The cozy charm of Virgin River shows no signs of fading. Just days after production wrapped on its highly anticipated seventh season, Netflix has officially renewed the beloved romantic drama for Season 8—cementing its place in the streamer’s history books.
With the new season order, Virgin River becomes Netflix’s longest-running live-action scripted series, surpassing both Orange Is the New Black and Grace and Frankie in longevity (though the latter still holds the top episode count with 94 half-hour installments). Virgin River’s 84 hour-long episodes—soon to hit 94 with Season 8’s 10-episode run—represent a quietly groundbreaking milestone for a show that’s often flown under the radar of flashier streaming fare.
A Comfort Hit With Staying Power
Since its 2019 debut, Virgin River has carved out a unique place in the streaming landscape with its “blue sky” tone, heartwarming characters, and drama rooted in small-town life rather than big-budget spectacle. Anchored by Alexandra Breckenridge as nurse practitioner Mel Monroe and Martin Henderson as bar owner Jack Sheridan, the series is based on Robyn Carr’s bestselling novels and blends emotional storytelling with a picturesque setting that has become its signature.
The show’s grounded, character-driven premise—filmed primarily in Vancouver with minimal effects and stunts—has proven not only sustainable but remarkably effective. While other high-profile Netflix originals have struggled to last beyond a few seasons, Virgin River continues to deliver solid performance. Since Season 3, the show has landed on Netflix’s Global Top 10 English TV List 30 times and racked up over 140 million views. Season 6 debuted at #1 and remained in the Top 10 for four weeks. On Nielsen’s Top 10 streaming charts, it’s logged an impressive 38-week presence since its launch.
Why the Early Pickup?
While Virgin River fans were delighted by the early Season 8 renewal, the move was also strategic. In the wake of the 2023 Hollywood strikes, which caused prolonged gaps between new seasons of many series, Netflix is accelerating renewals to avoid long delays. By greenlighting a new season just after production wraps on the previous one, streamers can ensure a more consistent release cadence—something that’s been increasingly important to audiences.
This is the second consecutive early renewal for Virgin River. Season 7 was picked up in October 2023—months after Season 6 had finished filming, but before it even premiered. In contrast, the Season 8 announcement comes a mere week after Season 7 wrapped production, with a brief shoot in Mexico marking the end of filming on June 22. While Netflix hasn’t revealed a release date yet, industry insiders suggest Season 7 is likely to debut in late 2025 or early 2026.
What’s Next for Virgin River?
While details for Season 8 are under wraps, the returning cast includes all the fan favorites: Alexandra Breckenridge, Martin Henderson, Tim Matheson, Annette O’Toole, Colin Lawrence, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Zibby Allen, Sarah Dugdale, Marco Grazzini, Kai Bradbury, and Kandyse McClure. Patrick Sean Smith continues as showrunner and executive producer alongside series creator Sue Tenney and a roster of seasoned producers.
And while the story of Mel and Jack remains at the heart of the series, the ensemble cast and expanding relationships in Virgin River ensure there’s always more to explore—from long-lost siblings to surprise pregnancies and small-town secrets.
The show’s loyal fanbase and timeless appeal may even be helping to lift similar content on the platform. Case in point: Sullivan’s Crossing, another Canadian-set drama based on Carr’s novels, recently shot to #1 on Netflix U.S. shortly after landing on the service.
A Quiet Streaming Giant
While it may not be flashy, Virgin River’s strength lies in its consistency, relatability, and emotional authenticity. It’s a rare series that feels like a warm blanket in a cold, unpredictable television landscape—and now, with Season 8 on the way, it’s clear Netflix is fully embracing that comfort.
As Colin Lawrence (Preacher) said in a heartfelt farewell video after Season 7 filming wrapped: “I’ve been so blessed to have been a part of this for the last seven seasons.” Then, with a smile, he added, “Fingers crossed more to come.”
Turns out, his instincts were right.
