Season 18 · Reality

RuPaul's Drag Race 2026 (season 18): U.S. release date, episode schedule and where to watch

Name: RuPaul's Drag Race
Genre: Reality
Cast: RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Ross Mathews, Carson Kressley, Santino Rice

Season 18 of RuPaul's Drag Race aired from January 2, 2026 to April 17, 2026 on MTV (16 episodes).

Season complete Cable Verified November 3, 2026

Artwork via TVmaze · © its respective owners

Quick answer

RuPaul's Drag Race season 18 ran from January 2, 2026 to April 17, 2026 on MTV (16 episodes).

U.S. premiere: January 2, 2026
Where: Cable
Time: Varies by station
Episodes: 16
Finale: April 17, 2026

Season 18 episode schedule (U.S.)

RuPaul's Drag Race season 18 U.S. episode schedule
Ep.	Title	U.S. date	Time	Status
1	You Can't Keep A Good Drag Queen Down!	Fri, Jan 2, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
2	Q-Pop Girl Groups	Fri, Jan 9, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
3	RDR Live Returns	Fri, Jan 16, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
4	Red Carpet Mash Up	Fri, Jan 23, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
5	The Rate-A-Queen Talent Show, Part 1	Fri, Jan 30, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
6	The Rate-A-Queen Talent Show, Part 2	Fri, Feb 6, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
7	Drag Queens For Change	Fri, Feb 13, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
8	Snatch Game Of Love: Island Edition	Fri, Feb 20, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
9	Fannie: The Hard Knock Ball Rusical	Fri, Feb 27, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
10	Drag in a Bag	Fri, Mar 6, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
11	A Toast to Alyssa Edwards	Fri, Mar 13, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
12	Mammas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Drag Queens	Fri, Mar 20, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
13	Karens Gone Wild	Fri, Mar 27, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
14	Good Morning Bitches	Fri, Apr 3, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
15	All RuPaul-A-Paruza Smackdown	Fri, Apr 10, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
16	Grand Finale	Fri, Apr 17, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed

Broadcast times are the network's national slot and your local station may differ. Streaming times are converted to your time zone when your browser allows it.

Where to watch season 18

Where to watch RuPaul's Drag Race season 18 in the U.S.
Where	How	When	Notes
Cable	Broadcast (free)Antenna / cable	January 2, 2026 – April 17, 2026	Original U.S. run on MTV. [1]

Common questions

How many seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race are there?

RuPaul's Drag Race has 18 seasons and 254 episodes listed, with the first airing on February 2, 2009.

Is RuPaul's Drag Race still on?

RuPaul's Drag Race is still running; its most recent episode aired on April 17, 2026.

Where can I watch RuPaul's Drag Race?

RuPaul's Drag Race originally aired on MTV in the U.S. Streaming rights for older seasons change over time, so check MTV's own app and the major streaming services for the current home.

When was the first episode of RuPaul's Drag Race season 18?

Season 18 episode 1 premiered on Friday, January 2, 2026 on MTV.

About RuPaul's Drag Race

RuPaul's Drag Race is a reality series that aired on MTV, running since 2009 with 18 seasons and 254 episodes. RuPaul's Drag Race is still running; its most recent episode aired on April 17, 2026.

Where to watch every season of RuPaul's Drag Race →