Drag Race Renewed for Season 19 on MTV, All Stars 12 Goes to Paramount+
RuPaul's Drag Race has been renewed for season 19 at MTV, and All Stars is coming back for season 12 as a Paramount+ exclusive. It is a four-show order in total, and the split matters: the flagship stays on cable, while the All Stars half of the franchise lives entirely behind a streaming subscription.
What exactly was renewed?
Four shows, across two homes:
- RuPaul's Drag Race season 19 — MTV
- RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked season 19 — MTV, alongside the main show
- RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 12 — Paramount+
- RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked season 12 — Paramount+
No premiere date has been announced for any of them. MTV has opened a new numbered season in early January for the past several years, so early 2027 is the reasonable expectation for season 19 — but that is a pattern, not a confirmed date, and nobody has put one on the record yet.
Do you need Paramount+ to watch All Stars?
Yes. All Stars has been a Paramount+ original since season 6, and season 12 continues that. There is no cable simulcast for it — if you want the All Stars seasons, the subscription is the only route, and the same goes for the All Stars edition of Untucked.
The flagship works the other way round. Season 19 airs on MTV first, which means a cable package or a live TV service that carries MTV gets you it at broadcast. Paramount+ has historically carried MTV episodes after they air, so streaming-only viewers are typically watching on a delay rather than never at all.
Why is the franchise split across two services?
Because Paramount owns both, and each show does a different job. MTV needs the flagship as a linear tentpole — a returning franchise that reliably brings an audience to a cable channel on a fixed night. Paramount+ needs exclusives that a viewer cannot get any other way, and All Stars is one of its most durable.
Season 18 gave them a reason to keep both running. In published reports, the network pointed to double-digit growth over the prior season and a franchise record for premiere viewership, including a 19% rise in the 18-49 rating. Myki Meeks, from Orlando, took the crown, with Nini Coco as runner-up.
What this means if you are budgeting subscriptions
Following the whole franchise now costs two things: access to MTV, and a Paramount+ plan. That is the practical takeaway, and it is the same pattern showing up across the industry — a single franchise stretched over a linear channel and a streaming tier so that neither can be dropped without losing something.
It is worth timing your subscription rather than holding it year-round. All Stars seasons run in a defined window, and Paramount+ is a month-to-month plan, so subscribing for the run and cancelling afterwards is a legitimate way to watch without paying twelve months for two. If you are auditing what you pay for, the same logic applies to bundles like the YouTube Premium and Peacock bundle, which trades a lower combined price for a longer commitment.
Where the rest of the streaming calendar stands
This lands in a busy stretch. Disney used its D23 event this weekend to date a run of its own titles, including Ahsoka season 2 on Disney+, and Pixar's latest is about to hit digital storefronts ahead of any streaming window — see our breakdown of the Toy Story 5 digital release date for how that one is being staged.
On the platform side, the services keep adding format and picture features rather than just catalogue. Disney+ has been testing short vertical clips built from fan videos, and Samsung's TVs recently gained HDR10+ Advanced support on Prime Video. Which service a show sits on is now only half the question; the other half is what your hardware can actually do with it.
What has not been said
No cast, no judging panel changes, no premiere dates, and no filming schedule. Season 19 and All Stars 12 have both been ordered — that is the announcement. Anything circulating about queens returning or a specific January date is speculation until MTV or Paramount+ says so.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does RuPaul's Drag Race season 19 premiere?
No date has been announced. MTV has launched its numbered seasons in early January for the past several years, so early 2027 is the likely window, but neither MTV nor Paramount has confirmed a premiere date for season 19.
Is All Stars season 12 on Paramount+ or MTV?
Paramount+. All Stars has been a Paramount+ exclusive since season 6, and season 12 continues that, along with All Stars: Untucked. There is no cable airing, so a Paramount+ subscription is the only way to watch it.
Can I watch Drag Race season 19 without cable?
Season 19 airs on MTV first, so you need either a cable package or a live TV streaming service that carries MTV to watch at broadcast. Paramount+ has carried MTV episodes after they air in the past, which usually means streaming-only viewers watch on a delay.
Is Untucked coming back too?
Both versions are. Untucked season 19 was ordered alongside the flagship at MTV, and All Stars: Untucked season 12 was ordered alongside All Stars at Paramount+. That makes four shows in the renewal.
Who won RuPaul's Drag Race season 18?
Myki Meeks, from Orlando, was crowned the winner of season 18, with Nini Coco finishing as runner-up. The network cited season 18 as a ratings high point for the franchise when announcing the new renewals.
