Netflix has renewed the small-town romantic drama Virgin River for a ninth season, ahead of the show's eighth-season premiere, which has no date yet, TVLine reported. The renewal means the series is on track to become the longest-running scripted drama on Netflix. Deadline also reported the pickup, noting it came months before the Season 8 premiere, currently slated for 2027, and that the new season will again consist of 10 episodes.

Based on Robyn Carr's book series, Virgin River stars Alexandra Breckenridge as Mel Monroe, a nurse practitioner who moves to the town in search of a fresh start and falls for Marine-turned-bartender Jack Sheridan, played by Martin Henderson. Over seven seasons, the couple's story has included several miscarriages and a stillbirth before Mel's pregnancy in Season 3, a later loss of that baby in Season 5 while she aided wildfire victims, and, in Season 7, an agreement to adopt the baby of a young mother named Marley. That baby was born with a heart defect and whisked into surgery moments after birth, and he is being operated on by Eli, played by Austin Nichols, Mel's former boyfriend from her days with Nurses Without Borders.S1

The ensemble also includes Colin Lawrence as the chef Preacher, Annette O'Toole as town mayor Hope, Tim Matheson as Mel's boss Doc, and Ben Hollingsworth as Brady. Patrick Sean Smith is showrunner, executive-producing alongside Robyn Carr. Breckenridge said she was proud of the show and grateful to continue into Season 9, while Henderson said he was delighted to play Jack for a ninth straight season.S1