# What’s New in the Helm Charts

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.redpanda.com/llms.txt). Component-specific: [streaming-full.txt](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming-full.txt)

---
title: What’s New in the Helm Charts
latest-redpanda-tag: v25.2.1
latest-console-tag: v3.7.3
latest-operator-version: v26.1.4
# EOL = End-of-Life (support lifecycle status)
page-is-nearing-eol: "true"
page-is-past-eol: "false"
page-eol-date: July 31, 2026
latest-connect-version: 4.93.0
docname: release-notes/helm-charts
page-component-name: streaming
page-version: "25.2"
page-component-version: "25.2"
page-component-title: Streaming
page-relative-src-path: release-notes/helm-charts.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/docs/edit/v/25.2/modules/get-started/pages/release-notes/helm-charts.adoc
description: Summary of new features and updates in the Helm charts for Redpanda and Redpanda Console.
page-git-created-date: "2025-04-07"
page-git-modified-date: "2025-12-05"
support-status: nearing end-of-life
---

<!-- Source: https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.2/get-started/release-notes/helm-charts.md -->

This topic includes new content and significant changes in the Redpanda and Redpanda Console Helm charts. For a complete list of all updates, see:

-   [Changelog for the Redpanda chart](https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda-operator/blob/v26.1.4/charts/redpanda/CHANGELOG.md).

-   [Changelog for the Redpanda Console chart](https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda-operator/blob/v26.1.4/charts/console/CHANGELOG.md).


See also:

-   [What’s New in Redpanda](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.2/get-started/release-notes/redpanda/)

-   [Kubernetes Compatibility](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.2/upgrade/k-compatibility/)

-   [Upgrade Redpanda in Kubernetes](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.2/upgrade/k-rolling-upgrade/)


## [](#redpanda-chart-v25-2-1)Redpanda chart v25.2.1

[Changelog](https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda-operator/blob/release/v25.2.x/charts/redpanda/CHANGELOG.md).

### [](#new-chart-wide-podtemplate-field)New chart-wide podTemplate field

You can now use the chart-wide `podTemplate` field to control Pod attributes across all components. This field has lower precedence than `statefulset.podTemplate` and `post_install_job.podTemplate` but will be merged with them.

Additionally, `podTemplate` fields now support template expressions within string fields, allowing you to use Helm templating for dynamic values:

```yaml
podTemplate:
  annotations:
    "release-name": '{{ .Release.Name }}'
```

This compensates for functionality lost with the removal of fields like `extraVolumes`, while being more maintainable and less error prone.

### [](#improved-config-watcher-sidecar)Improved config-watcher sidecar

The config-watcher sidecar is now a dedicated Go binary that handles user management and simplifies cluster health checks. Health checks no longer fail when the sole issue is that other nodes in the cluster are unavailable.

### [](#rpk-debug-bundle-now-works-by-default)rpk debug bundle now works by default

The chart now creates `Roles` and `RoleBindings` that satisfy the requirements for running `rpk debug bundle --namespace` from any Redpanda Pod. These permissions may be disabled by setting `rbac.rpkDebugBundle=false`.

The Redpanda container now always has a Kubernetes ServiceAccount token mounted to ensure `rpk debug bundle` can be executed successfully.

### [](#serviceaccount-creation-now-enabled-by-default)ServiceAccount creation now enabled by default

The `serviceAccount.create` field now defaults to `true`. Previously, the chart used the `default` ServiceAccount and extended it with all bindings.

### [](#stricter-schema-validation)Stricter schema validation

Any unexpected values now result in a validation error. Previously, unexpected values would have been silently ignored.

Ensure your Helm values only include valid fields before upgrading.

### [](#redpanda-console-v3-1-0)Redpanda Console v3.1.0

The Console dependency has been updated to v3.1.0. The Console integration (`console.enabled=true`) now uses the chart-managed bootstrap user rather than the first user from `auth.sasl.users`.

### [](#deprecated-helm-values)Deprecated Helm values

The following Helm values are deprecated and will be removed in a future release:

-   `statefulset.sidecars.controllers.image`: Use `statefulset.sidecars.image` instead

-   `statefulset.sideCars.controllers.createRBAC`: Use `rbac.enabled` or per-controller settings instead

-   `statefulset.sideCars.controllers.run`: Use individual controller enabled fields instead


### [](#removed-helm-values)Removed Helm values

Several fields have been removed in favor of using `podTemplate`. Before upgrading, review your configurations and migrate removed fields to their `podTemplate` equivalents. For the complete list of removed fields and their replacements, see the [changelog](https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda-operator/blob/release/v25.2.x/charts/redpanda/CHANGELOG.md).