diff --git a/Doxyfile b/Doxyfile
index 30ae42ea2c..3dfe6c5ed4 100644
--- a/Doxyfile
+++ b/Doxyfile
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ PROJECT_NAME           = ESPHome
 # could be handy for archiving the generated documentation or if some version
 # control system is used.
 
-PROJECT_NUMBER         = 2026.5.1
+PROJECT_NUMBER         = 2026.5.2
 
 # Using the PROJECT_BRIEF tag one can provide an optional one line description
 # for a project that appears at the top of each page and should give viewer a
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index f2bf3752fa..cd5b3fd694 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -1306,6 +1306,9 @@ void APIConnection::on_voice_assistant_announce_request(const VoiceAssistantAnno
 bool APIConnection::send_voice_assistant_get_configuration_response_(const VoiceAssistantConfigurationRequest &msg) {
   VoiceAssistantConfigurationResponse resp;
   if (!this->check_voice_assistant_api_connection_()) {
+    // send_message encodes synchronously, so this stack local outlives the encode
+    const std::vector<std::string> empty_wake_words;
+    resp.active_wake_words = &empty_wake_words;
     return this->send_message(resp);
   }
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32/__init__.py b/esphome/components/esp32/__init__.py
index 4f77258b2c..1a95f77437 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32/__init__.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ from esphome.const import (
     Toolchain,
     __version__,
 )
-from esphome.core import CORE, HexInt, Library
+from esphome.core import CORE, EsphomeError, HexInt, Library
 from esphome.core.config import BOARD_MAX_LENGTH
 from esphome.coroutine import CoroPriority, coroutine_with_priority
 from esphome.espidf.component import generate_idf_component
@@ -2657,13 +2657,29 @@ def copy_files():
 
 
 def _decode_pc(config, addr):
-    from esphome.platformio import toolchain
+    # _decode_pc runs from the api log processor's asyncio callback, which
+    # only catches EsphomeError. Any other exception escaping here tears down
+    # the protocol and triggers an infinite reconnect/replay loop. Convert
+    # toolchain-resolution errors (e.g. missing build dir / cmake cache) into
+    # EsphomeError so the caller can disable decoding cleanly.
+    if CORE.using_toolchain_esp_idf:
+        from esphome.espidf import toolchain as idf_toolchain
 
-    idedata = toolchain.get_idedata(config)
-    if not idedata.addr2line_path or not idedata.firmware_elf_path:
+        try:
+            addr2line_path = idf_toolchain.get_addr2line_path()
+            firmware_elf_path = idf_toolchain.get_elf_path()
+        except RuntimeError as err:
+            raise EsphomeError(f"ESP-IDF toolchain not available: {err}") from err
+    else:
+        from esphome.platformio import toolchain
+
+        idedata = toolchain.get_idedata(config)
+        addr2line_path = idedata.addr2line_path
+        firmware_elf_path = idedata.firmware_elf_path
+    if not addr2line_path or not firmware_elf_path:
         _LOGGER.debug("decode_pc no addr2line")
         return
-    command = [idedata.addr2line_path, "-pfiaC", "-e", idedata.firmware_elf_path, addr]
+    command = [str(addr2line_path), "-pfiaC", "-e", str(firmware_elf_path), addr]
     try:
         translation = subprocess.check_output(command, close_fds=False).decode().strip()
     except Exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
diff --git a/esphome/components/libretiny/hal.h b/esphome/components/libretiny/hal.h
index 9c512504b7..01a7b5450b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/libretiny/hal.h
+++ b/esphome/components/libretiny/hal.h
@@ -11,11 +11,19 @@
 #include "esphome/core/time_64.h"
 
 // IRAM_ATTR places a function in executable RAM so it is callable from an
-// ISR even while flash is busy (XIP stall, OTA, logger flash write).
-// Each family uses a section its stock linker already routes to RAM:
-// RTL8710B → .image2.ram.text, RTL8720C → .sram.text. LN882H is the
-// exception: its stock linker has no matching glob, so patch_linker.py
-// injects KEEP(*(.sram.text*)) into .flash_copysection at pre-link.
+// ISR even while flash is busy (XIP stall, OTA, logger flash write). All
+// LibreTiny families that need it share the same .sram.text input section
+// name; how that section is routed into RAM differs per family:
+//   RTL8720C: stock linker consumes *(.sram.text*) into .ram.code_text.
+//   RTL8710B: patch_linker.py.script injects KEEP(*(.sram.text*)) at the
+//             top of .ram_image2.data (which IS in ltchiptool's
+//             sections_ram). The stock linker has KEEP(*(.image2.ram.text*))
+//             in .ram_image2.text but that output section is NOT in
+//             ltchiptool's AmebaZ elf2bin sections_ram list, so code routed
+//             there is dropped from the flashed binary.
+//   LN882H:   patch_linker.py.script injects KEEP(*(.sram.text*)) into
+//             .flash_copysection (> RAM0 AT> FLASH), after KEEP(*(.vectors))
+//             so the Cortex-M4 vector table stays 512-byte-aligned for VTOR.
 //
 // BK72xx (all variants) are left as a no-op: their SDK wraps flash
 // operations in GLOBAL_INT_DISABLE() which masks FIQ + IRQ at the CPU for
@@ -26,13 +34,7 @@
 // layer.
 #if defined(USE_BK72XX)
 #define IRAM_ATTR
-#elif defined(USE_LIBRETINY_VARIANT_RTL8710B)
-// Stock linker consumes *(.image2.ram.text*) into .ram_image2.text (> BD_RAM).
-#define IRAM_ATTR __attribute__((noinline, section(".image2.ram.text")))
 #else
-// RTL8720C: stock linker consumes *(.sram.text*) into .ram.code_text.
-// LN882H: patch_linker.py.script injects *(.sram.text*) into
-// .flash_copysection (> RAM0 AT> FLASH).
 #define IRAM_ATTR __attribute__((noinline, section(".sram.text")))
 #endif
 #define PROGMEM
diff --git a/esphome/components/libretiny/patch_linker.py.script b/esphome/components/libretiny/patch_linker.py.script
index 3a8a4787ed..dfeaaa57d1 100644
--- a/esphome/components/libretiny/patch_linker.py.script
+++ b/esphome/components/libretiny/patch_linker.py.script
@@ -6,12 +6,18 @@ import re
 import subprocess
 
 # ESPHome marks ISR code IRAM_ATTR, which on LibreTiny maps to a per-family
-# section routed into RAM-executable memory (see esphome/core/hal.h).
+# section routed into RAM-executable memory (see esphome/core/hal.h). The
+# input section name is always .sram.text; only the output section it lands
+# in differs per family.
 #
 # This script is NOT loaded on BK72xx (IRAM_ATTR is a no-op there; the SDK
 # masks FIQ+IRQ around flash writes). On the remaining families:
-# - RTL8710B: hal.h uses section(".image2.ram.text"); stock linker consumes it.
-# - RTL8720C: hal.h uses section(".sram.text"); stock linker consumes it.
+# - RTL8720C: stock linker consumes *(.sram.text*) into .ram.code_text.
+# - RTL8710B: stock linker has KEEP(*(.image2.ram.text*)) in .ram_image2.text,
+#   but ltchiptool's AmebaZ elf2bin (soc/ambz/binary.py) does NOT list
+#   .ram_image2.text in sections_ram, so code there is silently dropped from
+#   the flashed image. Inject KEEP(*(.sram.text*)) at the top of
+#   .ram_image2.data (which IS extracted) instead.
 # - LN882H: stock linker has no glob for ".sram.text", so we inject
 #   KEEP(*(.sram.text*)) into ".flash_copysection" (> RAM0 AT> FLASH)
 #   immediately after KEEP(*(.vectors)), so the vector table stays at
@@ -34,6 +40,20 @@ _KEEP_LINE = (
 # aligned address; injecting before the vectors would push them to an
 # unaligned offset and mis-route every IRQ handler.
 _LN_COPY = re.compile(r"(KEEP\(\*\(\.vectors\)\)[^\n]*\n)")
+# Inject at the top of .ram_image2.data, before __data_start__ so our code
+# does not fall inside the data range markers. .ram_image2.data is one of the
+# sections ltchiptool's AmebaZ elf2bin extracts; BD_RAM is rwx so the code is
+# executable. AmbZ has no C runtime .data copy loop (the bootloader loads
+# image2 into BD_RAM whole) so the inline code is not clobbered after boot.
+#
+# The regex is intentionally strict (no attribute / ALIGN between the section
+# name and the opening brace, brace on its own line). If a future AmbZ SDK
+# linker template changes this format, _pre_link raises RuntimeError on the
+# unpatched .ld file(s), and the RTL8710B CI compile job in
+# tests/test_build_components fails on the PR, surfacing the mismatch loudly
+# rather than silently shipping a binary with IRAM_ATTR code dropped from
+# one or both OTA slots.
+_AMBZ_DATA = re.compile(r"(\.ram_image2\.data\s*:\s*\n?\s*\{\s*\n)")
 
 
 def _detect(env):
@@ -71,12 +91,11 @@ def _inject_keep(host_section):
 
 
 # Variants not listed here intentionally have no .ld patcher:
-# - RTL8710B: hal.h uses section(".image2.ram.text") which the stock linker
-#   already routes into .ram_image2.text (> BD_RAM).
-# - RTL8720C: stock linker already consumes *(.sram.text*).
+# - RTL8720C: stock linker already consumes *(.sram.text*) into .ram.code_text.
 # - BK72xx (all): SDK masks FIQ+IRQ around flash writes, IRAM_ATTR is no-op.
 _PATCHERS_BY_VARIANT = {
     "LN882H": (_inject_keep(_LN_COPY),),
+    "RTL8710B": (_inject_keep(_AMBZ_DATA),),
 }
 
 
@@ -87,13 +106,14 @@ def _patchers_for(variant):
 def _pre_link(target, source, env):
     build_dir = env.subst("$BUILD_DIR")
     ld_files = [f for f in os.listdir(build_dir) if f.endswith(".ld")]
-    patched = 0
+    patched = []
+    unpatched = []
     for name in ld_files:
         path = os.path.join(build_dir, name)
         with open(path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as fh:
             original = fh.read()
         if _MARKER in original:
-            patched += 1
+            patched.append(name)
             continue
         content = original
         for fn in _patchers:
@@ -102,7 +122,9 @@ def _pre_link(target, source, env):
             with open(path, "w", encoding="utf-8") as fh:
                 fh.write(content)
             print("ESPHome: patched {} for IRAM_ATTR placement".format(name))
-            patched += 1
+            patched.append(name)
+        else:
+            unpatched.append(name)
     if not patched:
         raise RuntimeError(
             "ESPHome: no .ld in {} was patched for IRAM_ATTR. Update the "
@@ -110,6 +132,20 @@ def _pre_link(target, source, env):
                 build_dir
             )
         )
+    # Every .ld in the build must be patched. RTL8710B generates one .ld per
+    # OTA slot (xip1, xip2); if only one matches, the unpatched slot would
+    # ship with IRAM_ATTR code dropped to zeros and brick the device on the
+    # boot after an OTA into that slot.
+    if unpatched:
+        raise RuntimeError(
+            "ESPHome: {} of {} .ld file(s) in {} were not patched for "
+            "IRAM_ATTR: {}. The regex in patch_linker.py.script "
+            "(_PATCHERS_BY_VARIANT[{!r}]) matched the others but not "
+            "these. Update the regex to cover all linker scripts.".format(
+                len(unpatched), len(ld_files), build_dir,
+                ", ".join(unpatched), _variant,
+            )
+        )
 
 
 # Substrings matched against demangled names as a fallback on RTL8720C,
diff --git a/esphome/components/packages/__init__.py b/esphome/components/packages/__init__.py
index 06a64208b6..f3e0e0db8f 100644
--- a/esphome/components/packages/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/packages/__init__.py
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ def _process_remote_package(config: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
     If loading fails after cloning, attempts a revert and retry in case
     a prior cached checkout is stale.
     """
-    repo_dir, revert = git.clone_or_update(
+    repo_root, revert = git.clone_or_update(
         url=config[CONF_URL],
         ref=config.get(CONF_REF),
         refresh=config[CONF_REFRESH],
@@ -225,6 +225,10 @@ def _process_remote_package(config: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
     )
     files: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
 
+    # ``repo_root`` is the directory containing ``.git`` and must be passed
+    # to git for symlink-stub resolution. ``repo_dir`` may be narrowed to a
+    # subdirectory via the user's CONF_PATH and is used for file lookups.
+    repo_dir = repo_root
     if base_path := config.get(CONF_PATH):
         repo_dir = repo_dir / base_path
 
@@ -236,13 +240,37 @@ def _process_remote_package(config: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
 
     def _load_package_yaml(yaml_file: Path, filename: str) -> dict:
         """Load a YAML file from a remote package, validating min_version."""
-        try:
-            new_yaml = yaml_util.load_yaml(yaml_file)
-        except EsphomeError as e:
+
+        def _load(path: Path) -> dict | str | None:
+            try:
+                return yaml_util.load_yaml(path)
+            except EsphomeError as e:
+                raise cv.Invalid(
+                    f"{filename} is not a valid YAML file."
+                    f" Please check the file contents.\n{e}"
+                ) from e
+
+        new_yaml = _load(yaml_file)
+        if not isinstance(new_yaml, dict):
+            # On Windows, git defaults to core.symlinks=false unless the user
+            # has Developer Mode enabled or is running elevated. Files stored
+            # in the repo as symlinks (tree mode 120000) are then checked out
+            # as plain text files containing the symlink target path, so
+            # parsing them as YAML yields a bare scalar instead of a mapping.
+            # Best-effort: follow the symlink target ourselves and re-load.
+            target = git.resolve_symlink_stub(repo_root, yaml_file)
+            if target is not None:
+                new_yaml = _load(target)
+        if not isinstance(new_yaml, dict):
             raise cv.Invalid(
-                f"{filename} is not a valid YAML file."
-                f" Please check the file contents.\n{e}"
-            ) from e
+                f"{filename} does not contain a YAML mapping at the top level "
+                f"(got {type(new_yaml).__name__}). "
+                f"If this file is a git symlink in the source repository, it "
+                f"may not have been materialized correctly on your platform "
+                f"(this is a known issue with git on Windows without Developer "
+                f"Mode enabled). Try pointing your package at the real file "
+                f"path instead."
+            )
         esphome_config = new_yaml.get(CONF_ESPHOME) or {}
         min_version = esphome_config.get(CONF_MIN_VERSION)
         if min_version is not None and cv.Version.parse(min_version) > cv.Version.parse(
diff --git a/esphome/components/sx126x/sx126x.cpp b/esphome/components/sx126x/sx126x.cpp
index 83afeac50a..aed0105e1f 100644
--- a/esphome/components/sx126x/sx126x.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/sx126x/sx126x.cpp
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ void SX126x::run_image_cal() {
     buf[1] = 0xE9;
   } else if (this->frequency_ > 850000000) {
     buf[0] = 0xD7;
-    buf[1] = 0xD8;
+    buf[1] = 0xDB;
   } else if (this->frequency_ > 770000000) {
     buf[0] = 0xC1;
     buf[1] = 0xC5;
diff --git a/esphome/const.py b/esphome/const.py
index 39c5c6b60e..fdbbbe5eab 100644
--- a/esphome/const.py
+++ b/esphome/const.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from enum import Enum
 
 from esphome.enum import StrEnum
 
-__version__ = "2026.5.1"
+__version__ = "2026.5.2"
 
 ALLOWED_NAME_CHARS = "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789-_"
 VALID_SUBSTITUTIONS_CHARACTERS = (
diff --git a/esphome/core/config.py b/esphome/core/config.py
index 5a98b94781..e4298b0865 100644
--- a/esphome/core/config.py
+++ b/esphome/core/config.py
@@ -711,6 +711,7 @@ async def to_code(config: ConfigType) -> None:
     # Process areas
     all_areas: list[dict[str, str | core.ID]] = []
     if CONF_AREA in config:
+        CORE.area = config[CONF_AREA][CONF_NAME]
         all_areas.append(config[CONF_AREA])
     all_areas.extend(config[CONF_AREAS])
 
diff --git a/esphome/git.py b/esphome/git.py
index 0106f24845..c724ea2875 100644
--- a/esphome/git.py
+++ b/esphome/git.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import logging
 from pathlib import Path
 import re
 import subprocess
+import sys
 import urllib.parse
 
 import esphome.config_validation as cv
@@ -93,6 +94,92 @@ def _compute_destination_path(key: str, domain: str) -> Path:
     return base_dir / h.hexdigest()[:8]
 
 
+def resolve_symlink_stub(repo_dir: Path, file_path: Path) -> Path | None:
+    """Return the symlink target if ``file_path`` is a Windows-checked-out symlink stub.
+
+    On Windows, when ``core.symlinks=false`` (the default unless the user has
+    SeCreateSymbolicLinkPrivilege — i.e. Developer Mode or running elevated),
+    git materializes files with tree mode ``120000`` as plain text files
+    whose content is the literal symlink target path. Opening such a file
+    yields the target path string instead of the target's content.
+
+    If ``file_path`` is one of those stubs, return the resolved target Path
+    inside ``repo_dir``. Otherwise return ``None`` and the caller should use
+    ``file_path`` as-is.
+
+    Designed to be called *only* when normal access has already produced an
+    unexpected result (e.g. YAML parsed as a top-level scalar), so the
+    per-file ``git ls-files`` subprocess cost is paid only on the failure
+    path. Returns ``None`` on any error or check failure — it's purely a
+    best-effort recovery, never raises.
+    """
+    # On non-Windows, git creates real symlinks; ordinary file access already
+    # transparently follows them.
+    if sys.platform != "win32":
+        return None
+    if file_path.is_symlink():
+        return None
+    if not file_path.is_file():
+        return None
+
+    try:
+        rel = file_path.relative_to(repo_dir)
+    except ValueError:
+        return None
+
+    try:
+        # ``git ls-files -s <path>`` prints "<mode> <sha> <stage>\t<path>"
+        # for that single entry, or empty if untracked.
+        out = run_git_command(
+            ["git", "ls-files", "-s", "--", rel.as_posix()],
+            git_dir=repo_dir,
+        )
+    except GitException:
+        return None
+
+    parts = out.split()
+    if not parts or parts[0] != "120000":
+        return None
+
+    # Stubs are short ASCII relative paths. Decode defensively, and only
+    # strip the trailing newline git's checkout may append — preserving any
+    # whitespace that could be part of a valid target name.
+    try:
+        raw = file_path.read_bytes()
+    except OSError:
+        return None
+    try:
+        target_str = raw.decode("utf-8").rstrip("\r\n")
+    except UnicodeDecodeError:
+        return None
+
+    # ``Path()`` and ``Path.resolve()`` can raise on malformed inputs (e.g.
+    # embedded NUL bytes from a hostile symlink blob, paths too long for the
+    # OS, or temporary I/O errors). Catch broadly — this helper is purely a
+    # best-effort recovery and must never raise.
+    try:
+        target_path = (file_path.parent / target_str).resolve()
+        repo_root_resolved = repo_dir.resolve()
+    except (OSError, ValueError, RuntimeError):
+        return None
+
+    # ``Path.resolve()`` follows ``..``; re-verify containment afterwards.
+    try:
+        target_path.relative_to(repo_root_resolved)
+    except ValueError:
+        _LOGGER.warning(
+            "Refusing to follow symlink %s -> %s (escapes repository)",
+            file_path,
+            target_str,
+        )
+        return None
+
+    if not target_path.is_file():
+        return None
+
+    return target_path
+
+
 def clone_or_update(
     *,
     url: str,
diff --git a/esphome/storage_json.py b/esphome/storage_json.py
index 7f8885ba5f..dc1576ab18 100644
--- a/esphome/storage_json.py
+++ b/esphome/storage_json.py
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ class StorageJSON:
         framework: str | None = None,
         core_platform: str | None = None,
         toolchain: str | None = None,
+        area: str | None = None,
     ) -> None:
         # Version of the storage JSON schema
         assert storage_version is None or isinstance(storage_version, int)
@@ -138,6 +139,8 @@ class StorageJSON:
         self.core_platform = core_platform
         # The toolchain used for the build ("platformio" / "esp-idf")
         self.toolchain = toolchain
+        # The area of the node
+        self.area = area
 
     def as_dict(self):
         return {
@@ -158,6 +161,7 @@ class StorageJSON:
             "framework": self.framework,
             "core_platform": self.core_platform,
             "toolchain": self.toolchain,
+            "area": self.area,
         }
 
     def to_json(self):
@@ -195,6 +199,7 @@ class StorageJSON:
             framework=esph.target_framework,
             core_platform=esph.target_platform,
             toolchain=esph.toolchain.value if esph.toolchain is not None else None,
+            area=esph.area,
         )
 
     @staticmethod
@@ -243,6 +248,7 @@ class StorageJSON:
         framework = storage.get("framework")
         core_platform = storage.get("core_platform")
         toolchain = storage.get("toolchain")
+        area = storage.get("area")
         return StorageJSON(
             storage_version,
             name,
@@ -261,6 +267,7 @@ class StorageJSON:
             framework,
             core_platform,
             toolchain,
+            area,
         )
 
     @staticmethod
diff --git a/esphome/writer.py b/esphome/writer.py
index 72c2c355dc..192c9d68e8 100644
--- a/esphome/writer.py
+++ b/esphome/writer.py
@@ -87,6 +87,23 @@ def replace_file_content(text, pattern, repl):
 
 
 def storage_should_clean(old: StorageJSON | None, new: StorageJSON) -> bool:
+    """Return True when the build tree must be wiped before reuse.
+
+    Predicate is True when *old* is missing (first build),
+    ``src_version`` differs, ``build_path`` differs, the build
+    ``toolchain`` differs (e.g. switching between the PlatformIO and
+    native ESP-IDF toolchains, which produce incompatible build trees),
+    or a previously loaded integration was removed in *new*. Adding
+    integrations or changing unrelated fields (friendly name, esphome
+    version, etc.) does not trigger a clean.
+
+    Used by esphome-device-builder (esphome/device-builder) to gate
+    its remote-build artifact materialiser so a local → remote → local
+    cycle preserves PlatformIO's local object cache instead of wiping
+    it on every cycle. The signature, semantics, and ``None`` handling
+    for *old* are part of the public contract; keep them stable so the
+    offloader's wipe decision tracks core's.
+    """
     if old is None:
         return True
 
@@ -94,6 +111,8 @@ def storage_should_clean(old: StorageJSON | None, new: StorageJSON) -> bool:
         return True
     if old.build_path != new.build_path:
         return True
+    if old.toolchain != new.toolchain:
+        return True
     # Check if any components have been removed
     return bool(old.loaded_integrations - new.loaded_integrations)
 
@@ -490,6 +509,10 @@ def clean_build(clear_pio_cache: bool = True):
     if dependencies_lock.is_file():
         _LOGGER.info("Deleting %s", dependencies_lock)
         dependencies_lock.unlink()
+    idedata_cache = CORE.relative_internal_path("idedata", f"{CORE.name}.json")
+    if idedata_cache.is_file():
+        _LOGGER.info("Deleting %s", idedata_cache)
+        idedata_cache.unlink()
     # Native ESP-IDF toolchain artifacts: the IDF CMake/ninja build dir
     # and the Component Manager's fetched managed components live under
     # the project's build path, not under .pioenvs / .piolibdeps.
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/core/test_config.py b/tests/unit_tests/core/test_config.py
index 4ce862315d..39cd042a96 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/core/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/core/test_config.py
@@ -140,6 +140,33 @@ def test_multiple_areas_and_devices(yaml_file: Callable[[str], str]) -> None:
     }
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings("ignore::RuntimeWarning")
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("fixture", "expected_area"),
+    [
+        ("legacy_string_area.yaml", "Living Room"),
+        ("multiple_areas_devices.yaml", "Main Area"),
+    ],
+)
+async def test_to_code_records_core_area(
+    yaml_file: Callable[[str], Path],
+    fixture: str,
+    expected_area: str,
+) -> None:
+    """``to_code`` records the node's area name on CORE for StorageJSON."""
+    result = load_config_from_fixture(yaml_file, fixture, FIXTURES_DIR)
+    assert result is not None
+    assert CORE.area is None
+
+    with patch("esphome.core.config.cg") as mock_cg:
+        mock_cg.RawStatement.side_effect = lambda *args, **kwargs: MagicMock()
+        mock_cg.RawExpression.side_effect = lambda *args, **kwargs: MagicMock()
+        await config.to_code(result[CONF_ESPHOME])
+
+    assert CORE.area == expected_area
+
+
 def test_legacy_string_area(
     yaml_file: Callable[[str], str], caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture
 ) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_git.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_git.py
index eab6bfc2cb..690c47c183 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_git.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_git.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any
-from unittest.mock import Mock
+from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
 
 import pytest
 
@@ -1001,3 +1001,304 @@ def test_refresh_picks_up_new_remote_commits(
         "--hard",
         "old_sha",
     ]
+
+
+def test_resolve_symlink_stub_returns_none_on_non_windows(
+    tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock
+) -> None:
+    """On non-Windows, resolve_symlink_stub returns None without calling git."""
+    repo_dir = tmp_path / "repo"
+    repo_dir.mkdir()
+    stub = repo_dir / "file.yaml"
+    stub.write_text("static/file.yaml")
+
+    with patch("esphome.git.sys.platform", "linux"):
+        result = git.resolve_symlink_stub(repo_dir, stub)
+
+    assert result is None
+    mock_run_git_command.assert_not_called()
+
+
+def test_resolve_symlink_stub_returns_target_for_mode_120000(
+    tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock
+) -> None:
+    """A mode-120000 file is recognised as a stub; its target Path is returned."""
+    repo_dir = tmp_path / "repo"
+    repo_dir.mkdir()
+    (repo_dir / "static").mkdir()
+
+    target = repo_dir / "static" / "real.yaml"
+    target.write_text("esphome:\n  name: real\n")
+
+    stub = repo_dir / "real.yaml"
+    stub.write_text("static/real.yaml")
+
+    mock_run_git_command.return_value = "120000 abc123 0\treal.yaml"
+
+    with patch("esphome.git.sys.platform", "win32"):
+        result = git.resolve_symlink_stub(repo_dir, stub)
+
+    assert result == target.resolve()
+    # Stub file itself was not modified — only inspected.
+    assert stub.read_text() == "static/real.yaml"
+
+
+def test_resolve_symlink_stub_resolves_relative_parent_paths(
+    tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock
+) -> None:
+    """Symlink targets with ``..`` segments resolve correctly within the repo."""
+    repo_dir = tmp_path / "repo"
+    (repo_dir / "subdir").mkdir(parents=True)
+    (repo_dir / "static").mkdir()
+
+    target = repo_dir / "static" / "shared.yaml"
+    target.write_text("shared content")
+
+    stub = repo_dir / "subdir" / "shared.yaml"
+    stub.write_text("../static/shared.yaml")
+
+    mock_run_git_command.return_value = "120000 abc123 0\tsubdir/shared.yaml"
+
+    with patch("esphome.git.sys.platform", "win32"):
+        result = git.resolve_symlink_stub(repo_dir, stub)
+
+    assert result == target.resolve()
+
+
+def test_resolve_symlink_stub_refuses_escape_outside_repo(
+    tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock
+) -> None:
+    """A symlink pointing outside the repository is not followed."""
+    outside = tmp_path / "outside.yaml"
+    outside.write_text("sensitive")
+
+    repo_dir = tmp_path / "repo"
+    repo_dir.mkdir()
+
+    stub = repo_dir / "escape.yaml"
+    stub.write_text("../outside.yaml")
+
+    mock_run_git_command.return_value = "120000 abc123 0\tescape.yaml"
+
+    with patch("esphome.git.sys.platform", "win32"):
+        result = git.resolve_symlink_stub(repo_dir, stub)
+
+    assert result is None
+
+
+def test_resolve_symlink_stub_returns_none_for_real_symlink(
+    tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock
+) -> None:
+    """A real symlink already opens transparently, so the helper short-circuits.
+
+    Skipped on Windows where symlink creation requires
+    SeCreateSymbolicLinkPrivilege.
+    """
+    if os.name == "nt":
+        pytest.skip("Requires symlink-creation privilege on Windows")
+
+    repo_dir = tmp_path / "repo"
+    repo_dir.mkdir()
+    target = repo_dir / "real.yaml"
+    target.write_text("real content")
+
+    real_link = repo_dir / "link.yaml"
+    real_link.symlink_to("real.yaml")
+
+    with patch("esphome.git.sys.platform", "win32"):
+        result = git.resolve_symlink_stub(repo_dir, real_link)
+
+    assert result is None
+    # No git call needed for real symlinks.
+    mock_run_git_command.assert_not_called()
+
+
+def test_resolve_symlink_stub_returns_none_for_regular_file(
+    tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock
+) -> None:
+    """A regular file (mode 100644) whose content looks path-shaped is not
+    followed."""
+    repo_dir = tmp_path / "repo"
+    repo_dir.mkdir()
+
+    regular = repo_dir / "looks_like_path.txt"
+    regular.write_text("static/something.yaml")
+
+    mock_run_git_command.return_value = "100644 abc123 0\tlooks_like_path.txt"
+
+    with patch("esphome.git.sys.platform", "win32"):
+        result = git.resolve_symlink_stub(repo_dir, regular)
+
+    assert result is None
+
+
+def test_resolve_symlink_stub_returns_none_when_git_fails(
+    tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock
+) -> None:
+    """If ``git ls-files`` fails (e.g. not a repo), the helper returns None."""
+    repo_dir = tmp_path / "repo"
+    repo_dir.mkdir()
+
+    stub = repo_dir / "real.yaml"
+    stub.write_text("static/real.yaml")
+
+    mock_run_git_command.side_effect = GitCommandError("ls-files exploded")
+
+    with patch("esphome.git.sys.platform", "win32"):
+        result = git.resolve_symlink_stub(repo_dir, stub)
+
+    assert result is None
+
+
+def test_resolve_symlink_stub_returns_none_for_non_utf8_content(
+    tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock
+) -> None:
+    """A file whose bytes are not valid UTF-8 must not raise — return None."""
+    repo_dir = tmp_path / "repo"
+    repo_dir.mkdir()
+
+    stub = repo_dir / "binary.bin"
+    stub.write_bytes(b"\xff\xfe\x00\xff")
+
+    mock_run_git_command.return_value = "120000 abc123 0\tbinary.bin"
+
+    with patch("esphome.git.sys.platform", "win32"):
+        result = git.resolve_symlink_stub(repo_dir, stub)
+
+    assert result is None
+
+
+def test_resolve_symlink_stub_preserves_whitespace_in_target(
+    tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock
+) -> None:
+    """Only trailing CR/LF is stripped — internal whitespace is preserved."""
+    repo_dir = tmp_path / "repo"
+    repo_dir.mkdir()
+    target_dir = repo_dir / "dir with spaces"
+    target_dir.mkdir()
+    target = target_dir / "real.yaml"
+    target.write_text("hello")
+
+    stub = repo_dir / "link.yaml"
+    # Trailing newline (as git's checkout may append) is stripped, but
+    # whitespace inside the target path itself must survive.
+    stub.write_bytes(b"dir with spaces/real.yaml\n")
+
+    mock_run_git_command.return_value = "120000 abc123 0\tlink.yaml"
+
+    with patch("esphome.git.sys.platform", "win32"):
+        result = git.resolve_symlink_stub(repo_dir, stub)
+
+    assert result == target.resolve()
+
+
+def test_resolve_symlink_stub_returns_none_for_directory_target(
+    tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock
+) -> None:
+    """A symlink pointing at a directory has no file content to load."""
+    repo_dir = tmp_path / "repo"
+    repo_dir.mkdir()
+    (repo_dir / "dir_target").mkdir()
+
+    stub = repo_dir / "link_to_dir"
+    stub.write_text("dir_target")
+
+    mock_run_git_command.return_value = "120000 abc123 0\tlink_to_dir"
+
+    with patch("esphome.git.sys.platform", "win32"):
+        result = git.resolve_symlink_stub(repo_dir, stub)
+
+    assert result is None
+
+
+def test_resolve_symlink_stub_returns_none_when_resolve_raises(
+    tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock
+) -> None:
+    """Path.resolve() raising (e.g. on a malformed target) must not propagate."""
+    repo_dir = tmp_path / "repo"
+    repo_dir.mkdir()
+
+    stub = repo_dir / "broken.yaml"
+    stub.write_text("ignored")
+
+    mock_run_git_command.return_value = "120000 abc123 0\tbroken.yaml"
+
+    with (
+        patch("esphome.git.sys.platform", "win32"),
+        patch.object(Path, "resolve", side_effect=OSError("bad path")),
+    ):
+        result = git.resolve_symlink_stub(repo_dir, stub)
+
+    assert result is None
+
+
+def test_resolve_symlink_stub_returns_none_when_file_missing(
+    tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock
+) -> None:
+    """A file path that doesn't exist is rejected before git is consulted."""
+    repo_dir = tmp_path / "repo"
+    repo_dir.mkdir()
+
+    missing = repo_dir / "ghost.yaml"  # not created
+
+    with patch("esphome.git.sys.platform", "win32"):
+        result = git.resolve_symlink_stub(repo_dir, missing)
+
+    assert result is None
+    mock_run_git_command.assert_not_called()
+
+
+def test_resolve_symlink_stub_returns_none_when_path_outside_repo(
+    tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock
+) -> None:
+    """A file path that isn't under repo_dir is rejected (ValueError from relative_to)."""
+    repo_dir = tmp_path / "repo"
+    repo_dir.mkdir()
+
+    outside = tmp_path / "stray.yaml"
+    outside.write_text("something")
+
+    with patch("esphome.git.sys.platform", "win32"):
+        result = git.resolve_symlink_stub(repo_dir, outside)
+
+    assert result is None
+    mock_run_git_command.assert_not_called()
+
+
+def test_resolve_symlink_stub_returns_none_when_untracked(
+    tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock
+) -> None:
+    """Empty `git ls-files` output (untracked file) makes the helper return None."""
+    repo_dir = tmp_path / "repo"
+    repo_dir.mkdir()
+
+    stub = repo_dir / "untracked.yaml"
+    stub.write_text("static/foo.yaml")
+
+    mock_run_git_command.return_value = ""
+
+    with patch("esphome.git.sys.platform", "win32"):
+        result = git.resolve_symlink_stub(repo_dir, stub)
+
+    assert result is None
+
+
+def test_resolve_symlink_stub_returns_none_when_read_bytes_raises(
+    tmp_path: Path, mock_run_git_command: Mock
+) -> None:
+    """An OSError from read_bytes() (e.g. file vanished mid-call) must not propagate."""
+    repo_dir = tmp_path / "repo"
+    repo_dir.mkdir()
+
+    stub = repo_dir / "racy.yaml"
+    stub.write_text("static/racy.yaml")
+
+    mock_run_git_command.return_value = "120000 abc123 0\tracy.yaml"
+
+    with (
+        patch("esphome.git.sys.platform", "win32"),
+        patch.object(Path, "read_bytes", side_effect=OSError("vanished")),
+    ):
+        result = git.resolve_symlink_stub(repo_dir, stub)
+
+    assert result is None
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_storage_json.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_storage_json.py
index ea37492cf4..2a6f22abb1 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_storage_json.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_storage_json.py
@@ -205,6 +205,7 @@ def test_storage_json_as_dict() -> None:
         no_mdns=True,
         framework="arduino",
         core_platform="esp32",
+        area="Living Room",
     )
 
     result = storage.as_dict()
@@ -233,6 +234,7 @@ def test_storage_json_as_dict() -> None:
     assert result["no_mdns"] is True
     assert result["framework"] == "arduino"
     assert result["core_platform"] == "esp32"
+    assert result["area"] == "Living Room"
 
 
 def test_storage_json_to_json() -> None:
@@ -309,6 +311,7 @@ def test_storage_json_from_esphome_core(setup_core: Path) -> None:
     mock_core.config = {CONF_MDNS: {CONF_DISABLED: True}}
     mock_core.target_framework = "esp-idf"
     mock_core.toolchain = Toolchain.ESP_IDF
+    mock_core.area = "Living Room"
 
     with patch("esphome.components.esp32.get_esp32_variant") as mock_variant:
         mock_variant.return_value = "ESP32-C3"
@@ -329,6 +332,7 @@ def test_storage_json_from_esphome_core(setup_core: Path) -> None:
     assert result.framework == "esp-idf"
     assert result.core_platform == "esp32"
     assert result.toolchain == "esp-idf"
+    assert result.area == "Living Room"
 
 
 def test_storage_json_from_esphome_core_mdns_enabled(setup_core: Path) -> None:
@@ -729,3 +733,37 @@ def test_storage_json_load_legacy_esphomeyaml_version(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
 
     assert result is not None
     assert result.esphome_version == "1.14.0"  # Should map to esphome_version
+
+
+def test_storage_json_load_area(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    """``area`` round-trips through load; absence loads as None."""
+    file_path = tmp_path / "with_area.json"
+    file_path.write_text(
+        json.dumps(
+            {
+                "storage_version": 1,
+                "name": "lamp",
+                "friendly_name": "Lamp",
+                "esp_platform": "ESP32",
+                "area": "Living Room",
+            }
+        )
+    )
+    result = storage_json.StorageJSON.load(file_path)
+    assert result is not None
+    assert result.area == "Living Room"
+
+    legacy_path = tmp_path / "no_area.json"
+    legacy_path.write_text(
+        json.dumps(
+            {
+                "storage_version": 1,
+                "name": "lamp",
+                "friendly_name": "Lamp",
+                "esp_platform": "ESP32",
+            }
+        )
+    )
+    legacy = storage_json.StorageJSON.load(legacy_path)
+    assert legacy is not None
+    assert legacy.area is None
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_substitutions.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_substitutions.py
index 4783112578..4ff857951f 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_substitutions.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_substitutions.py
@@ -838,3 +838,86 @@ def test_include_vars_applied_to_lambda_value(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
 
     assert isinstance(result["value"], Lambda)
     assert result["value"].value == 'return "bar";'
+
+
+@patch("esphome.git.resolve_symlink_stub")
+@patch("esphome.git.clone_or_update")
+def test_remote_package_symlink_stub_is_followed(
+    mock_clone_or_update: MagicMock,
+    mock_resolve_symlink_stub: MagicMock,
+    tmp_path: Path,
+) -> None:
+    """When a package YAML is a scalar (symlink stub) and resolve_symlink_stub
+    returns a target, the loader follows the target and uses its content."""
+    CORE.config_path = tmp_path / "test.yaml"
+
+    repo_dir = tmp_path / "repo"
+    repo_dir.mkdir()
+    (repo_dir / "static").mkdir()
+
+    # Stub file: content is the target path string (simulating Windows behavior).
+    stub = repo_dir / "file1.yaml"
+    stub.write_text("static/file1.yaml")
+
+    # Real target with valid YAML mapping.
+    target = repo_dir / "static" / "file1.yaml"
+    target.write_text("substitutions:\n  hello: world\n")
+
+    mock_clone_or_update.return_value = (repo_dir, None)
+    mock_resolve_symlink_stub.return_value = target
+
+    config: dict[str, Any] = {
+        "packages": {
+            "test_package": {
+                "url": "https://github.com/esphome/repo1",
+                "ref": "main",
+                "files": ["file1.yaml"],
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    # Must succeed (does not raise the helpful cv.Invalid) because the stub
+    # was followed and a valid mapping was loaded from the target.
+    do_packages_pass(config)
+    assert mock_resolve_symlink_stub.called
+
+
+@patch("esphome.git.clone_or_update")
+def test_remote_package_scalar_yaml_raises_helpful_error(
+    mock_clone_or_update: MagicMock, tmp_path: Path
+) -> None:
+    """A remote package YAML that is a top-level scalar (e.g. an unmaterialized
+    git symlink on Windows) raises a clear cv.Invalid, not AttributeError.
+
+    Regression test for the case where a repo containing a YAML symlink,
+    checked out on Windows without symlink privilege, lands as a short text
+    file containing the symlink target path. PyYAML parses that as a bare
+    string scalar; the package loader must reject it with a human-readable
+    error instead of dying inside ``.get()``.
+    """
+    CORE.config_path = tmp_path / "test.yaml"
+
+    repo_dir = tmp_path / "repo"
+    repo_dir.mkdir()
+    # Simulate the broken-symlink state: a YAML file whose entire content is
+    # the symlink target string. PyYAML parses this as a top-level scalar.
+    (repo_dir / "file1.yaml").write_text("static/file1.yaml")
+
+    mock_clone_or_update.return_value = (repo_dir, None)
+
+    config: dict[str, Any] = {
+        "packages": {
+            "test_package": {
+                "url": "https://github.com/esphome/repo1",
+                "ref": "main",
+                "files": ["file1.yaml"],
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    with pytest.raises(cv.Invalid) as exc_info:
+        do_packages_pass(config)
+
+    msg = str(exc_info.value)
+    assert "mapping at the top level" in msg
+    assert "file1.yaml" in msg
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_writer.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_writer.py
index 91b4bd8e87..be37dd5d58 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_writer.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_writer.py
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ def create_storage() -> Callable[..., StorageJSON]:
             no_mdns=kwargs.get("no_mdns", False),
             framework=kwargs.get("framework", "arduino"),
             core_platform=kwargs.get("core_platform", "esp32"),
+            toolchain=kwargs.get("toolchain", "platformio"),
         )
 
     return _create
@@ -106,6 +107,20 @@ def test_storage_should_clean_when_build_path_changes(
     assert storage_should_clean(old, new) is True
 
 
+def test_storage_should_clean_when_toolchain_changes(
+    create_storage: Callable[..., StorageJSON],
+) -> None:
+    """Test that clean is triggered when the build toolchain changes.
+
+    Switching between the PlatformIO and native ESP-IDF toolchains produces
+    incompatible build trees (and toolchain-specific idedata), so the build
+    must be wiped.
+    """
+    old = create_storage(loaded_integrations=["api", "wifi"], toolchain="platformio")
+    new = create_storage(loaded_integrations=["api", "wifi"], toolchain="esp-idf")
+    assert storage_should_clean(old, new) is True
+
+
 def test_storage_should_clean_when_component_removed(
     create_storage: Callable[..., StorageJSON],
 ) -> None:
@@ -443,6 +458,11 @@ def test_clean_build(
     dependencies_lock = tmp_path / "dependencies.lock"
     dependencies_lock.write_text("lock file")
 
+    # idedata cache lives under the data dir, not the build path.
+    idedata_cache = tmp_path / "idedata" / "test.json"
+    idedata_cache.parent.mkdir()
+    idedata_cache.write_text("{}")
+
     # Native ESP-IDF toolchain artifacts.
     idf_build_dir = tmp_path / "build"
     idf_build_dir.mkdir()
@@ -463,11 +483,14 @@ def test_clean_build(
     mock_core.relative_pioenvs_path.return_value = pioenvs_dir
     mock_core.relative_piolibdeps_path.return_value = piolibdeps_dir
     mock_core.relative_build_path.side_effect = lambda name: tmp_path / name
+    mock_core.name = "test"
+    mock_core.relative_internal_path.side_effect = tmp_path.joinpath
 
     # Verify all exist before
     assert pioenvs_dir.exists()
     assert piolibdeps_dir.exists()
     assert dependencies_lock.exists()
+    assert idedata_cache.exists()
     assert idf_build_dir.exists()
     assert managed_components_dir.exists()
     assert platformio_cache_dir.exists()
@@ -492,6 +515,7 @@ def test_clean_build(
     assert not pioenvs_dir.exists()
     assert not piolibdeps_dir.exists()
     assert not dependencies_lock.exists()
+    assert not idedata_cache.exists()
     assert not idf_build_dir.exists()
     assert not managed_components_dir.exists()
     assert not platformio_cache_dir.exists()
@@ -501,6 +525,7 @@ def test_clean_build(
     assert ".pioenvs" in caplog.text
     assert ".piolibdeps" in caplog.text
     assert "dependencies.lock" in caplog.text
+    assert str(idedata_cache) in caplog.text
     assert str(idf_build_dir) in caplog.text
     assert str(managed_components_dir) in caplog.text
     assert "PlatformIO cache" in caplog.text