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Racers, start your engines – RuPaul is back for a 17th season. We’ve gone through all the viewing options to highlight everything you need to know about where to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race, including live streaming and on-demand options.

This season will feature 14 new contestants competing in 90-minute episodes for $200,000 and the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar.” The new season features a splashy twist, the Badonka Dunk Tank, which gives contestants one last chance to stay in the competition – at the cost of potentially dunking Michelle Visage. The cast of guest judges this season is absolutely stacked. Katy Perry, Quinta Brunson, Paul W. Downs, Hunter Schafer, Law Roach, Sam Smith and Tracee Ellis Ross are among the many celebrities expected to appear.

The streaming options get a little complicated, but we’ll explain what you need to know below. Read on to learn how to tune into the show, whether you want to watch new episodes or catch up on past seasons.

What channel is RuPaul’s Drag Race on?

RuPaul’s Drag Race airs on MTV in the US. New episodes appear on Fridays at 8:00 p.m. ET starting January 3, 2025.

Where can you watch RuPaul’s Drag Race in the US?

Cord cutters without access to MTV can still watch RuPaul’s Drag Race live using a live TV streaming service. Philo, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, and Fubo are among the best monthly live TV streaming services on the market.

You can stream previous seasons of Drag Race on-demand on Paramount Plus, which we’ll cover in more detail later. However, new episodes are usually only available in the app after the last season has aired. So, we recommend subscribing to one of the live TV packages mentioned above if you want to watch the new season now. These services also have solid DVR capabilities and extensive on-demand offerings, so they can help you out if you can’t watch a new episode as it airs but don’t want to wait a few months to stream it.

Philo is the cheapest provider and one of the cheapest live TV streaming services out there. The app includes over 70 live channels including MTV, Paramount Network and AMC, among others. Subscriptions are $28/month and include a one-week free trial.

Sling TV is the next cheapest option. Subscriptions start at $46/month for both of the service’s basic plans, but you’ll also need to purchase the Entertainment Extra add-on for an additional $6/month to access MTV. This extra also gives viewers access to TV Land, Paramount Network, Logo and more. In total, that costs $52 per month, but Sling is currently offering $23 off your first month of service, so you’ll pay less than $30 today.

DirecTV Stream and Fubo are two of the more comprehensive live TV streaming services on the market. They are a great option for those looking for a cable alternative with plenty of live channels in addition to MTV. DirecTV Stream subscriptions start at $87/month and include a five-day free trial, while Fubo subscriptions start at $80/month and include a seven-day free trial.

If you want to watch previous episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race or don’t mind waiting a while for the new season, Paramount Plus is the right choice. The streaming service has all 16 past seasons and is expected to get the 17th season at some point. In the past, the latest season became available sometime after its full broadcast in the US. Subscriptions start at $8/month for the Essential tier, which offers ad-supported on-demand streaming. You can upgrade to Paramount Plus with Showtime for $13 per month to get an ad-free, on-demand experience in addition to CBS live streaming and access to Showtime content. All subscriptions, including annual plans, include a one-week free trial.

Here’s how you can watch RuPaul’s Drag Race from anywhere

If you’re traveling abroad and don’t want to miss a new episode, you can still keep up with most of your usual viewing options (like Philo, Sling, and Fubo) using a VPN. Short for Virtual Private Networks, VPNs are convenient cybersecurity tools that allow people to change the virtual location on their electronic devices so they can continue to access their favorite websites and apps like they would at home. Because the services we recommend today require US payment methods, this option is best for Americans who are currently traveling away from home.

ExpressVPN is our top recommendation. The easy-to-use app offers impressive security benefits, a huge selection of servers, and tons of other benefits that we break down in our ExpressVPN review. Subscriptions cost $12.95/month for the flexible plan, but you can save with a long-term contract. Additionally, the app offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Trailer for the 17th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race

The official RuPaul’s Drag Race YouTube channel released a trailer for season 17 in mid-December. The preview offers a sneak peek at some of this season’s upcoming dramas, as well as a first look at some of the guest judges. Check out the full video below:

Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content could violate the terms of service for certain services. Insider neither advocates nor condones the illegal use of VPNs.