Fans of Virgin River may need to hold onto their patience a little longer. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos has officially confirmed that the beloved small-town drama won’t be returning until 2026, marking a longer-than-expected gap between seasons.
Netflix Confirms 2026 Return for Multiple Fan-Favorite Shows
During a recent earnings call, Sarandos offered updates on several of the streamer’s top titles, confirming that Bridgerton, Beef, Outer Banks, Ginny & Georgia, Emily in Paris, The Gentlemen, and yes — Virgin River — are all slated to return in 2026.
“We’re really particularly excited about a few things coming up next year,” Sarandos said. “That includes the returns of some of our biggest and most beloved shows like Bridgerton, Beef, Emily in Paris, One Piece, Outer Banks, Virgin River, The Gentlemen, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Running Point, Ginny and Georgia, and Lupin — all coming back for new seasons in 2026.”
This revelation means Virgin River fans — who were hoping for new episodes by the end of 2025 — will have to wait a little longer to return to Mel Monroe’s cozy mountain town.
Season 6’s Cliffhanger Keeps Viewers Guessing
The Season 6 finale left fans on edge with several unresolved threads. Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack (Martin Henderson) faced fresh heartbreaks as Charmaine (Lauren Hammersley) disappeared once again, and one of Mel’s patients made a shocking request — setting up a tense foundation for the upcoming season.
According to reports from The Mirror, these developments are expected to play a major role in Season 7’s storyline when the show returns.
Production Wrapped — So Why the Wait?
Filming for Virgin River Season 7 reportedly wrapped in June 2025, leading many to expect a late-2025 release. However, with Netflix confirming its 2026 rollout slate, the drama’s next installment will likely premiere in early 2026, possibly during the first quarter of the year.
There’s still a faint possibility of a December 2025 release — especially since Sarandos mentioned Emily in Paris as part of Netflix’s 2026 lineup despite its fifth season arriving on December 18, 2025. That leaves just enough room for Virgin River to sneak in a surprise holiday special, much like the two-part festive event that delighted fans in November 2023.
Still, as of now, all signs point to a 2026 return.
Alexandra Breckenridge Drops More Hints
Series star Alexandra Breckenridge recently echoed this prediction in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
“There’s a lot going on this year for Netflix,” she teased. “If I were an intelligent person guessing, I’d say I wouldn’t roll Virgin River out until the new year.”
Breckenridge also teased what’s ahead for her character and Jack, confirming that the Marley (Rachel Drance) storyline — including the baby introduced last season — will continue to play a central role.
“The storyline with Marley and the baby does not disappear in Season 7,” she said. “It’s pretty heavily featured… and it’s something that me and Jack have to navigate through.”
What to Expect When the Show Returns
While Netflix has yet to release an official synopsis or trailer, fans can expect Season 7 to pick up where Season 6’s emotional cliffhangers left off — with Mel and Jack facing new personal challenges, and the town of Virgin River once again caught between love, loss, and new beginnings.
When and Where to Watch
Virgin River Season 7 is expected to debut on Netflix in early 2026. Until then, all six previous seasons — including the 2023 holiday specials — are available to stream now.
