‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 16 Finale Sashays To Series’ Highest-Rated Episode In 13 Years

Katie Campione
·2 min read
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EXCLUSIVE: RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 16 is one for the history books.

The finale, which saw Nymphia Wind win the competition as America’s Next Drag Superstar, was the highest-rated episode of Drag Race in 13 years, according to Nielsen.

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Compared to last season, the episode was up 67% in the 18-34 demo with a 0.84 rating. Among adults 18-49, the episode saw a 28% lift to a 0.76 rating. Those are the highest ratings the series has seen since the Season 3 finale in 2011, when Raja took home the crown.

The episode also scored the best audience share ever for a Drag Race telecast. The episode was up 88% versus the Season 15 finale among adults 18-34 with a 9.98 share. With the 18-49 demo, the episode saw a 30% increase to a 5.37 share.

The finale wasn’t alone in its ratings victories, either. Season 16 wrapped as the highest-rated season of Drag Race in four years, since Season 12 in 2020.

Season 16 managed some strong growth versus Season 15, up 13% among adults 18-34 to earn a 0.5 rating. The season also saw a 12% uptick within the 18-49 demo, landing around a 0.54 rating.

The season also averaged the series’ best audience share ever, outperforming last season by 24% among adults 18-34 to score a 5.5. In the 18-49 demo, the share was up 21% to a 3.71.

On social media, the season also performed well. According to Paramount Global, this was the “most social” season of Drag Race ever with 514M social views, up 11% versus Season 15.

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