Netflix’s beloved romantic drama Virgin River isn’t slowing down anytime soon. With Season 7 now officially in production in Vancouver, the series is welcoming two new faces — The Vampire Diaries alum Sara Canning and Riverdale’s Cody Kearsley — who are set to shake up the small California town fans know and love. Alongside the casting reveal, two exclusive behind-the-scenes photos have surfaced, showing returning favorites Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson back on set, just days after their characters’ much-anticipated wedding.
Picking Up Where Season 6 Left Off
Season 7 wastes no time: the story begins just two hours after Mel and Jack exchange vows in the emotional Season 6 finale. But, true to Virgin River form, a wedding isn’t the end of the drama — it’s only the beginning.
Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith teased earlier this year that the clinic battle will take center stage, with outside forces attempting to wrest control from Doc (Tim Matheson) and the community. “There’s an overarching theme for Season 7 of the outside encroaching into Virgin River,” Smith explained, hinting at a season filled with conflicts that blur the lines between loyalty, love, and survival.
Sara Canning as Victoria — A Complicated Arrival
Sara Canning’s Victoria is no stranger to conflict herself. A former cop turned investigator for the state medical board, she arrives in Virgin River on professional business: examining Doc’s controversial medical decisions. But work isn’t the only thing drawing her to town.
Victoria soon reconnects with an old friend from her police days — someone she may be interested in rekindling sparks with. Fans have already started speculating that Mike (Marco Grazzini), the town’s straight-laced officer, could be that person, though his future is complicated by his proposal cliffhanger to Brie (Zibby Allen). If sparks do fly between Victoria and Mike, Season 7 could set the stage for a love triangle that adds even more tension to Virgin River’s web of relationships.
Cody Kearsley as Clay — A Mystery Rooted in Family
While Canning’s character brings workplace conflict and romance, Cody Kearsley’s Clay injects intrigue, mystery, and a sense of longing. A rodeo veteran with a magnetic presence, Clay grew up in foster care alongside a younger sister he lost touch with as a teen. His ongoing search for her could be the season’s most emotional storyline — and potentially tie into Virgin River’s recent family-centered twists, like Doc’s surprise grandson and Mel discovering her biological father.
Clay’s arrival will test the town’s bonds, especially as his search for family collides with Virgin River’s tendency to uncover long-buried secrets. Fans should expect his rugged charm and troubled past to make him one of Season 7’s most talked-about characters.
A Returning Cast with Some Shifts
The core cast remains intact: Breckenridge, Henderson, Matheson, Annette O’Toole, Colin Lawrence, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Zibby Allen, Sarah Dugdale, Kai Bradbury, Marco Grazzini, and Kandyse McClure will all be back. However, fans will notice one absence — Mark Ghanimé, who played Dr. Cameron Hayek, will not be returning as a series regular.
Behind the camera, Patrick Sean Smith continues as showrunner and executive producer, alongside Virgin River veterans Sue Tenney, Amy Palmer Robertson, Roma Roth, and Christopher E. Perry.
Raising the Stakes for 2026
With wedding bliss, fresh love triangles, and long-lost family ties set against the fight for Virgin River’s very heart — its clinic — Season 7 is shaping up to be one of the most dynamic chapters yet. Canning and Kearsley’s additions promise new energy and emotional complexity, ensuring fans will be counting the days until the show’s projected early 2026 premiere.
One thing’s certain: in Virgin River, the quietest towns always have the loudest secrets.
