Get to werk! How to watch 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 18 premiere.
- - Get to werk! How to watch 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 18 premiere.
Greta Cross, USA TODAYJanuary 1, 2026 at 10:30 PM
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Racers, start your engines! The latest season of "RuPaul's Drag Race" is just around the bend.
The first episode of "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 18 premieres on Friday, Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. ET on MTV. The season features 14 drag queens from across the country competing to be "America's Next Drag Superstar" and win a cash prize of $200,000.
In the debut episode, the queens will compete in their first challenge, "Reclaim! Renew! Rejoice!," using leftover treasures from the Drag Race vaults to create their own signature looks, according to a Paramount news release. Following the premiere, new episodes will drop each Friday evening through April.
Ahead of the series premiere, "Drag Race: The Experience" opened in Chicago. The interactive space gives fans of the show a look into the production, featuring Werk Room stations, a glimpse into the iconic 2-Way Mirror and several activities, including a space to tape a confessional and room for replicating Snatch Game. Tickets are available for the experience on the World of Wonder website, starting at $59 for general admission.
Ready to "werk"? Here's how to watch the premiere of "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 18.
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When does 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 18 premiere?
"RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 18 premieres on Friday, Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. ET, live on MTV and available after airing on Paramount+.
"RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked," the official after show, will premiere directly following the season premiere at 9:30 p.m. ET on MTV.
How to watch 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 18 premiere
The first episode of "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 18 premieres on MTV on Friday, Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. ET. The remaining episodes of the season will release each Friday through April on the streaming services. After their live airing, episodes will be available for streaming on Paramount+, with a paid subscription.
"RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 8 premieres on Friday, Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. ET on MTV and Paramount+.'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 18 release schedule
Take a look at the release schedule for "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 18:
Episode 1: Friday, Jan. 2
Episode 2: Friday, Jan. 9
Episode 3: Friday, Jan. 16
Episode 4: Friday, Jan. 23
Episode, 5: Friday, Jan. 30
Episode, 6: Friday, Feb. 6
Episode 7: Friday, Feb. 13
Episode 8: Friday, Feb. 20
Episode 9: Friday, Feb 27
Episode 10: Friday, March 6
Episode 11: Friday, March 13
Episode 12: Friday, March 20
Episode 13: Friday, March 27
Episode 14: Friday, April 3
Episode 15 (Reunion): Friday, April 10
Episode 16 (Finale): Friday, April; 17
Who is competing on 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 18?
Fourteen drag queens will compete on "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 18. The season premieres on Friday, Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. ET on MTV and Paramount+.
Fourteen queens will "werk" for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar":
Athena Dion of Miami, Florida
Briar Blush of Boston, Massachusetts
Ciara Myst of Indianapolis, Indiana
Darlene Mitchell of Los Angeles, California
DD Fuego of New York
Discord Addams of St. Petersburg, Florida
Jane Don't of Seattle, Washington
Juicy Love Dion of Miami, Florida
Kenya Pleaser of Sumter, South Carolina
Mandy Mango of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mia Starr of West Palm Beach, Florida
Myki Meeks of Orlando, Florida
Nini Coco of Denver, Colorado
Vita VonTesse Starr of Montgomery, Alabama
The hour-long "Meet the Queens" of "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 18" is available for viewing for free on YouTube:
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 18 premieres Jan. 2. Here's how to watch.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
