diff --git a/esphome/components/i2s_audio/__init__.py b/esphome/components/i2s_audio/__init__.py
index 1e4fa56b789..d3128c5f4ca 100644
--- a/esphome/components/i2s_audio/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/i2s_audio/__init__.py
@@ -232,6 +232,8 @@ def validate_use_legacy(value):
         if (not value[CONF_USE_LEGACY]) and (CORE.using_arduino):
             raise cv.Invalid("Arduino supports only the legacy i2s driver")
         _set_use_legacy_driver(value[CONF_USE_LEGACY])
+    elif CORE.using_arduino:
+        _set_use_legacy_driver(True)
     return value
 
 
@@ -261,8 +263,7 @@ def _final_validate(_):
 
 
 def use_legacy():
-    legacy_driver = _get_use_legacy_driver()
-    return not (CORE.is_esp32 and not legacy_driver)
+    return _get_use_legacy_driver()
 
 
 FINAL_VALIDATE_SCHEMA = _final_validate
diff --git a/esphome/core/__init__.py b/esphome/core/__init__.py
index 8c823f112dc..73b683aa608 100644
--- a/esphome/core/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/core/__init__.py
@@ -798,10 +798,8 @@ class EsphomeCore:
 
     @property
     def using_esp_idf(self):
-        # Deprecated: use is_esp32 instead, as Arduino also builds ESP-IDF
         logging.getLogger(__name__).warning(
-            "CORE.using_esp_idf is deprecated, use CORE.is_esp32 instead. "
-            "Arduino on ESP32 also uses ESP-IDF."
+            "CORE.using_esp_idf was deprecated in 2026.1, use CORE.is_esp32 and/or CORE.using_arduino instead."
         )
         return self.target_framework == "esp-idf"