Where to watch RuPaul's Drag Race: Live stream Season 18 anywhere

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Racers, start your engines — RuPaul is back for an 18th season. We've compiled everything you need to know about where to watch RuPaul's Drag Race, including live streaming and on-demand options for those without cable.

The latest season gathers 14 new contestants to compete for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar," a $200,000 prize, and an official makeup collaboration with Anastasia Beverly Hills Cosmetics. As always, the guest judge line-up is nearly as enticing as the weekly challenges. Regular and recurring judges include RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, Law Roach, Ts Madison, and Ross Mathews, while this season's special guest judge line-up features names like Cardi B, Teyana Taylor, Benny Blanco, and Dove Cameron, among other celebs.

The streaming options get a bit complicated for cord-cutters, but we've gathered everything you need to know below. Keep reading to learn how to tune into the show, whether you want to watch new episodes or catch up on past seasons.

• See also: ESPN Unlimited, Disney Plus, Hulu bundle deal | Best DirecTV deals | Best live TV streaming services

What channel is RuPaul's Drag Race on?

RuPaul's Drag Race airs on MTV in the United States. New episodes drop on Fridays at 8 p.m. ET, starting on January 2, 2026.

Where to watch RuPaul's Drag Race in the US

Cord-cutters without access to MTV can still tune into RuPaul's Drag Race live with the help of a live TV streaming service. There are several MTV-compatible options on the market, but DirecTV, Philo, Sling TV, and Fubo earn our top recommendations right now.

You can stream past seasons of Drag Race on-demand on Paramount Plus, which we'll dig into later, but new episodes usually aren't available on the app until after the latest season has finished airing, so we recommend subscribing to one of the above live TV packages if you'd like to watch the new season live. These services also have solid DVR capabilities and a robust on-demand selection, so they'll be able to help you out if you can't watch a new episode right when it airs but don't want to wait a few months to stream it.

DirecTV is the best cable alternative we've tested, thanks to its impressive channel variety and ability to customize with cheaper genre packs. The MyEntertainment genre pack offers MTV and around 60+ other popular lifestyle and entertainment channels. MyEntertainment also unlocks access to the ad-supported Disney Plus and Hulu bundle, as well as ad-supported HBO Max. Subscriptions cost $35 a month, but new users can get their first two months for $30 a month after a five-day free trial.

Philo is one of the best budget-friendly live TV streaming services available. The app features over 70 live channels, including MTV, Paramount Network, and AMC, among others. Subscriptions cost $33 a month, but new users can get their first month for just $25. A Philo subscription also includes the AMC Plus library and unlocks access to ad-supported HBO Max and Discovery Plus.

Sling TV is another affordable option. Subscriptions start at $46 a month for either of the service's base plans, but you'll also need to get the Entertainment Extra add-on for an additional $6/month to access MTV. This extra also grants viewers access to TV Land, Paramount Network, Logo, and more. In total, this will run you $52/month, but Sling also offers cheap short-term Sling Orange passes with the ability to add on extras. These short-term passes unlock anywhere from single-day to weeklong periods of service at a reduced rate. If you're only interested in watching one episode, like the season premiere, this can be a good option. However, if you're hoping to tune in for the entire season, we recommend getting a monthly plan.

Fubo is one of the more comprehensive live TV streaming services out there, especially when it comes to sports. It's a great option for those who are seeking a cable alternative with tons of live channels, in addition to MTV. Fubo subscriptions start at $74 for the Pro tier (the cheapest plan with MTV), but new users can get their first month for $49 after a five-day free trial. Fubo Pro includes over 200 live channels and unlocks ESPN Unlimited access.

If you're looking to watch past episodes of RuPaul's Drag Race or don't mind waiting a while to see the new season, Paramount Plus is the way to go. The streaming service has all 17 past seasons and should eventually get Season 18 as well. In the past, the latest season has become available sometime after it finishes airing in full in the US.

Subscriptions start at $8 a month for the Essential tier, which offers ad-supported on-demand streaming. You can upgrade to Paramount Plus Premium for $13 a month for an ad-free on-demand experience, in addition to CBS live streaming and access to Showtime content. All subscriptions, including annual plans, come with a one-week free trial (for now).

Paramount Plus is also the US streaming home for RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars, RuPaul's Drag Race Untucked, RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars Untucked, RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race, and RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-Slay Spectacular.

How to watch RuPaul's Drag Race from anywhere

If you're traveling abroad and don't want to miss out on a new episode, you can still keep up with most of your usual watch options with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are handy cybersecurity tools that enable people to change the virtual location on their electronic devices so that they can still access their go-to websites and apps just like they would back home. Since the services we've recommended today require US payment methods, this option will work best for Americans who are just traveling away from home at the moment.

NordVPN is our top recommendation in 2026. The user-friendly app has impressive security perks, a massive selection of servers, and tons of other assets, which we break down in our NordVPN review. Plus, the app has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 18 trailer

The official RuPaul's Drag Race YouTube channel dropped a Season 18 trailer in early December. The preview offers a sneak peek of some of the upcoming drama this season, as well as a first look at a few of the guest judges. Check out the full video below:

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