TL;DR
Get backup power and energy gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
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 beta also brings HACS into Home Assistant as a built-in Marketplace and updates controls for several Matter devices. The stable 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 cameras and a Labs preview of two-way audio. The update also makes the Home Assistant Community Store (HACS) a built-in Marketplace, bringing camera feeds, community add-ons and other changes into the core platform ahead of the planned public release on Nov. 4.
With an updated Matter Server, compatible cameras can appear in Home Assistant as standard camera entities, with snapshots and live video. Streams use WebRTC between the browser and camera, and the entity reflects device state, including whether privacy mode is enabled. The camera capabilities were already supported in the Matter.js backend; the beta exposes them in Home Assistant’s user interface.
Two-way audio is a Labs preview that users must enable in system settings. It adds a talk button to live streams and, at launch, 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.
The beta also places HACS in the main settings menu as a built-in Marketplace for browsing, installing and updating community integrations, dashboard cards and themes. Existing HACS setups are reported to migrate automatically. Community projects remain maintained by their own developers and are not officially supported by Home Assistant.
Camera Feeds Reach the Dashboard
Moving Matter camera support from the backend into Home Assistant’s interface gives users a way to view compatible cameras alongside their other smart-home controls. The WebRTC live feeds and snapshots make camera video part of the regular dashboard experience, while the talk preview adds a way to respond through supported cameras and doorbells.
The changes are relevant to users who want to manage devices from one system, but support has limits. Two-way audio depends on the camera and stream type, and the browser needs a secure connection for microphone access. The built-in Marketplace may also make community projects easier to find and manage, without changing who maintains or supports them.
Products Worth Considering
Ring Alarm 8-Piece Kit (2nd Gen) Home Security System
Arlo Pro Wireless Security Camera, 2K HDR, 6th Generation, 4-Camera Kit
Bose SoundLink Flex Bluetooth Speaker (2nd Gen), Black
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Backend Support Moves Forward
The camera addition follows earlier work in the Matter.js server, which provides the backend for Home Assistant’s Matter integration. According to Matter Alpha, the server already had camera capabilities; version 2026.11 connects those capabilities to Home Assistant’s main interface. The update therefore concerns user-facing access as well as new device support.
Other changes in the beta refine existing Matter devices. Climate entities remember their last active heating or cooling mode when turned back on, while tilt-only window coverings now appear as tilt covers. Users with automations relying on the former climate fallback behavior may need to specify HVAC modes directly. Scripts and voice routines using standard open-and-close commands for tilt-only covers may also need changes.
The release includes additional controls for window coverings and lighting, support for Matter thermostat setpoint attributes, and changes to how air-quality sensors handle reported units. Its network map now displays bridged devices. These changes sit alongside the Marketplace and camera features, rather than representing a single-purpose camera release.
“Video streams run over WebRTC directly between your browser and the camera.”
— Matter Alpha report
Compatibility and Beta Limits
The source does not list specific Matter camera models confirmed to work, so compatibility may vary by device. It also does not establish that two-way audio will work across every camera or connection type. The feature is marked as a Labs preview, and the report says some features may not be present in the beta if they need more work before final release.
For browser-based talk, Home Assistant must currently be opened over HTTPS because browsers require a secure connection for microphone access. Support for companion apps over HTTP is in development, according to the report. The final release’s feature set and any changes to the preview remain subject to the beta process.
Stable Release Set for Nov. 4
The beta is available for testing now, and the report schedules the public release for Nov. 4. Users testing it can check whether their camera appears as a Matter camera entity, whether the live stream works in their browser and whether their setup meets the secure-connection requirement for two-way audio.
Before upgrading, users with automations for climate modes or tilt-only coverings should review the changes to those controls. The report does not provide a later date for companion-app support over HTTP. The final rollout will clarify which beta features are included and whether any behavior changes before general availability.
Key Questions
What does Home Assistant 2026.11 add for Matter cameras?
With an updated Matter Server, compatible cameras can appear as standard camera entities with snapshots and live video delivered over WebRTC.
How do I enable two-way audio?
The report says users can turn on the Labs preview in system settings. A talk button then appears on supported live streams. Browser use currently requires opening Home Assistant over HTTPS.
Which cameras support two-way talk?
At launch, the feature works with Matter cameras and Reolink cameras configured over RTSP, according to the report. It says RTMP and FLV streams cannot carry return audio; specific compatible camera models are not listed.
What happens to an existing HACS installation?
The report says existing HACS setups migrate automatically to the built-in Marketplace. Community integrations and other projects remain maintained by their own developers, not officially supported by Home Assistant.
When is Home Assistant 2026.11 expected to be released publicly?
The report schedules the public release for Nov. 4. The version currently available is a beta, and its contents may change before release.
Source: matteralpha.com
