Home Assistant 2026.9 is rolling out: after about a week in the beta channel, the new monthly version arrives on schedule on 2 September 2026. Two changes matter most to smart home users – a reworked security dashboard and a visual Matter network map. At the same time, the VLC integration is being removed.
Security dashboard with alerts and favourites
The built-in security dashboard gains an “Active alerts” section that only appears when something actually needs attention – an open door, say, or a triggered smoke detector. Severity levels let you separate the urgent from the trivial. In addition, frequently checked doors, locks and sensors can be pinned to the top as “Favourites”.
Matter network map via “Show Map”
A new “Show Map” button reveals the Matter topology right inside Home Assistant: devices, Thread and Wi-Fi connections and border routers at a glance. Until now this information was buried in a separate server interface – troubleshooting your Matter network becomes far more accessible.
Tile cards, Modbus UI and one breaking change
Tile cards now allow more direct control: pick light effects, switch fan or vacuum speed and set the target humidity for climate devices. Modbus can also be set up through a configuration UI – no more manual YAML. The most important breaking change: the VLC integration is removed, as it requires direct access to the audio hardware. The “VLC via Telnet” variant remains available.
- Security dashboard: “Active alerts” by severity + “Favourites”
- Matter network map via “Show Map”
- Tile cards: light effects, fan/vacuum speed, target humidity
- Modbus now configurable via UI
- VLC integration removed (breaking change)
Sources: Home Assistant release blog, XDA Developers, Smart Home Junkie.
