If you’re a die-hard fan of Virgin River, the cozy Netflix drama that whisks us away to the stunning Northern California town of Grace Valley, you’re probably still reeling from the emotional highs (and cliffhangers) of Season 6. With Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson) finally tying the knot, and enough loose ends to keep us speculating for months, the big question on everyone’s mind is: Will Season 7 drop just in time for the holidays in December 2025?
Short answer: Unfortunately, no. While Netflix has greenlit the seventh installment—and even teased an eighth season—the next chapter in this heartfelt series won’t arrive until 2026.
A Quick Recap: Where Did Season 6 Leave Us?
Season 6, which premiered on Netflix in December 2024, was a milestone for the series. It delivered long-awaited moments like Mel and Jack’s wedding, while diving deeper into themes of family, forgiveness, and second chances. Key storylines included:
- Mel and Jack’s fertility struggles evolving into an exploration of adoption.
- Brie’s (Zibby Allen) complicated romance with Brady (Benjamin Hollingsworth) hitting new twists.
- Hope’s (Annette O’Toole) recovery from a health scare, and Preacher’s (Colin Lawrence) ongoing quest for closure.
The season ended on a massive cliffhanger—Marley (the young mother from Season 5) asking Mel and Jack to adopt her baby, amid whispers of deeper secrets in Virgin River. It’s the kind of edge-of-your-seat finale that has fans refreshing their Netflix queues daily.
Official Renewal and Why 2025 Is Off the Table
Netflix wasted no time renewing Virgin River after Season 6’s strong performance. The official announcement for Season 7 came on October 23, 2024, with showrunner Patrick Sean Smith confirming scripts were in development. But here’s the buzzkill: The streamer has shifted its release strategy.
According to multiple reports, Season 7 is now locked in for early to mid-2026, with some insiders pointing to March 2026 as a potential premiere month. This delay stems from a packed Netflix slate—think the final season of Stranger Things dominating late 2025, alongside heavy-hitters like Bridgerton and major films. As Alexandra Breckenridge shared in a recent Entertainment Weekly interview, “There’s a lot going on this year for Netflix… I wouldn’t roll Virgin River out until the new year.”
Filming wrapped earlier than expected, from March 12 to June 26, 2025, in Vancouver and Mexico. That timeline would’ve lined up for a late 2025 drop, but Netflix opted for a more spaced-out rollout to maximize viewership. The absence of Virgin River from Netflix’s 2025 Upfronts sealed the deal—no holiday binge this year.
Benjamin Hollingsworth, who plays Brady, even spilled the beans on Good Day New York while promoting his holiday film The Christmas Ring. He casually mentioned a March 2026 premiere, adding fuel to the speculation fire.
