Reports have been swirling ever since Ben Hollingsworth (Brady) appeared to unintentionally drop the Virgin River Season 7 release window on live TV. During a segment on Good Day New York, the anchors casually mentioned that new episodes would arrive in March 2026 — and Hollingsworth, caught off guard, didn’t deny it.
Still, Netflix hasn’t officially confirmed a thing. Whether Hollingsworth truly slipped or just didn’t want the awkwardness of contradicting the hosts remains up in the air.
But honestly? Fans didn’t need him to say a word. The Season 6 finale already laid out the clues — and not because of the five jaw-dropping cliffhangers it ended on.
The Honeymoon Clue Hidden in the Season 6 Finale
Mel and Jack finally tied the knot in the Season 6 finale, giving viewers the romantic payoff the show has been building toward for years. And that, more than anything, is what points to the perfect timing for Season 7.
Anyone expecting the premiere to immediately resolve the show’s big open questions is probably mistaken. Sure, there’s plenty to address:
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Mel and Jack are considering adopting a patient’s baby.
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Brie must decide whether she wants to marry Mike.
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Brady is desperate to recover the money Lark stole.
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Doc faces losing his surgery.
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And Charmaine has vanished without a trace.
But none of these storylines feel like the place Season 7 will begin.
Instead, the show’s next chapter is far more likely to pick up with the most significant event that just happened: Mel and Jack’s wedding. After spending six seasons building toward this moment, it makes narrative sense to let the newlyweds enjoy at least a little post-wedding glow.
That’s why a time jump — a small one — feels inevitable.
A Shift in Timing, Both On-Screen and Off
Season 7 will be the first Virgin River season in two years that isn’t being released in December. That suggests a shift in the show’s fictional timeline as well. A brief jump forward, perhaps only a couple of months, would allow the story to reopen with Mel and Jack on their honeymoon or just returning home.
Imagine a beach scene with the newlyweds before the next big twist lands — it’s the kind of moment that sparks instant buzz and prolongs the anticipation around those unresolved cliffhangers.
And with Season 8 already confirmed, the writers have no reason to rush. Drawing out the emotional and dramatic threads is exactly what keeps viewers hooked.
Why March 2026 Still Makes Perfect Sense
Even without Netflix’s confirmation, a March release works for everyone:
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It lines up perfectly with a small in-universe time jump.
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It separates the show from the crowded holiday release window.
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And it gives Mel and Jack’s wedding the spotlight it deserves before diving back into all the chaos that’s about to unfold.
So whether Hollingsworth slipped up or not, the season’s likely timing has felt obvious for a while. All signs — both on screen and off — point toward March 2026 being the real deal for Virgin River Season 7.
