When Calls the Heart is returning for its 13th season in 2026, transporting viewers to both Cape Fullerton and Hope Valley. "Psst. I got news. When Calls the Heart is returning for a season 13 and we are so excited," star Erin Krakow, who plays Elizabeth Thornton, confirmed via Instagram in March 2025. "We can't wait to get back to Hope Valley to tell more of the stories you love. We'll see you on Hallmark for a baker's dozen season." Krakow married WCTH costar Ben Rosenbaum during the offseason in June 2025 - and announced her first pregnancy that November - on the show, Elizabeth's romance with Nathan Grant (Kevin McGarry) is still in its early days. During the season 12 finale, Elizabeth and Nathan hopped on a train to Cape Fullerton, revealing they didn't know when their blended family would return. Hallmark Is Kicking Off 2026 With 5 New 'Winter Escape' Rom-Coms: A Guide Krakow exclusively told Us Weekly in November 2025 that the pair and their respective children spent the "past summer" away from Hope Valley, teasing, "It has impacted their relationship, both romantically and sort of as this pseudo blended family, pre marriage." Scroll down for everything to know about season 13 of When Calls the Heart: Where Did Season 12 Leave Off? Ricardo Hubbs/Hallmark Media At the end of season 12, which aired in March 2025, Elizabeth had a difficult decision to make about her future in Hope Valley. After her son, Little Jack (Hyland Goodrich), had an issue with his diabetes insulin supply that resulted in him having trouble waking up, Elizabeth decided to leave her home and move to Cape Fullerton (where there is an insulin lab) for the foreseeable future. Elizabeth worried about what would happen between her and boyfriend Nathan after recently becoming a couple. She tried to wait for Nathan to return from his shift as a Mountie to tell him her plan in person but eventually had to leave for the train with Little Jack. As soon as Nathan learned what happened he and daughter Allie (Jaeda Lily Miller) headed to the train station. When they met up with Elizabeth and Little Jack en route to the train, they revealed that the family sticks together. "Where you go, I go," Nathan told Elizabeth, noting that they would be coming to Cape Fullerton. Is Brook Shields Coming Back? Eike Schroter/Crown Media/Hallmark The season 12 finale revealed that Elizabeth and Little Jack would be moving to Cape Fullerton to better regulate his insulin and diabetes. The relocation to the bigger town opens the door for Little Jack's grandmother Charlotte Thornton (Brooke Shields) to return, as she is the one who informed Elizabeth about the insulin lab in the city. Charlotte is currently running a boarding house in town, hinting that their paths will cross. Charlotte was last seen during season 3 of the show. She is the mother of Elizabeth's late husband, Jack Thornton (Daniel Lissing). News broke in October 2025 that Shields will star in three episodes during season 13. "We do see Charlotte in Hope Valley during season 13. And the episode where she comes back to Hope Valley is so meaningful and so full of easter eggs and memories that our fans are really going to love, especially those who have been watching from the beginning," Krakow exclusively told Us in December 2025 of Shields' comeback. "It's just a super meaningful episode and really something to look forward to." When Was Season 13 of 'When Calls the Heart' Announced? Ricardo Hubbs/Hallmark Media In March 2025 - as the season 12 finale was about to air - the network confirmed that the show would be back for another season. "Hey #Hearties, time to rejoice!!! When Calls the Heart will return for season 13! We'll see you back in Hope Valley in 2026. 💜," the show's official Instagram page read at the time. There's a New Showrunner Ricardo Hubbs/Hallmark Media Executive producer Brian Bird announced in March 2025 that Joy Gregory will take over as showrunner for the new season. "I'm pleased to be on this Zoom with Joy Gregory, our fantastic season 12 writer and executive producer, who is joining us again for season 13 as our showrunner," Bird said during an appearance on "The Official Hearties Aftershow" podcast. He added: "We're so thrilled with that. Joy did such an amazing job this year on the show. Her first year on the show, but she just got it so quickly. Picked up the world, picked up the values, picked up the vibes. And brought her own to it, too, which is what we always love about our fantastic writers." When Did Fittings Take Place? Courtesy of Pascale Hutton/Instagram Pascale Hutton, who plays Rosemary Coulter, posed for a mirror selfie in May 2025, signifying the start of season 13 fittings. The cast came in over the next month, finishing up their costuming needs in June 2025. When Did 'WCTH' Season 13 Start Filming? Courtesy of Erin Krakow/Instagram Krakow announced via her Instagram Story on June 30, 2025, that "Day 1 of WCTH SEASON 13!!!!" was about to begin. She teased t