RuPaul's Drag Race season 18
| RuPaul's Drag Race | |
|---|---|
| Season 18 | |
Promotional poster for season eighteen | |
| Hosted by | RuPaul |
| Judges | |
| No. of contestants | 14 |
| Companion show | Untucked! |
| Release | |
| Original network | MTV |
| Original release | January 2, 2026 |
| Season chronology | |
The eighteenth season of the American television series RuPaul's Drag Race is slated to premiere in January 2026.[1] This marks the fourth season to air through cable network MTV.
Development
On August 20, 2024, MTV announced the series renewal for Season 18 along with its companion series RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked.[2] Casting for the eighteenth season began on September 30, 2024 with a deadline of December 6, 2024.[3]
Marketing
Season 17 winner Onya Nurve presented the contestants through the series official YouTube channel on December 2, 2025.[1] An official trailer was released on December 9, 2025, which featured the contestants and the season's celebrity guest judges.[4]
Contestants
| Contestant | Age | Hometown | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athena Dion | 38 | Miami, Florida | TBA |
| Briar Blush | 25 | Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Ciara Myst | 32 | Indianapolis, Indiana | |
| Darlene Mitchell | 34 | Los Angeles, California | |
| DD Fuego | 37 | New York City, New York | |
| Discord Addams | 35 | St. Petersburg, Florida | |
| Jane Don't | 32 | Seattle, Washington | |
| Juicy Love Dion | 24 | Miami, Florida | |
| Kenya Pleaser | 29 | Sumter, South Carolina | |
| Mandy Mango | 29 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |
| Mia Starr | 39 | West Palm Beach, Florida | |
| Myki Meeks | 29 | Orlando, Florida | |
| Nini Coco | 29 | Denver, Colorado | |
| Vita VonTesse Starr | 38 | Montgomery, Alabama |
Guest judges
- Teyana Taylor, singer and actress
- Benny Blanco, record producer
- Dove Cameron, singer and actress
- Cardi B, rapper
- Zara Larsson, singer and songwriter
- Brooke Shields, actress
- Iman, model and actress
- Atsuko Okatsuka, stand-up comedian
- Jamal Sims, choreographer and director
- Amy Taylor, musician and activist
- Annaleigh Ashford, actress, singer and dancer
- Danielle Pinnock, actress, comedian and writer
- Julianne Nicholson, actress
- Sarah Sherman, comedian and actress
- Leland, singer and songwriter
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 239 | 1 | "Talent Takes The Win" | January 2, 2026 |
Footnotes
References
- ^ a b Tangcay, Jazz (December 2, 2025). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Reveals 14 New Queens for Season 18". Variety. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
- ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race Renewed For Season 18 At MTV & Paramount+ Picks Up RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars For Season 11". August 20, 2025.
- ^ "Calling all queens! Casting for #DragRace Season 18 beings TODAY". September 30, 2024.
- ^ Rude, Mey. "RuPaul's Drag Race season 18 drops guest judges and trailer | Out.com". www.out.com. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
- ^ Nolfi, Joey (December 4, 2024). ""RuPaul's Drag Race" season 18 cast of queens revealed — and they're 'out for blood'". Entertainment Weekly. Dotdash Meredith. Retrieved December 2, 2025.