RuPaul's Drag Race poster

RuPaul's Drag Race

★ 8.5 26K votes 2009–present 18 seasons · 263 episodes Returning Series MTV
Reality competitionReal people competing under format rules.This show: 10/10Queer storiesLGBTQ+ lives and relationships at the center.This show: 10/10CampyKnowingly over the top and enjoying every minute of its own excess.This show: 9/10Witty banterRapid-fire verbal sparring.This show: 7/10EpisodicSelf-contained episodes you can watch in almost any order.This show: 7/10
Rate this series
Written by
RuPaulMichelle VisageMerle Ginsberg
Written by
RuPaulMichelle VisageMerle Ginsberg
Ratings per Episode
246810
Votes per Episode
07502k2k3k

RuPaul's Drag Race Episode Ratings Heatmap

AvgE1E2E3E4E5E6E7E8E9E10E11E12E13E14E15E16E17
S17.57.37.47.48.07.47.66.68.07.9
S27.77.67.67.38.38.17.97.77.97.86.47.47.8
S37.76.87.77.57.97.57.77.78.17.57.67.98.48.16.87.97.5
S48.08.27.67.78.28.78.07.48.77.87.88.17.18.08.4
S58.38.18.07.88.48.58.49.28.38.28.38.58.26.88.4
S68.48.28.48.48.89.38.57.89.07.98.17.78.47.38.8
S77.77.77.87.47.07.87.68.48.28.07.87.67.47.07.7
S87.98.38.38.07.77.57.77.88.07.88.0
S98.38.97.37.47.88.07.97.88.28.48.77.98.38.99.4
S107.68.27.37.58.37.77.58.28.06.98.45.77.98.17.5
S117.47.88.28.07.27.46.87.78.37.56.95.07.37.28.2
S127.99.07.85.77.07.68.49.17.68.08.88.48.57.37.1
S136.76.37.18.47.57.55.96.65.96.27.76.87.17.66.16.94.25.5
S148.18.27.87.88.08.26.59.17.98.25.68.79.17.98.18.58.7
S157.68.58.96.06.47.36.66.67.97.56.97.88.97.87.97.48.4
S168.28.37.98.76.68.28.38.58.07.47.77.67.78.28.29.39.0
S177.68.17.68.28.27.78.74.97.98.69.27.17.49.15.27.86.0
S186.17.97.66.28.28.55.68.26.87.88.58.15.52.55.37.76.9

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About

"Camp competition with genuine heart underneath the glitter"

A reality competition where drag queens battle through design challenges, comedy sketches, lip-sync showdowns, and runway looks to be crowned America's next drag superstar. RuPaul hosts and judges alongside a rotating panel, dishing out praise and eliminations with equal flair. The show is glitzy, campy, and often hilarious, but it also carries real emotional weight, contestants share stories of family rejection, addiction, and finding self-acceptance through drag. Pacing is brisk and episodic, built around a challenge-critique-elimination formula that repeats each week. What carries it is personality: the contestants' wit, resilience, and artistry make it addictive even if you've never watched drag before.

Watch it for

the contestants' raw creativity and resilience turn a competition show into something surprisingly moving.

Maybe skip if

you dislike reality-show elimination formats or find drag aesthetics not your thing.

Written by our AI editor to help you decide, spoiler-free by design.

All Seasons

Season 12009
7.54K96h 27m
Nine contestants were selected to compete in the running of becoming "America's Next Drag Superstar". The winner of the first season won the following prizes: a lifetime supply of MAC Cosmetics, be featured an LA Eyeworks campaign, join the Logo Drag Race tour, and a cash prize of $20,000.
Season 22010
7.75K128h 36m
For season two, the number of contestants was increased from nine to twelve, and the prizes were slightly modified: a lifetime supply of Nyx Cosmetics and be the face of nyxcosmetics.com, an exclusive one year public relations contract with LGBT firm Project Publicity, be featured an LA Eyeworks campaign, join the Logo Drag Race tour, and a cash prize of $25,000.
Season 32011
7.76K1611h 20m
The third season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing on January 24, 2011. Thirteen drag queens competed for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar", a headlining spot on the Absolut Tour, a lifetime supply of Kryolan makeup, and a cash prize of $75,000. This season saw Michelle Visage replacing Merle Ginsberg at the judge's table and Billy B., Mike Ruiz, and Jeffrey Moran filling in for Santino Rice's absence during several episodes.
Season 42012
8.06K1410h 22m
The winner of season four will headline Logo's Drag Race Tour featuring Absolut Vodka, wins a one-of-a-kind trip, a lifetime supply of NYX Cosmetics, a cash prize of $100,000, and the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar."
Season 52013
8.36K1410h 44m
The fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing on January 28, 2013, with a 90-minute premiere episode. The winner of season five headlined Logo's Drag Race Tour featuring Absolut Vodka, won a one-of-a-kind trip, a lifetime supply of Colorevolution Cosmetics, and a cash prize of $100,000.
Season 62014
8.47K1410h 4m
Just when you thought you knew what to expect from RuPaul’s Drag Race, along comes the ferociously fabulous and funny Season Six, with enough tricks up its silk chiffon sleeve to keep you on your painted toes! This crop of queens is our most diverse yet, from seasoned pros, to an international drag star, to a former American Idol contestant, and even some fresh-faced ingénue queens who were inspired to be drag performers by watching Season One of RuPaul’s Drag Race! That’s one leggy legacy. Have we mentioned that these boys are hot? Because they are. Have we mentioned they make even hotter women? Because they do.
Season 72015
7.76K149h 54m
​​​RuPaul's Drag Race returns with a court of queens so ingenious, a competition so unpredictable and a judges' panel so packed with talent, you'll be seeing stars It's all the artistry, all the humanity and all the head-turning twists you love but if you think you know this Race, honey, you have no idea.​​
Season 82016
7.94K108h 10m
RuPaul is back to light up the runway with 12 new queens competing for the title of "American's Next Drag Superstar." Season 8 marks a drag milestone: the 100th episode and the 100th queen! Watch as these talented ladies of drag join the ranks of the fabulous 88 queens who fought for the crown before them. The 12 Queens to compete include: Acid Betty, Bob the Drag Queen, Chi Chi DeVayne, Cynthia Lee Fontaine, Dax ExclamationPoint, Derrick Barry, Kim Chi, Laila McQueen, Naomi Smalls, Nayasha Lopez, Robbie Turner, and Thorgy Thor.
Season 92017
8.37K149h 32m
Season Nine’s drag queens are fiercer than ever, competing to snatch the coveted title of "America's Next Drag Superstar." This year’s cutthroat race to the crown features unpredictable competition, gag-worthy performances, and jaw-dropping moments.
Season 102018
7.66K1514h 34m
The tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing on March 22, 2018, on VH1. The premiere was broadcast one week after the finale of the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, and episodes are to be followed by RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked.
Season 112019
7.47K1414h 34m
RuPaul's Drag Race and Untucked return with more sickening styles, fierce challenges and backstage drama. Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, Ross Mathews and celeb guest judges join RuPaul as she sets out to crown America's Next Drag Superstar.
Season 122020
7.910K1413h 32m
The twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on February 28 and concluded on May 29, 2020. The competition was broadcast on VH1 in the United States and saw 13 new queens competing for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar".
Season 132021
6.712K1815h 17m
The thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on January 1 and concluded on April 23, 2021. The cast was announced via Twitter on December 9, 2020. The competition is broadcast on VH1 in the United States and showcases 13 new queens competing for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar".
Season 142022
8.116K1717h 51m
The fourteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on January 7, 2022. The reality competition series, broadcast on VH1 in the United States, showcases 14 new queens competing for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar".
Season 152023
7.613K1715h 5m
This season features the largest cast in the show's history, with sixteen queens competing and the largest cash prize, with the winner earning $200,000. It is also the first season to feature biological relatives, twins Sugar and Spice. Series judges Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, and Ross Mathews returned, and Ts Madison, who had previously appeared as a recurring guest judge, joined the rotating judges panel.
Season 162024
8.212K1717h 16m
The sixteenth season of Drag Race showcases fourteen drag queens competing for the title of America's Next Drag Superstar, a one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics, a crown and scepter from Fierce Drag Jewels and a cash prize of $200,000.
Season 172025
7.612K1717h 42m
The seventeenth season of the American reality competition series RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on January 3, 2025. RuPaul remained as host and head judge of the series. Television personalities Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, Ts Madison, and Ross Mathews continued as regular judges. Fashion stylist Law Roach, who previously appeared as a guest judge, joined the judging panel. The Queens competed for a cash prize of $200,000, and a years-worth of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics.
Season 182026
6.112K174h 14m
This season, 14 sickening new queens enter the Werk Room to compete for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar," an official makeup collaboration with Anastasia Beverly Hills Cosmetics and a cash prize of $200,000 courtesy of the popular video game RuPaul's Drag Race Match Queen.

Full Cast & Crew

Cast

RuPaul Self - Host, Judge
Michelle Visage Self - Judge, Self - Announcer, Audience Member
Ross Mathews Self - Judge, Self - Guest Judge, Self - Special Guest
Carson Kressley Self - Judge
Jason Carter Self - Pit Crew
Santino Rice Self - Judge, Self - Audience Member, Self
Bryce Eilenberg Self - Pit Crew, Dillard
Shawn Morales Self - Pit Crew, Self - Special Guest
Bruno Carvalho Self - Pit Crew
Raja Self - Contestant, Self, Self - Special Guest

Crew

Merle Ginsberg

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