The eighth series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK premiered on BBC Three on 3 September 2026. RuPaul returned as the main host and head judge, with Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton forming the judging panel. The series began filming in January 2026.
Production On 19 September 2025, prior to the beginning of the seventh series it was announced via social media that casting for the eighth series was open. Applications for the series remained open until 17 October 2025. Filming for the series began in January 2026.
A "Meet the Queens" teaser aired on 29 July 2026, which featured the "Start Your Engines" slogan and confirmed the cast the reveal date. Three days prior to the cast reveal, the RuPaul's Drag Race UK social media pages began posting countdown teasers. The cast was subsequently revealed by the BBC alongside the promotional poster of RuPaul on 11 August 2026.
This is the final series to be co-produced by and air on BBC before the series moves to WOW Presents Plus from 2027 onwards.
Contestants
Ages, names, and cities stated are at time of filming.
+ Contestants of RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 8 and their backgrounds Contestant Age Hometown Outcome Alik 29 Brighton, Englandrowspan="7" Anita Piss 37 Birmingham, England Coral-Hole Mandi 27 Ballymena, Northern Ireland Flesh 25 Westminster, England KY Kelly 42 Rugeley, England Mocha 26 Colchester, England Naya Thorn 24 Dudley, England Paris Baby 27 Hastings, England 8th place The Delta Quadrant 32 Darlington, England 9th place Tequila Thirst 39 Chester, England 10th place ma_danni_x 48 The Wirral, England 11th place Lucky Roy Singh 36 Manchester, England 12th place
Notes
Contestant progress
Lip syncs
Episode Top contestants Song Winner 1 KY Kelly vs. Naya Thorn "Where Is My Husband!"(Raye) KY Kelly Episode Bottom contestants Song Eliminated 2 ma_danni_x vs. Tequila Thirst "Where Love Lives"(Alison Limerick) ma_danni_x 3 Alik vs. Tequila Thirst "The Look of Love"(ABC) Tequila Thirst 4 Paris Baby vs. The Delta Quadrant "Shine"(Booty Luv) The Delta Quadrant 5 KY Kelly vs. Paris Baby "Take Me to Your Heart"(Rick Astley) Paris Baby
Guest judges Listed in chronological order:
Thandiwe Newton, actress Erin O'Connor, model Martin Fry, singer Layton Williams, actor, dancer and singer Michèle Lamy, entrepreneur Rick Astley, singer Anne-Marie, singer Cat Burns, singer Kadiff Kirwan, actor Michelle de Swarte, actress and comedian
Special guests Guests who appeared in episodes, but did not judge on the main stage.
Episode 2 Kristen McMenamy, model Raven, runner-up on both RuPaul's Drag Race Season 2 and All Stars 1
Episode 3 Arian Nik, actor Duncan James, singer
Episode 4 Claudimar Neto, choreographer Jono McNeil, vocal coach Mazz Murray, singer and actress
Episode 5 Just May, contestant from RuPaul's Drag Race UK Series 4
TBA Booty Luv, musical duo
Episodes
References