entities, Labs talkback, the Marketplace and Matter device changes. As a beta, it may not contain every feature intended for the final version.
Users testing the update can check whether their Matter Server and camera support the new camera entity, confirm that browser access uses HTTPS before trying the microphone, and review automations that depend on climate-mode defaults or open-and-close actions for tilt-only covers. The report does not give a release-by-release timetable for the companion-app audio work, so its availability remains pending.
Key Questions
What does Home Assistant 2026.11 add for Matter cameras?
The beta exposes compatible Matter cameras in Home Assistant as camera entities, with snapshots and live video delivered over WebRTC. Camera state, including privacy mode, is also reflected in the entity.
How do I enable two-way talk?
Two-way audio is a Labs preview. Enable it from the Labs menu in system settings; a talk button then appears on supported live streams. Browser use currently requires an HTTPS connection.
Which cameras support talkback at launch?
The report lists Matter cameras and Reolink cameras configured over RTSP. It says RTMP and FLV streams cannot carry return audio, and it does not provide a complete model compatibility list.
Does the update include HACS?
Yes. HACS is being brought into the core platform as a built-in Marketplace for browsing, installing and updating community integrations, dashboard cards and themes. Projects remain maintained by their developers rather than officially supported by Home Assistant.
When will Home Assistant 2026.11 be released publicly?
Matter Alpha reported a planned public release date of Nov. 4, 2026. The version is currently a beta, and the report cautions that not all planned features may be available in the test build.
Source: matteralpha.com
