RuPaul's Drag Race season 17

The seventeenth season of the American reality competition series RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on January 3rd, 2025. This marks the third season to air through cable network MTV. The seventeenth installment of the series documents drag queen RuPaul in search of "America's next drag superstar" with a cash prize of $200,000.
Michelle Visage remained as a regular judge, alongside Carson Kressley, Ts Madison, and Ross Mathews reappearing as alternating judges. Law Roach, who had previously appeared as a guest judge, made a reappearance as an alternating judge.
Throughout social media, the host RuPaul announced a casting call for drag performers to apply for the seventeenth season on October 30, 2023. The final deadline coincided with the premiere episode of season sixteen on January 5, 2024. Two months later, RuPaul published his memoir titled The House of Hidden Meanings and embarked on a book tour where he was given a flash drive containing an audition tape from drag queen Hormona Lisa. Just months after its sixteenth season concluding, American cable network MTV announced the series renewal, including the companion series, on August 16.
As season sixteen received several nominations at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, many journalists had the opportunity to visit the main stage and the workroom set. Fans quickly realized the newly constructed set for the upcoming season with journalists for People witnessing previous contestants Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige and Morphine Love Dion using the main stage for a lip-sync contest. Architectural Digest released a video on August 22, where previous winner Nymphia Wind tours around the set with production designer Jen Chu explaining the scenery and inspiration for the series.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported British drag performer The Vivienne, inaugurated winner of RuPaul's Drag Race UK (2019) and contestant of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2022), had passed away on January 5, 2025. Subsequently, the second episode of the season featured an in memoriam segment dedicated to The Vivienne, following the regular credits on January 10.
A ten-second teaser was released on November 22, 2024, throughout social media, with RuPaul announcing the season premiering in January 2025. Nymphia Wind presented the contestants through the series official YouTube channel on December 4, showcasing their ocean-themed outfits and background.
Variety first reported on December 11 that spin-off winner Monét X Change will host The Pit Stop, a weekly webseries served as an aftershow. The first episode premiered through YouTube with alumni contestant Raven as the first guest on January 4, 2025.
The season's double premiere retained the same format as the previous season, where contestants rank each other based on their performances for the main challenge; this format parodies television series The Circle. A new format involved judge panelist Michelle Visage inside a dunk tank where during the bottom two, the eliminated contestant chooses one out of the ten random levers, which if successfully struck, would drop Visage into the water. The format rewards the contestant immunity; if they selected the incorrect lever, the contestant will be eliminated.
Legend:
Legend:
RuPaul and Michelle Visage remained as the regular judges, with Carson Kressley, Ts Madison, and Ross Mathews reappearing as alternating judges. Various guest judges were revealed on December 12, and set to appear in the upcoming season. Law Roach was initially advertised as a guest judge but was later confirmed to be an alternating judge. Celebrities are listed in chronological order.
Special guests who appeared in episodes, but did not judge on the main stage.
The seventeenth season, and its companion series, premiered through MTV with its first episode on January 3, 2025. The season will consist of sixteen episodes and airs weekly at 8:00 p.m. (EST). Episodes were later released throughout various streaming services such as Crave for Canada, Stan for Australia, and on WOW Presents Plus internationally with next-day availability starting on January 4.