RuPaul's Drag Race Season 18 — episode guide & air dates
Premiere: Jan 2 — Finale: Apr 17 · 16 episodes
Join RuPaul, the world's most famous drag queen, as the host, mentor and judge for the ultimate in drag queen competitions. The top drag queens in the U.S. will vie for drag stardom as RuPaul, in full glamazon drag, will reign supreme in all judging and eliminations while helping guide the contestants as they prepare for each challenge.
Episodes
In shady times, let there be light! A dazzling new cast of queens navigate the first challenge of the season: “Reclaim! Renew! Rejoice!” The queens must repurpose leftover treasures from the Drag Race vaults to create their own signature drag look. Superstar Cardi B guest judges.
The queens sing and dance in rival “Q-Pop” girl groups: the “Q” standing for quintessentially queer, with tracks inspired by Sylvester, Wham! and The Runaways. Actress and singer Dove Cameron guest judges.
Live from Tuckahoe, RDR Live returns! The queens must once again serve up laughs in the hilarious send-up of the iconic sketch comedy show. Actress and comedian Sarah Sherman (Saturday Night Live) guest judges.
The queens must create show-stopping looks inspired by a mash-up of two different legendary red carpet looks. Broadway star Annaleigh Ashford (Wicked, Legally Blonde) and superstar stylist Law Roach guest judge.
It’s judgement day, as half of the queens take the stage to perform a show-stopping talent number, while the other half watch and rate the performances. Swedish singer Zara Larsson guest judges.
Alliances form and schemes are hatched, as the other half of the cast takes to the stage for their talent show, and to be rated by their sisters. Musician Amy Taylor (Amyl and the Sniffers) guest judges.
The queens are tasked with creating twisted parodies of political ads. Choreographer Jamal Sims (Aladdin), and singer-songwriter Leland guest judge.
RuPaul throws the queens a curveball by giving the classic celebrity impersonation game show a format twist. Actress and model Brooke Shields guest judges.
This season’s Rusical is inspired by a mashup of the classical Broadway musical Annie, and New York City ballroom culture. Record producer Benny Blanco guest judges.
RuPaul throws a spectacular curveball at the queens with the third design challenge of the season. Supermodel Iman guest judges.
The queens pay a comedy tribute to tongue-popping Drag Race legend Alyssa Edwards. Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka guest judges.
The queens make over queer cowboys. Actress and comedian Danielle Pinnock (Ghosts) guest judges.
The queens face off with RuPaul in a chaotic improv challenge inspired by viral “Karen” meltdowns. Actress Julianne Nicholson guest judges.
The queens take over the 8th and 9th hour of a morning show, testing their hosting skills with interviews and banter. Actress Teyana Taylor guest judges.
All of the eliminated queens return to battle it out in a Lalaparuza lip sync smackdown, featuring all RuPaul songs, and a $50,000 cash prize.
The top queens face off in an epic evening of performances and lip syncs, as they compete for a grand prize of $200,000. Superstar Miley Cyrus joins RuPaul on stage.