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The Home Assistant 2026.11 beta adds frontend support for Matter camera snapshots and live video, plus a Labs preview of two-way audio for supported cameras. The update also brings the HACS community catalog into Home Assistant as a built-in Marketplace and changes controls for several Matter devices. The public release is scheduled for Nov. 4, according to the source report.
The Home Assistant 2026.11 beta adds support for viewing compatible Matter camera snapshots and live video in the Home Assistant interface, and introduces a Labs preview of two-way audio. The Open Home Foundation release also makes the Home Assistant Community Store (HACS) a built-in Marketplace, bringing camera access, community add-ons and other Matter changes into the platform’s main interface.
Camera support was already available in the backend through the Matter.js server, which underpins Home Assistant’s Matter integration. Version 2026.11 exposes those capabilities in the frontend: with an updated Matter Server, compatible cameras appear as standard camera entities and can provide snapshots and live WebRTC video. The stream runs directly between the camera and the user’s browser, and the entity reflects device state, including whether privacy mode is active.
The release also adds two-way audio as a Labs preview. When the feature is enabled in system settings, a talk button appears on supported live streams. At launch, the report says talkback works with Matter cameras and Reolink cameras configured over RTSP; RTMP and FLV streams cannot carry return audio. Browser microphone access requires a secure connection, so users currently need to open Home Assistant over HTTPS. Support for companion apps over HTTP is described as in development, not as available now.
Other changes affect how existing devices appear and behave. Matter climate entities resume their last active heating or cooling mode when switched back on, rather than defaulting to a mode. Tilt-only Matter blinds are represented as tilt covers, with dedicated tilt actions. The update also adds a reverse motor direction switch for Matter coverings, travel-time selection for WAGO Home Blind Control, a lighting power-on color temperature entity and support for Matter thermostat setpoint attributes. Existing automations may need adjustment where they depend on the changed climate or cover behavior.
HACS is now accessible as a built-in Marketplace from Home Assistant’s settings, where users can browse, install and update community integrations, dashboard cards and themes. Existing HACS installations are set to migrate automatically, according to the report. Community projects remain maintained by their individual developers; their inclusion does not make them officially supported by Home Assistant.
Camera Feeds Reach the Dashboard
Surfacing Matter camera features in the main interface makes them easier to use alongside other Home Assistant devices, rather than leaving camera capability only in the integration’s backend. Live video and talkback can make a compatible camera or doorbell more useful for everyday monitoring, while the HTTPS requirement and limited stream compatibility set practical boundaries for users.
The Marketplace change also alters how users find community-made software. Bringing HACS into the settings interface may reduce installation friction, but it does not change who maintains those projects. The Matter behavior changes have a more direct maintenance impact: users with automations built around former climate defaults or standard blind open-and-close actions may need to revise them after upgrading.
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From Matter Backend to Interface
The camera update connects an earlier backend capability to Home Assistant’s user-facing controls. The Matter.js server could already handle camera features, but users needed the core interface to expose them as entities they could view and operate. Version 2026.11 supplies that frontend layer, subject to a compatible camera and an updated Matter Server.
The beta includes additional maintenance and device changes. Air-quality sensors for TVOC, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone will use the units reported by their devices; some existing entities may need unit or statistics adjustments. The Matter network map will show bridged devices, and the release includes translated firmware notes and developer test improvements. These details accompany, but are separate from, the headline camera and Marketplace additions.
“Video streams run over WebRTC directly between your browser and the camera.”
— Matter Alpha report
Beta Limits and Compatibility
The beta is a test release, and the source report cautions that features may not all be present in the beta build if further work is needed before the final rollout. The exact list of compatible Matter cameras and any device-specific limitations are not provided. The report also does not give a date for companion-app talkback over HTTP, which it says is in development.
Users should check the final release notes before relying on a feature or upgrading automations. The report identifies possible adjustments for climate modes, tilt-cover commands and some existing air-quality sensor statistics, but does not specify how every installation will be affected.
Public Release on Nov. 4
Home Assistant 2026.11 is available through the beta channel for testing, with the official public release scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 4, according to Matter Alpha. The final feature set may differ from the beta. Users testing the release can check whether their cameras and Matter Server support the new entities, confirm HTTPS access for browser talkback, and review automations that use climate or cover controls before updating.
Key Questions
Can Home Assistant 2026.11 show Matter camera video?
Yes. With an updated Matter Server and a compatible camera, the beta exposes camera entities with snapshots and live video streamed over WebRTC.
Which cameras support two-way audio at launch?
The report lists Matter cameras and Reolink cameras configured over RTSP. It says RTMP and FLV streams cannot carry return audio. Compatibility can vary by device.
Does two-way talk require HTTPS?
Yes, when using a browser. Browser microphone access currently requires Home Assistant to be opened over HTTPS. Companion-app support over HTTP is described as in development.
What happens to an existing HACS installation?
According to the report, existing HACS setups migrate automatically to the built-in Marketplace. Community projects continue to be maintained by their own developers.
When is Home Assistant 2026.11 expected to be released publicly?
The source report schedules the public release for Nov. 4. The beta is available for testing, and the final feature set may change before release.
Source: matteralpha.com
