Virgin River has become one of the best Netflix series with its addictive sleepy town drama that’s played out across five seasons so far. The series has been known to constantly top the best streaming service’s weekly top 10 most-watched shows list so it’s no surprise that it got renewed for season 6 before season 5 aired.
Based on the Virgin River book series by Robyn Carr, the show follows nurse practitioner Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge), who moves to the remote North Californian town of Virgin River to escape the whirlwind of Los Angeles. Although she may have left the hustle and bustle of the city life behind, Mel soon gets swept up in the scandals and romance this seemingly peaceful town has to offer. From drug lords and love triangles to secret baby daddies and long-lost fathers, there’s been a lot to unpack over the past five seasons.
Here’s everything we know about Virgin River season 6 so far.
Virgin River season 6: release date
It has been officially confirmed that Virgin River season 6 will be released on Netflix on December 19 - that's my Christmas plans sorted! The official Virgin River Instagram account made the announcement along with first-look photos teasing what's to come for the residents.
Deadline originally reported in February that Virgin River season 6 would likely come to Netflix sometime in 2025 as filming could not commence in Vancouver until March due to the weather.
However, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos announced in late July that Virgin River will be coming in 2024 during the Netflix Q2 2024 earnings announcement. Netflix Life revealed that Virgin River was mentioned when Sarandos discussed the upcoming slate of programming in 2024. Sarandos said on the call: “Just before the end of this year we’ve got Squid Game’s return, Emily in Paris’s return, a new season of Selling Sunset, The Lincoln Lawyer, The Diplomat, Virgin River, Love is Blind, Ryan Murphy has an incredible new season of Monsters. That’s all just coming up before the end of the year."
Virgin River star Alexandra Breckenridge also confirmed that the new season is arriving in 2024 as she shared an exciting update about the show's release date. In response to a fan's question about whether there was an update for the upcoming season, Breckenridge wrote in an Instagram Story seen by the Express: "I’m curious. I know it was announced that season 6 will be airing this year in 2024, where, previously this year, we didn’t think it would air until 2025."
To keep us on our toes even more, Breckenridge added that she knew the official release date, but couldn't tell fans. "Well thanks for all the guesses on when Virgin River season 6 will be coming out. I totally know what date it is. I can't tell you though. It's going to be a great season. I think you're all going to enjoy it a lot. I hope you enjoy it."
At the same time of announcing the Virgin River prequel, Deadline also reported that production for the upcoming season began on February 22, but it wasn’t until April 22 that Netflix confirmed that it officially had with a behind-the-scenes photo from the set (see below).
In the picture, fans can see Breckenridge and her co-star Martin Henderson, who plays her on-screen lover Jack Sheridan, excitedly standing together while holding a clapperboard so we know it’s definitely underway.
Virgin River star Martin Henderson has since confirmed that season 6 is currently in post production by sharing a selfie from the recording booth on Instagram (see below). In the background is a teaser of a scene from the new season with Jack and Mel smiling at each other.
Virgin River season 6: teaser trailer
Netflix has shared a glimpse at Mel Monroe and Jack Sheridan's romantic wedding in a Virgin River season 6 teaser released on October 17. The teaser trailer (see below) begins with a moving montage of the couple's most romantic moments along with a voiceover of Jack's heartwarming proposal from the season 4 finale. We also get a glance at Mel's wedding dress and Jack putting on his wedding suit, as well as snippets of Mel's bachelorette party.
Virgin River season 6: cast
Our favorite Virgin River characters are set to return to season 6 of the series, including:
- Alexandra Breckenridge as Mel Monroe
- Martin Henderson as Jack Sheridan
- Tim Matheson as Doc Mullins
- Annette O'Toole as Hope McCrea
- Benjamin Hollingsworth as Brady
- Sarah Dugdale as Lizzie
- Colin Lawrence as John "Preacher" Middleton
- Zibby Allen as Brie Sheridan
- Lauren Hammersley as Charmaine Roberts
We can also expect a few more familiar faces to return with Marco Grazzini as Mike Valenzuela, Kai Bradbury as Denny Cutler, Mark Ghanimé as Dr. Cameron Hayek, Teryl Rothery as Muriel, Nicola Cavendish as Connie, Gwynyth Walsh as Jo Ellen and Jenny Cooper as Joey Barnes.
Joining them are John Allen Nelson as Mel's biological dad Everett Reid, who has been harbouring a long-held secret and Kandyse McClure as firefighter Kaia, who arrived in season five and sparked up a romance with Preacher.
Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith told Netflix that we can expect some “new directions” for Preacher, Brady and Kaia, revealing: “Brady will be volunteering at the Virgin River fire station under Fire Chief Kaia, who is pulled into Preacher’s past sins. Also this season we’ll be surprised by some returning favorites from the past.”
In November 2023, Smith told Deadline that there will be returning villains in Virgin River season 6, so we can guess that David Cubitt will be back as Calvin after he was exposed as the father of Charmaine’s twins, as well as his former right-hand man, Jimmy (Ian Tracey).
Virgin River season 6 is also set to welcome two new residents, according to a casting update announced on September 24. Jessica Rothe (Happy Death Day) and Callum Kerr (One Piece) will join the show as a young version of Mel's parents, Sarah and Everett Reid.
Sarah and Everett will appear in the series through flashbacks as they meet and fall in love in 1972. According to Tudum, Sarah is: "a witty, free spirit from the big city with an ardent passion for activism, who is trying to avoid the conventional and traditional life of a young woman in the ’70s."
Sarah shares an instant spark with Everett, "a handsome and freewheeling singer-songwriter with a poet’s soul" who will one day pursue his dreams of being on stage and is currently sailing through life in a VW van. However, an unexpected meeting with a beautiful hitchhiker makes him see life differently.
Virgin River season 6: plot speculation
At the end of Virgin River season 5 part 2, Mel discovered the identity of her mystery father, who turned out to be Virgin River resident Everett Reid. He initially didn’t want anything to do with her, but he eventually came round and shared an eagerness to have a relationship with his daughter.
The episode ended on a cliff-hanger as Everett dropped the bombshell that he had “something important” to tell her, which will be revealed in Virgin River season 6. Smith also confirmed that there will be a time jump and won’t be a direct pickup from the holiday episodes.
Smith added that season 6 will explore Everett’s backstory and what his connection to Virgin River was when he met Mel’s mom, with Deadline reporting that a young Everett and Sarah will feature in flashbacks and explore more of their love story. He also added that season 6 will also explore the "relationship of Everett with the town as well as Everett and Mel.”
As for our favorite couple Mel and Jack, they’ve faced some devastating hardships when it comes to their relationship. While struggling with their personal issues, they've endured a heartbreaking miscarriage, love triangle, and a devastating wildfire. But it’s good news for them in season 6 as they advance on their path to parenthood and transform Lilly’s farm into their dream home. Of course, there's also the sound of wedding bells in the air as Mel and Jack will walk down the aisle and have the happily ever after they deserve in season 6.
Virgin River season 6 focuses on the lead-up to Mel and Jack's wedding, with Smith telling Tudum: “We’re trying to hit all the milestones of the pre-wedding planning, the bachelor and bachelorette parties, the rehearsal dinner. I’m so proud of how it turned out. It felt very Virgin River in its production - the ambition of it, and that we’re a small group of people that care about something so much: the fans. So we just busted our humps to get it done.”
While season 6 focuses more on the romance side of the series, there's still going to be "the signature Virgin River twists and turns," Smith said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
As for Doc and Hope, we’ll see them in a “healthy” place after his macular degeneration diagnosis. Smith told Deadline in another interview that “he’ll get a good prognosis out of it, but other challenges will arise”.
With Doc’s prognosis, Mel’s upcoming nuptials and Denny and Lizzie discussing marriage, there’s definitely wedding bells ringing in the air. "It seems like it's a great opportunity for a wedding season, doesn't it?" Smith shared. That at least appears to be guaranteed though as Smith promises “babies and wedding bells are never off the table on Virgin River”.
The official logline for the new season says: "Against the backdrop of Mel and Jack’s romantic spring wedding season, this sixth installment promises fresh twists and turns, escalating love triangles, delightful wedding drama, as well as uncovered secrets from Mel’s father’s past which will transport us to the magic and mystique of Virgin River in the 1970s."
Meanwhile, there was another update regarding Virgin River season 6 as Netflix fansite What's On Netflix revealed the rumored ten episode titles for the upcoming season. These reportedly are: "Brothers & Sisters," "Ghosts," "Going Overboard," "Hope Springs Eternal," "I Climbed a Mountain and I Turned Around," "Love Story," "Prelude to a Kiss," "The Big Day," "The Broken Places," and "The Jury's Out."
VIRGIN RIVER season 6 episode titles!In alphabetical order: Brothers & SistersGhostsGoing OverboardHope Springs EternalI Climbed a Mountain and I Turned AroundLove StoryPrelude to a KissThe Big DayThe Broken PlacesThe Jury's Out pic.twitter.com/jW797SeoeSAugust 6, 2024
Virgin River season 6: future seasons
Virgin River has officially been renewed for season 7, with Netflix confirming the news by posting a video montage of the cast on social media who all announced that there's more small town drama in store.
Good news, VIRGIN RIVER is confirmed to come back for Season 7! More love, drama, and small-town charm coming your way. You're very welcome ❤️ pic.twitter.com/WcJYNko3HTOctober 23, 2024
Similar shows to Virgin River
With more soapy scandal on the horizon, fans are excited for season 6 to land on Netflix, but if you can’t wait to watch Virgin River season 6 then check out our pick of five more powerful dramas in the meantime. We’ve also rounded up three other similar shows that didn’t make the list.
Ginny & Georgia
Ginny & Georgia follows Georgia (Brianne Howey) and her two children, Ginny (Antonia Gentry) and Austin (Diesel La Torraca) as they move to a picturesque New England town to start a new life after years on the run, but fresh beginnings aren’t always easy.
Available to stream worldwide on Netflix.
Grey's Anatomy
Beloved medical drama Grey’s Anatomy focuses on Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and a team of doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital as they face life-or-death decisions everyday while they lean on each other for support and develop close relationships.
Available to stream on Netflix in the US and Disney Plus in Australia and the UK.
Emily in Paris
Emily in Paris stars Lily Collins as Chicago marketing executive Emily Cooper, who moves to Paris to provide an American point of view to a French marketing firm. In the City of Love, she tries her best to solve challenges in her work, complicated love life and friendships which often makes for some funny mishaps along the way.
Available to stream worldwide on Netflix.
