Lori Loughlin is Back in Hope Valley for When Calls the Heart Season 14 After 7 Years

Erin Krakow and Lori Loughlin on When Calls the Heart season 6.
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Everett

Hallmark Channel’s "When Calls the Heart" Renewed for 14th Season

In a significant announcement, Hallmark Channel’s popular series When Calls the Heart will return for a 14th season, ahead of the much-anticipated premiere of its 13th season scheduled for January. This new season will feature the return of original cast member Lori Loughlin, who will portray Abigail Stanton in six out of the twelve episodes.

Loughlin’s comeback comes nearly seven years after her departure from the show, following her final appearance in season six. Production for the new season is set to commence next year, with plans to air in 2027.

The upcoming season will also include the core cast members, notably Erin Krakow, Kevin McGarry, Jack Wagner, Chris McNally, Pascale Hutton, and Kavan Smith.

Jaeda Lily Miller, Kevin McGarry, Erin Krakow and Hyland Goodrich in When Calls the Heart season 13.

Jeff Weddell/Hallmark

Michelle Vicary, Hallmark Media’s head of programming, expressed excitement over Loughlin’s return. “Since the series’ debut in 2014, the character of Abigail Stanton was a fan favorite and beloved by the Hearties,” she stated. “At its core, the Hallmark brand is about hope, positivity, and connection, which resonates with the themes of When Calls the Heart. We felt that season 14 was the right time to continue Abigail’s story with her return.”

Abigail Stanton, a widow and integral character, was notably the first friend of Elizabeth Thornton upon her arrival in Hope Valley. She was written off the show in 2019 amidst the college admissions scandal, for which she served two months in jail. Loughlin’s final episode aired on March 10, 2019, after which the series paused to reassess its direction without her.

Lori Loughlin.

Garrett Lobaugh

Since her last appearance, Loughlin successfully returned to the screen, featuring in Curb Your Enthusiasm and playing a police role in Dick Wolf’s Prime Video drama On Call. Additionally, she reprised her role as Abigail in two episodes of When Hope Calls in 2021.

In 2023, co-creator Brian Bird indicated the possibility of Loughlin’s return to the series on a podcast, stating, “What I can say is that there are good conversations happening. We can’t guarantee anything, but there are good conversations happening around this topic.”

Lori Loughlin in season 1 of When Calls the Heart.

Alamy

The trend of beloved characters returning to Hope Valley continues, as Brooke Shields is also set to reprise her role as Charlotte, Elizabeth’s late husband’s mother, for three episodes after a ten-year absence.

As season 12 concluded, Elizabeth, along with her boyfriend Nathan and his niece Allie, as well as Elizabeth’s son Little Jack, journeyed to Cape Fullerton to spend time with Charlotte due to Little Jack’s diabetes treatment needs.

However, the forthcoming season is not without its challenges. Kevin McGarry hinted at a significant event early in season 13 that will impact the entire community of Hope Valley, setting the stage for a dramatic character journey throughout the season.

When Calls the Heart season 13 is set to premiere on January 4, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, and will be available for streaming the following day. Season 14 is slated for release in 2027.