| 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.
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]
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]
| 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 | |
Special guests who appeared in episodes, but did not judge on the main stage.
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 239 | 1 | "You Can't Keep A Good Drag Queen Down!" | January 2, 2026 |
| 240 | 2 | "Q-Pop Girl Groups" | January 9, 2026 |
| 241 | 3 | "RDR Live Returns!" | January 16, 2026 |
