Netflix has officially renewed its beloved romantic drama Virgin River for Season 8, marking a historic achievement as the streamer’s longest-running live-action scripted series. The renewal comes just days after production wrapped on Season 7, highlighting Netflix’s strategy of early renewals to combat fan frustration over prolonged release gaps.
Based on Robyn Carr’s best-selling novels, Virgin River stars Alexandra Breckenridge as nurse practitioner Melinda Monroe and Martin Henderson as her love interest Jack Sheridan, alongside veteran actors Tim Matheson and Annette O’Toole. The series centers around the close-knit community of Virgin River, a fictional town in Northern California, and explores themes of healing, love, and small-town resilience.
Since its debut in 2019, Virgin River has quietly outpaced higher-profile series in terms of longevity and viewership, surpassing Grace and Frankie and Orange Is the New Black in seasons and edging out Spain’s Elite in total episodes. With 84 episodes over eight seasons, the series continues to be a ratings powerhouse, especially among fans of feel-good, relationship-driven storytelling.
Filmed primarily in Vancouver, Canada, the show benefits from cost-effective production—minimal special effects, limited sets, and a consistent ensemble cast. A short Mexico shoot for Season 7 was the first time the series ventured beyond Canada, involving just a few cast members including Breckenridge and Henderson.
Virgin River has consistently appeared in Netflix’s Global Top 10 English TV List, charting 30 times since the list’s inception in 2021 and garnering more than 140 million views. Season 6 debuted at #1, remaining in the Top 10 for four weeks, while the series overall has spent 38 weeks on Nielsen’s Top 10.
Early renewal for Season 8 is part of Netflix’s broader effort to maintain momentum and shorten the gap between seasons, especially after delays caused by the 2023 Hollywood strikes. While there’s no official Season 7 premiere date, the show is projected to return in late 2025 or early 2026.
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Season 7 is executive produced by showrunner Patrick Sean Smith, alongside Sue Tenney, Amy Palmer Robertson, Roma Roth, Christopher E. Perry, Robyn Carr, and others. Returning cast includes Colin Lawrence, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Sarah Dugdale, Marco Grazzini, Kai Bradbury, and Kandyse McClure.
The show’s sustained success has also boosted related content, notably Netflix’s acquisition of Sullivan’s Crossing, another Carr adaptation, which shot to #1 on the U.S. Daily Top 10.
With its comforting tone, strong character arcs, and loyal fanbase, Virgin River continues to prove that compelling, emotionally grounded storytelling is always in demand
