At Virgin River, as usual, it’s only a few months until the events of the new season.

Only we’ll have to wait a lot longer. While there are an endless number of cozy dramas

on television in the same vein as Hallmark shows and movies, Netflix ‘s Virgin River

occupies a very special place in the genre niche, being not only one of the streaming service’s flagship series, but one of the most popular shows on modern television in general. What is it about Virgin River that keeps Netflix subscribers hooked?

Well, for starters, the laid-back vibe of the titular town, the love entanglements and drama that weave their way through each storyline, and, of course, the brilliant ensemble cast that never fails to impress with their chemistry, dynamism, and devotion to the narrative.

And now it’s been almost half a year since the Christmas specials were released, ending the Season 5 mayhem on a comforting yet emotional note. Even before its release, Netflix renewed the series for a sixth season based on high ratings and critical and audience acclaim, and filming is now in full swing. So brace yourself, Virgin River fans, as it looks like the new season of our favorite cozy drama may be a year away.

Without further ado, let’s find out when the new season of Virgin River will be released and what are the reasons for such a long wait.

A Disappointing Virgin River Season 6 Update

As we said, the announcement of Season 6 was made by Netflix four months before the release of Season 5, that is, in May 2023. In turn, the release was expected to take place in 2024, most likely in the fall, like most of the previous seasons.

The active production phase was supposed to kick off in the summer of 2023. However, as we know, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes suddenly hit, freezing almost the entire film and television industry. As a result, principal photography has been postponed indefinitely.

If Deadline’s February 2024 report is to be believed, fans should not expect a new season of Virgin River in 2024. This will be the first time that Virgin River will miss a full year of release, as the previous five seasons were released in consecutive years. And given the current state of production on the new season, we have no reason to doubt Deadline’s claim.

So When Can We Expect a New Season of Virgin River?

In addition to the delays caused by the strikes, one of the reasons for the long wait may have been the weather conditions in British Columbia, which significantly pushed back the start of production. However, on February 22, 2024, it was revealed that the filming had already commenced. It is expected that filming will wrap as early as May 17, 2024.

It typically takes about 7-10 months from the time the show is filmed to the completion of post-production. However, the upcoming Season 6 will be much shorter than the previous ones, consisting of 10 episodes (yes, it’s all the ramifications of the 2023 Hollywood labor disaster), so the work can be less exhausting.

All of this leads us to believe that Netflix won’t release the new Season 6 until January 2025, though more plausible projections are Q2 or Q3 2025 at the very least. Little is yet known about what is to come beyond what was revealed in the 2023 Christmas specials, but showrunner Patrick Sean Smith has stated that the events will take place several months after the previous season.

In addition, a Virgin River spin-off is in development that will tell the love story of Mel’s parents.