diff --git a/esphome/components/voice_assistant/__init__.py b/esphome/components/voice_assistant/__init__.py
index d28c786dd8..8b7dcb4f21 100644
--- a/esphome/components/voice_assistant/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/voice_assistant/__init__.py
@@ -371,7 +371,12 @@ async def to_code(config):
     if on_timer_tick := config.get(CONF_ON_TIMER_TICK):
         await automation.build_automation(
             var.get_timer_tick_trigger(),
-            [(cg.std_vector.template(Timer), "timers")],
+            [
+                (
+                    cg.std_vector.template(Timer).operator("const").operator("ref"),
+                    "timers",
+                )
+            ],
             on_timer_tick,
         )
         has_timers = True
diff --git a/esphome/components/voice_assistant/voice_assistant.h b/esphome/components/voice_assistant/voice_assistant.h
index 491ed5fba6..b1b5f20bff 100644
--- a/esphome/components/voice_assistant/voice_assistant.h
+++ b/esphome/components/voice_assistant/voice_assistant.h
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ class VoiceAssistant : public Component {
   Trigger<Timer> *get_timer_updated_trigger() { return &this->timer_updated_trigger_; }
   Trigger<Timer> *get_timer_cancelled_trigger() { return &this->timer_cancelled_trigger_; }
   Trigger<Timer> *get_timer_finished_trigger() { return &this->timer_finished_trigger_; }
-  Trigger<std::vector<Timer>> *get_timer_tick_trigger() { return &this->timer_tick_trigger_; }
+  Trigger<const std::vector<Timer> &> *get_timer_tick_trigger() { return &this->timer_tick_trigger_; }
   void set_has_timers(bool has_timers) { this->has_timers_ = has_timers; }
   const std::vector<Timer> &get_timers() const { return this->timers_; }
 
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ class VoiceAssistant : public Component {
   Trigger<Timer> timer_finished_trigger_;
   Trigger<Timer> timer_updated_trigger_;
   Trigger<Timer> timer_cancelled_trigger_;
-  Trigger<std::vector<Timer>> timer_tick_trigger_;
+  Trigger<const std::vector<Timer> &> timer_tick_trigger_;
   bool has_timers_{false};
   bool timer_tick_running_{false};
 
diff --git a/tests/components/voice_assistant/common-idf.yaml b/tests/components/voice_assistant/common-idf.yaml
index ab8cbf2434..8565683700 100644
--- a/tests/components/voice_assistant/common-idf.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/voice_assistant/common-idf.yaml
@@ -68,3 +68,24 @@ voice_assistant:
     - logger.log:
         format: "Voice assistant error - code %s, message: %s"
         args: [code.c_str(), message.c_str()]
+  on_timer_started:
+    - logger.log:
+        format: "Timer started: %s"
+        args: [timer.id.c_str()]
+  on_timer_updated:
+    - logger.log:
+        format: "Timer updated: %s"
+        args: [timer.id.c_str()]
+  on_timer_cancelled:
+    - logger.log:
+        format: "Timer cancelled: %s"
+        args: [timer.id.c_str()]
+  on_timer_finished:
+    - logger.log:
+        format: "Timer finished: %s"
+        args: [timer.id.c_str()]
+  on_timer_tick:
+    - lambda: |-
+        for (auto &timer : timers) {
+          ESP_LOGD("timer", "Timer %s: %" PRIu32 "s left", timer.name.c_str(), timer.seconds_left);
+        }
diff --git a/tests/components/voice_assistant/common.yaml b/tests/components/voice_assistant/common.yaml
index f248154b7e..d09de74396 100644
--- a/tests/components/voice_assistant/common.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/voice_assistant/common.yaml
@@ -58,3 +58,24 @@ voice_assistant:
     - logger.log:
         format: "Voice assistant error - code %s, message: %s"
         args: [code.c_str(), message.c_str()]
+  on_timer_started:
+    - logger.log:
+        format: "Timer started: %s"
+        args: [timer.id.c_str()]
+  on_timer_updated:
+    - logger.log:
+        format: "Timer updated: %s"
+        args: [timer.id.c_str()]
+  on_timer_cancelled:
+    - logger.log:
+        format: "Timer cancelled: %s"
+        args: [timer.id.c_str()]
+  on_timer_finished:
+    - logger.log:
+        format: "Timer finished: %s"
+        args: [timer.id.c_str()]
+  on_timer_tick:
+    - lambda: |-
+        for (auto &timer : timers) {
+          ESP_LOGD("timer", "Timer %s: %" PRIu32 "s left", timer.name.c_str(), timer.seconds_left);
+        }