I’m pretty sure it is a bug. An MRE is the following:
import geopandas as gpd
import hvplot.pandas
countries = gpd.read_file(gpd.datasets.get_path('naturalearth_lowres'))
countries.hvplot(geo=True, by="continent", subplots=True)
I have got the MRE to work with by but not subplots (yet). Will make a PR when I figure it out.
edit: Got it to work with subplots too. Will make a PR in the coming week.
edit 2: The PRs are holoviews #5325 and hvplot #761.