Home Assistant 2026.2: New Home Dashboard, Apps & our CES2026 wrap
Wed Feb 04 2026
We break down Home Assistant 2026.2: the Home Dashboard is now default, the new Command‑K command palette, a dedicated Matter dashboard, and add‑ons renamed to Apps. Plus: CES 2026 highlights, the Open Home Foundation device database and a Google Home outage.
Watch this episode on YouTube
Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA220
Support the Podcast
Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.
https://homeassistant.fm/patreon
Share your story
We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.
Chapters
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:00 CES Highlights and Shoutouts
00:06:00 Device Database and Open Home
00:11:30 Cloud Outage and Local Control
00:13:50 Listener Feedback and Tips
00:21:20 2026.2 Release Overview
00:23:20 Home Dashboard Becomes Default
00:26:45 Command Palette and Shortcuts
00:29:40 Matter Dashboard and Apps Rename
00:32:40 Automations, Cards, and Buttons
00:37:10 Music Assistant, Media, Sponsor Break
00:41:10 New Integrations Roundup
00:46:25 Breaking Changes: Groups, Tuya
00:49:38 Closing Thoughts and Predictions
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors
Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa
Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML.
Zooz
If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.
For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com
Hosts
Phil Hawthorne
Website
Smart Home Products
Twitter: @philhawthorne
Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com
Buy Phil a Coffee
Rohan Karamandi
Website
Smart Home Products
Twitter: @rohank9
Buy Rohan a Coffee
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
More
We break down Home Assistant 2026.2: the Home Dashboard is now default, the new Command‑K command palette, a dedicated Matter dashboard, and add‑ons renamed to Apps. Plus: CES 2026 highlights, the Open Home Foundation device database and a Google Home outage. Watch this episode on YouTube Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA220 Support the Podcast Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon. https://homeassistant.fm/patreon Share your story We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story. Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:00 CES Highlights and Shoutouts 00:06:00 Device Database and Open Home 00:11:30 Cloud Outage and Local Control 00:13:50 Listener Feedback and Tips 00:21:20 2026.2 Release Overview 00:23:20 Home Dashboard Becomes Default 00:26:45 Command Palette and Shortcuts 00:29:40 Matter Dashboard and Apps Rename 00:32:40 Automations, Cards, and Buttons 00:37:10 Music Assistant, Media, Sponsor Break 00:41:10 New Integrations Roundup 00:46:25 Breaking Changes: Groups, Tuya 00:49:38 Closing Thoughts and Predictions This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Zooz If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers. For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy