The sixteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on January 5, 2024. The reality competition series, broadcast on MTV in the United States, showcases fourteen drag queens competing for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar" and a cash prize of $200,000.
This season introduced a LaLaPaRuZa Lip-Sync Smackdown competition for the eliminated queens that took place before the finale. Morphine Love Dion, who placed 5th in the main competition, won the smackdown and the title of Queen of She Done Already Done Had Herses.
The winner of season 16 was Nymphia Wind, the first ever East Asian winner, with Sapphira Cristál as the runner up and the series' first tied winner of Miss Congeniality, shared with Xunami Muse.
Production
In August 2023, the competition series and its companion series, RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked, were officially renewed and would remain on MTV. RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars was also renewed for a ninth season by Paramount+.[1] In November, a teaser was released from MTV featuring RuPaul in various promos from past seasons.[2]Sasha Colby, the winner of season fifteen, presented the Meet the Queens via the series official YouTube channel on December 6, 2023. The Meet the Queens video included an 8-minute clip from the season premiere, where the fourteen contestants entered the Werk Room set.[3]
^Franklin, McKinley (August 21, 2023). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 16, 'All Stars' Season 9 Greenlit at MTV and Paramount+". Variety. Archived from the original on August 25, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
^"RuPaul's Drag Race Season 16 Is Coming Soon". MTV. November 17, 2023. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
^ a bSeitz, Loree (December 6, 2023). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Unveils Season 16 Queens". Yahoo! Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
^ a b"TV Ratings for Friday 5th January 2024 - Network Prelims, Finals and Select Cable Numbers Posted". Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
^ a b"TV Ratings for Friday 12th January 2024 - Network Prelims, Finals and Select Cable Numbers Posted". Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
^ a b"TV Ratings for Friday 19th January 2024 - Network Prelims, Finals and Select Cable Numbers Posted". Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
^ a b"TV Ratings for Friday 26th January 2024 - Network Prelims, Finals and Select Cable Numbers Posted". Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
^ a b"TV Ratings for Friday 2nd February 2024 - Network Prelims, Finals and Select Cable Numbers Posted". Archived from the original on February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
^ a b"TV Ratings for Friday 9th February 2024 - Network Prelims, Finals and Select Cable Numbers Posted". Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^ a b"TV Ratings for Friday 16th February 2024 - Network Prelims, Finals and Select Cable Numbers Posted". Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
^ a b"TV Ratings for Friday 23rd February 2024 - Network Prelims, Finals and Select Cable Numbers Posted". Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
^ a b"TV Ratings for Friday 8th March 2024 - Network Prelims, Finals and Select Cable Numbers Posted". Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
^ a b"TV Ratings for Friday 8th March 2024 - Network Prelims, Finals and Select Cable Numbers Posted". Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
^ a b"TV Ratings for Friday 15th March 2024 - Network Prelims, Finals and Select Cable Numbers Posted". Archived from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
^ a b"TV Ratings for Friday 22nd March 2024 - Network Prelims, Finals and Select Cable Numbers Posted". Archived from the original on March 25, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
^ a b"TV Ratings for Friday 29th March 2024 - Network Prelims, Finals and Select Cable Numbers Posted". Retrieved April 2, 2024.
^ a b"TV Ratings for Friday 5th April 2024 - Network Prelims, Finals and Select Cable Numbers Posted". Retrieved April 9, 2024.
^ a b"TV Ratings for Friday 12th April 2024 - Network Prelims, Finals and Select Cable Numbers Posted". Retrieved April 16, 2024.
^ a b"TV Ratings for Friday 19th April 2024 - Network Prelims, Finals and Select Cable Numbers Posted". Retrieved April 23, 2024.