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It’s that magical time once again where drag performers all across America come to face off, going head-to-head in challenges galore to become America’s Next Drag Superstar.
That’s right. Season 18 of RuPaul’s Drag Race is set to air Jan. 2, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on MTV, a great way to start the New Year off right, in our humble opinion. New episodes will air every Friday and last around 90 minutes. Fourteen queens, including the likes of Ciara Myst, Athena Dion, Briar Blush, DD Fuego, Discord Addams, Jane Don’t, Juicy Love Dion, Kenya Pleaser and more will enter the werk room, each bringing unique looks and talents to the mainstage to win over judges RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, Ross Mathews, Ts Madison and Law Roach.
Speaking of judges, there are a slew of guests that will sit on the panel this season, a ton of whom are musicians. These star-studded musical guests include Cardi B, Teyana Taylor, Benny Blanco, Dove Cameron and Zara Larsson, among others. With so much talent all in one room, it’s hard not to create magic on your screen.
If you’re not familiar with RuPaul’s Drag Race, the competition show has been running since 2009 and has amassed a cult following of fans over the years. The show features various hurdles competing queens have to “jump” over — namely, the Snatch Game — or design challenges that push contestants to be creative and pursue new avenues.
A fan-favorite segment, which takes place at the very end of each episode, sees two queens who didn’t do so hot in the episode’s challenge, although not always, go head-to-head in a lip sync battle for their lives. This showdown has spawned some utterly iconic moments over the years, utilizing Billboard chart-topping tracks from a diverse range of musicians, from Madonna to Taylor Swift. If all this has left you intrigued, we’ll be showing you how you can tune into the show each week for free. Keep reading to find out more.
How to Watch RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18 Free
As previously mentioned, RuPaul’s Drag Race season 18 will air on Jan. 2, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.
If you’re looking to tune into the drag competition show, consider DIRECTV. The service’s ENTERTAINMENT package features MTV. This package is currently on sale for $49.99 a month, down from $89.99 a month. This package is for those looking to tap into a slew of entertainment-based channels. If you’re unsure about committing to a new subscription, you can simply try the service out for free for five days.
With a subscription, users will gain access to live TV, local networks such as CBS, NBC, ABC and PBS, and you can also watch various entertainment networks, including AMC, Bravo, E!, FX, FXX, Freeform, HGTV, Hallmark Channel, Lifetime and Paramount Network. That’s more than 90-plus channels that you can tap into with the touch of a button.
Another way to watch the competition show via MTV is on Fubo, which has a five-day free trial available here. Fubo’s package includes a free DVR so you can record the show to watch all the greatest moments back on-demand. Continue with one of Fubo’s streaming deals or cancel before your free trial is up to avoid being charged. See details here.
Another option for our readers is a Hulu + Live TV subscription, given that MTV is included in the live TV channel lineup. The service’s live package includes major networks along with MTV, like ABC, NBC and Fox for all your live TV viewing needs. A subscription to the service (with ads) will cost approximately $82.99 per month, while the plan without ads goes for $95.99 per month.
This subscription gives you access to the titles in Hulu’s library, along with live TV programs 24/7. This is one of the more pricey plans on our list. However, the bundle is well worth the price, thanks to the added Hulu titles, which include music-themed shows and movies like American Idol, The Voice, The Masked Singer, The Beatles: 8 Days a Week, Amy Winehouse: A Final Goodbye, Billie, Madonna and the Breakfast Club, Bad Rap, 69: The Saga of Danny Hernandez and more.
Philo Core subscribers will also have access to MTV to watch the show as it airs along with Discovery+ apps and AMC+’s entire library. Users will also have access to the HBO Max Basic with Ads plan. Unlike our other options, Philo does not offer a free trial; however, their Philo Core subscription deal is one you won’t want to pass up on. The streaming service is offering users 24% off their first month — that’s just $25, down from $33.
You’ll ultimately have access to a ton of streaming platforms’ libraries all under one roof. This includes a slew of music-themed titles like Bob Dylan: Don’t Look Back, Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, Amy, Born to Be Blue, Live Aid: When Rock ‘n’ Roll Took on the World and Stardust.
