Home Assistant Adds Built-In Marketplace
Version 2026.11 brings community integrations, themes, and dashboard cards into the core release without a separate install.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Home Organization
Home Assistant released version 2026.11 with a new built-in Marketplace that includes every feature of the Home Assistant Community Store (HACS). The Marketplace lets users install custom integrations, themes, dashboard cards, and templates directly from within Home Assistant.
Why it matters
Community integrations were not included in the core list shown when users clicked the 'Add integration' button, and HACS filled that gap. Folding its features into the core release removes the need for a separate add-on to reach community-built extensions.
Users reach the Marketplace at Settings > Marketplace, and adding an item skips the manual download, restart, and Devices & services steps HACS previously required. HACS will continue to run on older versions but will no longer receive updates.
The players
Home Assistant
Home Assistant is an open-source home automation platform that runs locally and is maintained by the Open Home Foundation.
Open Home Foundation
The Open Home Foundation is a nonprofit organization that stewards the Home Assistant project and received the donation of HACS.
ludeeus
ludeeus is the founder of the HACS project who donated it to the Open Home Foundation.
The details
Users can add custom repositories, which are GitHub repo links, to expand the listings available in the Marketplace. Installing a Marketplace item takes users straight to its setup workflow without a restart, and each item receives an update entity that appears alongside other Home Assistant updates.
Timeline
November 4, 2026: Home Assistant 2026.11 is released with the Marketplace debut.
December 2026: The final major Home Assistant update of the year is scheduled.
Culture Shift
The move mirrors how the Home Assistant Community Store (HACS), built by ludeeus as a third-party add-on, has now been brought into the core platform after years as an optional extension. It marks a shift from community-maintained add-ons toward official, built-in support for community-made extensions.
Users can now browse and install community integrations, themes, and dashboard cards without manually downloading files or restarting Home Assistant. Anyone who previously relied on HACS will need to accept the Marketplace's disclaimer about untested community code.
The takeaway
Installing community extensions now follows the same workflow as official ones, which makes it easier to customize a smart home. Review each community integration's source before adding it, since the Marketplace warns that these items are not reviewed.
Further reading
Explore more on Home Organization to see how smart-home platforms fit into everyday household setups.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The How-To Geek.
