Drag Race (Franchise)

Drag Race is a television drag queen competition franchise created by American drag icon RuPaul, and the production company World of Wonder. It originated in the United States in 2009, where it was devised as a replacement for Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World (2007–2009), and has been adapted in various countries. The show's aim to find the next "Drag Superstar", with the winners occupying the traits of "charisma", "uniqueness", "nerve" and "talent". RuPaul stated that the show looks for an entertainer who can stand out from the rest.^[1] RuPaul’s Drag Race is credited for making drag "mainstream".^[2]

RuPaul's Drag Race has produced sixteen seasons to date (as of 2024) and has inspired an All Stars spinoff, as well as multiple International versions of Drag Race in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. In addition, three Drag conventions, or DragCons, have been created: RuPaul's DragCon LA, RuPaul's DragCon NYC, and RuPaul's DragCon UK. A RuPaul's Drag Race Live! variety show in Las Vegas was established in 2020 with a corresponding television special.

Drag Race Around the World[]

█ The country has had at least one fully fledged iteration of Drag Race.

█ The rights for the country's version of Drag Race have been obtained, but it is not yet in production.

DragRaceFranchiseExpansion — Current expansion of the *Drag Race* franchise

█ Currently airing sub-franchise

█ Sub-franchise with an upcoming season

█ Sub-franchise in development

█ Sub-franchise with unknown status

█ Sub-franchise no longer in production

█ Sub-franchise with halted production: not cancelled, but still not developing a new season

Country	Name	Original Network	Premiere	Current Host	Current Judges
Global	RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars	Paramount+	August 16, 2024	RuPaul	RuPaul Michelle Visage Jamal Sims
Australia	Drag Race Down Under	Stan (S1-)	May 1, 2021	Michelle Visage (S4)	Michelle Visage Rhys Nicholson
New Zealand	Drag Race Down Under	TVNZ+ (S1-S3) WOW Presents Plus (S4-)	May 1, 2021	Michelle Visage (S4)	Michelle Visage Rhys Nicholson
Austria	Drag Race Germany^[3]	Paramount+	September 5, 2023^[4]	Barbie Breakout Gianni Jovanovic	Barbie Breakout Dianne Brill Gianni Jovanovic
Germany
Switzerland
Belgium	Drag Race Belgique	Auvio Tipik	February 16, 2023	Rita Baga	Rita Baga Mustii Lio
Brazil	Drag Race Brasil	MTV (S1) Paramount+ (S1) WOW Presents Plus (S2-)	August 30, 2023	Grag Queen	Bruna Braga Dudu Bertholini Grag Queen
Canada	Canada's Drag Race	Crave	July 2, 2020	Brooke Lynn Hytes	Brad Goreski (S2-) Brooke Lynn Hytes Traci Melchor (S2-)
Canada	Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs The World	Crave	November 18, 2022	Brooke Lynn Hytes	Brad Goreski Brooke Lynn Hytes Traci Melchor
Chile	The Switch Drag Race^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]	Mega	October 8, 2015	Karla Constant	Nicole Gaultier Íngrid Cruz Óscar Mediavilla (S2)
France	Drag Race France	France.tv Slash	June 25, 2022	Nicky Doll	Daphné Bürki Kiddy Smile Nicky Doll
Italy	Drag Race Italia	Discovery+ (S1-2) Paramount+ (S3-)	November 18, 2021	Priscilla	Chiara Francini Paola Iezzi (S3-) Paolo Camilli (S3-) Priscilla
Mexico	Drag Race México	MTV (S1) Paramount+ (S1) WOW Presents Plus (S2-)	June 22, 2023	Lolita Banana Taiga Brava (S2)	Lolita Banana Taiga Brava (S2) Óscar Madrazo
Netherlands	Drag Race Holland	Videoland	September 18, 2020	Fred van Leer	Carlo Boszhard (S2) Fred van Leer Marieke Samallo (S2) Raven van Dorst (S2)
Philippines	Drag Race Philippines	Discovery+ (S1) HBO GO WOW Presents Plus	August 17, 2022	Paolo Ballesteros	BJ Pascual Jiggly Caliente Jon Santos KaladKaren Paolo Ballesteros Rajo Laurel
Philippines	Drag Race Philippines: Untucked!	Discovery+ (S1) HBO GO WOW Presents Plus	August 19, 2022	N/A
Spain	Drag Race España	ATRESplayer Premium	May 30, 2021	Supremme de Luxe	Ana Locking Javier Calvo Javier Ambrossi Supremme de Luxe
Spain	Drag Race España All Stars	ATRESplayer Premium	February 4, 2024	Supremme de Luxe	Ana Locking Javier Ambrossi Javier Calvo Supremme de Luxe
Sweden	Drag Race Sverige	Sveriges Television	March 4, 2023	Robert Fux	Robert Fux Farao Groth Kayo Shekoni
Sweden	Drag Race Sverige: Untucked!	Sveriges Television	March 4, 2023	N/A
Thailand	Drag Race Thailand	LINE TV (S1-2) WOW Presents Plus (S3-)^[10]	February 15, 2018	Art Arya Pangina Heals	Art Arya Pangina Heals
United Kingdom	RuPaul's Drag Race UK	BBC Three	October 3, 2019	RuPaul	Alan Carr Graham Norton Michelle Visage RuPaul
United Kingdom	RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs The World	BBC Three	February 1, 2022	RuPaul	Alan Carr Graham Norton Michelle Visage RuPaul
United States	RuPaul's Drag Race	Logo TV (S1-8) VH1 (S9-14) MTV (S15-)	February 2, 2009	RuPaul	Carson Kressley (S7-) TS Madison (S15-) Michelle Visage (S3-) Ross Mathews (S7-) RuPaul
	RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked! (Under the Hood)	Logo TV (S1-6) YouTube (S7-9) VH1 (S10-14) MTV (S15-)	February 2, 2009 (Under the Hood) February 1, 2010	N/A
	RuPaul's Drag U^[11]	Logo TV	July 19, 2010	RuPaul	Frank Gatson Jr. Lady Bunny
	RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars	Logo TV (S1-2) VH1 (S3-5) Paramount+ (S6-)	October 22, 2012	RuPaul	Carson Kressley (S2-) Michelle Visage TS Madison (S8-) Ross Mathews (S3-) RuPaul
	RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked!	Logo TV (AS1) VH1 (AS5) Paramount+ (AS6-)	October 22, 2012	N/A
	RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-Slay Spectacular	VH1	December 7, 2018	RuPaul	Michelle Visage Ross Mathews Todrick Hall RuPaul
	RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race	VH1	April 24, 2020	RuPaul	Carson Kressley Michelle Visage Ross Mathews RuPaul
	RuPaul's Drag Race Vegas Revue	VH1	August 21, 2020	N/A

Gallery[]

Series Logos[]

RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-Slay Spectacular

External Links[]

Wikipedia

References[]

↑ When is RuPaul’s Drag Race UK released? Start date, guest judges and contestants | Radio Times — November 21, 2019
↑ ‘Finally! A sport for us gay people!’: how drag went mainstream | The Guardian — August 10, 2019
↑ Post by worldofwonder | Instagram — August 8, 2022
↑ (DE) Post by dragracegermany | Instagram — August 1, 2023
↑ The Switch Drag Race | WOW Presents Plus
↑ Fenton Bailey, drag race producer, confirms The Switch (Chilean drag race) is part of the drag race franchise for all of you haters | Reddit (r/rupaulsdragrace) — June 3, 2019
↑ The Switch Drag Race, once again confirmed to be part of the drag race franchise | Reddit (r/rupaulsdragrace) — September 21, 2020
↑ The Switch Drag Race Season 1 Now Avail on WOW Presents Plus (US only) | YouTube — 16, 2018
↑ (PT) Who’s That Queen? Diva Houston | Draglicious — January 20, 2021
↑ Post by worldofwonder | Instagram — November 14, 2023
↑ Post by RuPaul | X — May 9, 2013

Navigation[]

Drag Race Franchise

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See also:	Winners • Runners-Up • Miss Congeniality • Lip Sync Performances • Challenge Winners • Snatch Game • Maxi Challenge • Mini Challenge

[1] When is RuPaul’s Drag Race UK released? Start date, guest judges and contestants | Radio Times — November 21, 2019

[2] ‘Finally! A sport for us gay people!’: how drag went mainstream | The Guardian — August 10, 2019

[3] Post by worldofwonder | Instagram — August 8, 2022

[4] (DE) Post by dragracegermany | Instagram — August 1, 2023

[5] The Switch Drag Race | WOW Presents Plus

[6] Fenton Bailey, drag race producer, confirms The Switch (Chilean drag race) is part of the drag race franchise for all of you haters | Reddit (r/rupaulsdragrace) — June 3, 2019

[7] The Switch Drag Race, once again confirmed to be part of the drag race franchise | Reddit (r/rupaulsdragrace) — September 21, 2020

[8] The Switch Drag Race Season 1 Now Avail on WOW Presents Plus (US only) | YouTube — 16, 2018

[Diva_Houston_Interview-9] (PT) Who’s That Queen? Diva Houston | Draglicious — January 20, 2021

[10] Post by worldofwonder | Instagram — November 14, 2023

[11] Post by RuPaul | X — May 9, 2013

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