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The Home Assistant 2026.11 beta brings Matter camera entities and live video into the frontend, with two-way audio available as a Labs preview. The update also adds HACS as a built-in Marketplace and includes changes to Matter device controls; the public release is scheduled for Nov. 4.
The Home Assistant 2026.11 beta adds support for Matter camera feeds in the main interface and introduces two-way audio as an optional Labs preview, bringing camera viewing and talkback to Home Assistant dashboards. The Open Home Foundation release also makes the Home Assistant Community Store (HACS) a built-in Marketplace and includes changes to other Matter devices.
With an updated Matter Server, compatible cameras can appear in Home Assistant as standard camera entities, with snapshots and live video. The source report says video streams use WebRTC between the browser and camera, and the entity reflects device states including whether privacy mode is enabled. The frontend support builds on camera capabilities that were already available in the Matter.js server.
Two-way audio is a separate preview feature that users must enable from the system’s Labs menu. A talk button then appears on live streams. At launch, the feature works with Matter cameras and Reolink cameras set up over RTSP; RTMP and FLV streams cannot carry return audio. Home Assistant must be opened over HTTPS for browser microphone access. Support for companion apps over HTTP is described as in development, not as available now.
The release also brings HACS into the core platform as a Marketplace accessible from Settings. Users can browse, install and update community integrations, dashboard cards and themes there, with catalog access not requiring a GitHub account, according to the report. Existing HACS installations are expected to migrate automatically. Community projects remain maintained by their own developers and are not thereby made officially supported by Home Assistant.
Cameras Reach Home Assistant Dashboards
The change makes Matter camera functions available through Home Assistant’s regular interface rather than leaving them only in the backend. For users with compatible cameras and an updated Matter Server, that means live viewing and snapshots can sit alongside other smart-home controls. The WebRTC stream and device privacy-state reporting are part of the described integration; the report does not establish that every Matter camera will work.
Talkback adds a practical control for doorbells and cameras, but its current limits matter: it is a Labs preview, depends on a supported camera or RTSP configuration, and requires HTTPS in a browser. The built-in Marketplace is a separate usability change, making community extensions easier to find and manage without changing who supports them.
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From Matter Server to Frontend
The update connects existing backend work to Home Assistant’s user-facing controls. The Matter.js server already supported camera capabilities, according to the source report; version 2026.11 exposes those capabilities in the frontend as camera entities. That distinction explains why the beta is described as bringing Matter cameras to general Home Assistant users rather than introducing camera support at every technical layer.
Other changes target established device categories. Climate entities now resume their last active heating or cooling mode when switched back on, rather than defaulting to a mode that may not suit the current season. Users whose automations depended on the former fallback may need to specify HVAC modes directly. Tilt-only Matter blinds now appear as tilt covers, but existing scripts using standard open-and-close commands may need updates. The release also adds covering motor-direction controls, a travel-time mode for WAGO Home Blind Control and a power-on color-temperature entity for lighting.
For Matter air-quality sensors, the update uses the unit reported by devices for TVOC, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone readings. Existing entities may need unit or statistics adjustments, particularly TVOC sensors using density units. The network map also displays bridged devices. These changes accompany the camera and Marketplace additions, rather than being prerequisites for them.
““video streams run over WebRTC directly between your browser and the camera””
— Matter Alpha report
Preview Limits and Compatibility
The source does not list specific camera models confirmed to work, nor does it give a full compatibility matrix. Users will need an updated Matter Server for the described Matter camera support, but the report does not specify a minimum server version. Two-way talk is marked as a preview, so its final availability and behavior may change before or after the stable release.
The report says companion-app support for two-way audio over HTTP is in development, without a delivery date. It also cautions that beta features may not all be present in the test build if work remains. The extent of any changes before the final release is not yet clear.
Stable Release Set for Nov. 4
The beta is available through Home Assistant’s beta channel for users who want to test the changes. The source report gives Nov. 4, 2026, as the scheduled date for the public release. Since the beta may not contain every planned feature and can change, users should check the release notes and device compatibility before relying on camera talkback or updated entity behavior in automations.
Further details to watch for include the final status of Labs two-way audio, companion-app support, and any compatibility or setup guidance published with the stable release. Existing automations for climate modes and tilt-only covers may also require review after upgrading.
Key Questions
What camera features are added in Home Assistant 2026.11?
The beta exposes compatible Matter cameras as camera entities, with snapshots and live video when paired with an updated Matter Server. The report says streams use WebRTC and the entity tracks states such as privacy mode.
How do I enable two-way audio?
It is a Labs preview that users enable in system settings. The source says it works initially with Matter cameras and Reolink cameras configured over RTSP; browser use requires Home Assistant to be opened over HTTPS.
Does the Marketplace make HACS community projects officially supported?
No. HACS becomes a built-in Marketplace for browsing, installing and updating community extensions, but each project remains maintained by its own developer, according to the report.
When is Home Assistant 2026.11 due for public release?
The source report schedules the public release for Nov. 4, 2026. The beta is available earlier through the beta channel, and features may change before the stable rollout.
Source: matteralpha.com
