How to Watch RuPaul’s Drag Race Live For Free to See Who Wins the Season 16 Grand Finale

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The queen is ready to be crowned! The Emmy award-winning reality competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16 is coming to an end tonight on April 19th, 2024. A new set of contestants have been facing off all season through design and performances challenges to win the crown of America’s Next Drag Superstar and a cash prize of $200K.

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RuPaul’s Drag Race has been airing since 2009 and has since resulted in spinoffs like RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race, and UnTucked, while gaining international recognition with RuPaul’s Drag Race Thailand, Drag Race Australia and Drag Race UK, among others.

The show has earned 63 Emmy nominations and 26 Emmy wins. In 2022 RuPaul took home the award for Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Competition Program and was nominated in the same category again in 2023. In 2018, RuPaul’s Drag Race became the first show to win the Emmy for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program and Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program in the same year.

Only three contestants remain in the running for the winning title of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16: Sapphira Cristal, Nymphia Wind and Plane Jane. All three will compete in a series of performances and lip syncs this evening for a shot at being named America’s Next Drag Superstar.

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So where can one stream RuPaul’s Drag Race to catch the last episode of season 16? Read on for how to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race live online for free to see who takes home the title this time around.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Loosey LaDuca performs at After Hours - The Kickoff during RuPaul's DragCon LA 2023 at Los Angeles Convention Center on May 11, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images)
Chelsea Guglielmino / Contributor

When does RuPaul’s Drag Race Grand Finale air?

RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16 premiered on January 5, 2023 at 8pm EST on MTV. The Grand Finale airs on April 19th, 2024 at 8pm EST.

How to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race on MTV for free

RuPaul’s Drag Race airs on MTV, which is available to stream live on services like DirecTV Stream, Fubo, and Philo. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial and starts at $74.99 per month after the trial ends. Philo offers a seven-day free trial and costs $25 per month after the free trial ends. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial and starts at $74.99 per month after the trial ends. All plans include MTV.

Best Overall Pick to Watch RuPaul’s Drag Race: DirecTV Stream’s Free Trial

Watch RuPaul’s Drag Race With DirecTV Stream

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Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race for free for its free trial, price, and channel selection. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial. DirecTV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $74.99 per month with the first three months at $64.99 per month; Choice, which costs $99.99 per month with the first three months at $89.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $109.99 per month with the first three months at $99.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $154.99 per month with the first three months at $144.99 per month. Along with MTV, all plans also include MTV2. MTV Classic is also included in Ultimate and Premier.

As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and Starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch TK with DirecTV Stream’s free trial.

  1. Visit streamtv.directv.com‘s packages page

  2. Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice

  3. Enter your information and payment method

  4. Search for MTV and start watching RuPaul’s Drag Race

Best Budget Pick to Watch RuPaul’s Drag Race: Philo’s Free Trial

Watch RuPaul’s Drag Race With Philo

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Philo is our best free trial pick to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race for its price and free trial length. Philo offers a seven-day free trial and costs $25 per month after the trial ends. Along with MTV, Philo also offers similar channels like MTV Classic, MTV Live, MTV2, VH1, and Logo. As for what else it includes, Philo offers more than 70 channels, as well as an unlimited DVR service. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race with Philo’s free trial.

  1. Visit Philo.com

  2. Click “Start Free Trial”

  3. Enter your information and payment method

  4. Search for MTV and start watching RuPaul’s Drag Race

Best Free Trial Pick to Watch RuPaul’s Drag Race: Fubo’s Free Trial

Watch RuPaul’s Drag Race With Fubo

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Fubo is our best free trial pick to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race for free based on what it offers. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and offers three plans: Pro, which costs $74.99 per month; Elite, which costs $84.99 per month; and Ultimate, which costs $99.99 per month. Along with MTV, all three plans also VH1.

As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Ultimate includes everything in Pro and Elite, as well as a total of 299 channels, Showtime, and Red Zone NFL Network. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race with Fubo’s free trial.

  1. Visit Fubo.TV

  2. Click “Start Free Trial”

  3. Enter your information and payment method

  4. Search for MTV and start watching RuPaul’s Drag Race

Who is the RuPaul’s Drag Race host?

The RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16 host is RuPaul herself. In addition to hosting, RuPaul is an executive producer of the Drag Race franchise and has hosted the US version since season 1 in 2009.

Who are the RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16 judges?

The RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16 judges are Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, Ross Mathews and Ts Madison. They will be joined throughout the season by a line-up of guest judges, such as Charlize Theron, Becky G, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kaia Gerber, Law Roach, Kelsea Ballerini and more.

Who are the RuPaul’s Drag Race final contestants?

The RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16 contestants included 14 drag queens. See below for who’s competing in the finale.

  • Sapphira Cristal

  • Nymphia Wind

  • Plane Jane

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