Drag Race is a drag queen reality competition television franchise created by American drag entertainer RuPaul with production company World of Wonder. The franchise originated with RuPaul's Drag Race, which premiered in the United States in 2009, where it was devised as a replacement for the stop-motion animated sitcom Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World. The objective of that series is to crown "America's Next Drag Superstar" who possesses the traits of "charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent". The original series is often credited for bringing drag into the "mainstream". The popularity of the original series led to the creation of a media franchise including spin-offs and international adaptations.
As of 2023, the original series, RuPaul's Drag Race, has produced fifteen seasons and inspired the spin-off shows RuPaul's Drag U, RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, and RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race; the companion series RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked; and numerous international adaptations including British and Australian and New Zealand versions hosted by RuPaul as well as Chilean, Thai, Canadian, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, French, Philippine, Belgian, Swedish, Mexican, Brazilian and German editions, and international vs. the World competitions hosted in the United Kingdom and Canada.
Three drag fan conventions have also been created: RuPaul's DragCon LA, RuPaul's DragCon NYC, and RuPaul's DragCon UK.
International versions[]
Drag Race[]
| Country/Region | Name | Network | Presenter(s) | Judges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia New Zealand |
Drag Race Down Under | Stan (Australia) TVNZ 2, TVNZ+ (New Zealand) |
Current: Michelle Visage Former: RuPaul |
Current: Michelle Visage, Rhys Nicholson (main judges) Isis Avis Loren, Kita Mean, Spankie Jackzon (rotating judges) Former: RuPaul |
| Belgium | Drag Race Belgique | Tipik | Rita Baga | Current: Rita Baga, Mustii, Lio Former: Lufy |
| Brazil | Drag Race Brazil | MTV Brazil, Paramount+ | Grag Queen | Grag Queen, Bruna Braga, Dudu Bertholini |
| Canada | Canada's Drag Race | Crave | Brooke Lynn Hytes | Current: Brooke Lynn Hytes, Brad Goreski, Traci Melchor Former: Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, Stacey McKenzie, Amanda Brugel |
| Chile | The Switch Drag Race | Mega | Karla Constant | Nicole Gaultier, Íngrid Cruz, Juan Pablo González, Sebastián Errázuriz, Oscar Mediavilla |
| France | Drag Race France | Current: France 2 Former: France.tv Slash |
Nicky Doll | Nicky Doll, Daphné Bürki, Kiddy Smile |
| Germany Austria Switzerland |
Drag Race Germany | MTV Germany, Paramount+ | Barbie Breakout, Gianni Jovanovic | Barbie Breakout, Gianni Jovanovic, Dianne Brill |
| Italy | Drag Race Italia | Current: MTV Italy, Paramount+ Former: Discovery+, Real Time |
Priscilla | Current: Priscilla, Chiara Francini, Paolo Iezzi, Paolo Camilli Former: Tommaso Zorzi |
| Mexico | Drag Race México | Current: WOW Presents Plus Former: MTV Latin America, Paramount+ |
Current: Lolita Banana, Taiga Brava Former: Valentina |
Current: Lolita Banana, Óscar Madrazo, Taiga Brava Former: Valentina |
| Netherlands | Drag Race Holland | Videoland | Fred van Leer | Fred van Leer, Nikkie Plessen, Marieke Samallo |
| Philippines | Drag Race Philippines | Current: HBO Go Former: Discovery+ |
Paolo Ballesteros | Paolo Ballesteros, Jiggly Caliente, KaladKaren (main judges) BJ Pascual, Jon Santos, Rajo Laurel (rotating judges) |
| South Africa | Drag Race South Africa | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Spain | Drag Race España | Atresplayer | Supremme de Luxe | Supremme de Luxe, Ana Locking, Javier Ambrossi, Javier Calvo |
| Sweden | Drag Race Sverige | SVT1, SVT Play | Robert Fux | Robert Fux, Kayo, Farao Groth |
| Thailand | Drag Race Thailand | Current: WOW Presents Plus Former: Line TV |
Current: Pangina Heals Former: Art Arya |
Pangina Heals, Art Arya, Gus Setthachai, Metinee Kingpayome, Niti Chaichitathorn |
| United Kingdom | RuPaul's Drag Race UK | Current: BBC Three Former: BBC Three, BBC One |
RuPaul | RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Alan Carr, Graham Norton |
| United States | RuPaul's Drag Race | Current: MTV Former: Logo TV, VH1 |
RuPaul | Current: RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, Ross Mathews, Ts Madison Former: Merle Ginsburg, Santino Rice, Billy B |
Drag Race Untucked![]
| Country/Region | Name | Network |
|---|---|---|
| Philippines | Drag Race Philippines: Untucked! | Current: HBO Go Former: Discovery+ |
| Sweden | Drag Race Sverige: Untucked! | SVT Play |
| United States | RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked! | Current: MTV Former: Logo TV, YouTube, VH1 |
Drag Race All Stars[]
| Country/Region | Name | Network | Presenter(s) | Judges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International | RuPaul's Drag Race Global All-Stars | Paramount+ | RuPaul | RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Jamal Sims |
| France | Drag Race France All Stars | TBA | Nicky Doll | Nicky Doll, Daphné Bürki, Loïc Prigent, Shy'm |
| Spain | Drag Race España: All-Stars | Atresplayer | Supremme de Luxe | Supremme de Luxe, Ana Locking, Javier Ambrossi, Javier Calvo |
| United States | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars | Current: Paramount+ Former: Logo TV, VH1 |
RuPaul | Current: RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, Ross Mathews Former: Santino Rice, Todrick Hall |
Drag Race vs The World[]
| Country/Region | Name | Network | Presenter(s) | Judges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. the World | Crave | Brooke Lynn Hytes | Brooke Lynn Hytes, Brad Goreski, Traci Melchor |
| Philippines | Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| United Kingdom | RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World | BBC Three | RuPaul | RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Alan Carr, Graham Norton |
Other spin-offs/one-off specials[]
Competitive[]
| Country/Region | Name | Network | Presenter(s) | Judges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | RuPaul's Drag U | Logo TV | RuPaul | Lady Bunny, Frank Gatson Jr. |
| RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-Slay Spectacular | VH1 | RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Ross Mathews, Todrick Hall | ||
| RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race | RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, Ross Mathews |
Non-competitive[]
| Country/Region | Name | Network |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Canada's Drag Race Anniversary Extravaganza | Crave |
| Slaycation | ||
| United Kingdom | God Shave the Queens | BBC Three |
| United States | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked! | Current: Paramount+ Former: Logo TV, VH1 |
| RuPaul's Drag Race: Green Screen Christmas | Logo TV | |
| Werq the World | WOW Presents Plus | |
| RuPaul's Drag Race: Vegas Revue | VH1 | |
| Bring Back My Ghouls | WOW Presents Plus, YouTube | |
| RuPaul's Drag Race: Corona Can't Keep a Good Queen Down | VH1 | |
| Bring Back My Girls | WOW Presents Plus | |
| RuPaul's Drag Race Live Untucked |