EXCLUSIVE: MTV‘s RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18 made herstory in viewership, becoming the highest-rated season ever.
After crowning America’s Next Drag Superstar, the competition series hosted by RuPaul Charles delivered its highest full-season rating and share among P18-49.
The drag competition delivered double-digit growth versus Season 17, according to the network. The series was up 19% on P18-49 rating (0.564 vs. 0.472) and up 7% in P18-49 share (2.43 vs. 2.27). Season 18 also ranked among the Top 3 cable series in 2026 to date in the key demo.
In social media, RuPaul’s Drag Race earned 291M views and 12.5M engagements throughout the season.
Myki Meeks was crowned as the Season 18 winner, taking home a $200,000 grand prize courtesy of RuPaul’s Drag Race Match Queen, a custom crown and scepter from Fierce Drag Jewels, and a year’s supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills Cosmetics. First runner-up Nini Coco received a $25,000 cash tip, and finalist Darlene Mitchell was awarded $10,000 for her performance throughout the season.
During the finale, finalists Darlene Mitchell, Myki Meeks, and Nini Coco competed for the title of America’s Next Drag Superstar before RuPaul and judges Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, and Jamal Sims. The Queens debuted original solo performances created in collaboration with composer Leland. After Myki Meeks and Nini Coco emerged as the final two, the crown came down to an ultimate lip sync to “Every Girl You’ve Ever Loved” (feat. Naomi Campbell) from Miley Cyrus’s album Something Beautiful, with RuPaul ultimately crowning Myki Meeks as the Season 18 champion.
RuPaul’s Drag Race is produced by World of Wonder Productions with Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, Steven Corfe, Mandy Salangsang, Michele Mills and RuPaul Charles serving as Executive Producers. Daniel Blau Rogge serves as Executive Producer for MTV and Julie Ha serves as Supervising Producer.