RuPaul's Drag Race season 16
The sixteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on January 5, 2024. The reality competition series, broadcast on MTV in the United States, showcases fourteen drag queens competing for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar" and a cash prize of $200,000.
This season introduced a LaLaPaRuZa Lip-Sync Smackdown competition for the eliminated queens that took place before the finale. Morphine Love Dion, who placed fifth in the main competition, won the smackdown and the title of Queen of She Done Already Done Had Herses.
The winner of season 16 was Nymphia Wind, the first ever East Asian winner, with Sapphira Cristál as the runner up and the series' first tied winner of Miss Congeniality, shared with Xunami Muse.
Production
In August 2023, the competition series and its companion series, RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked, were officially renewed and would remain on MTV. RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars was also renewed for a ninth season by Paramount+. In November, a teaser was released from MTV featuring RuPaul in various promos from past seasons.Sasha Colby, the winner of season fifteen, presented the Meet the Queens via the series official YouTube channel on December 6, 2023. The Meet the Queens video included an 8-minute clip from the season premiere, where the fourteen contestants entered the Werk Room set.
Contestants
Ages, names, and cities stated are at time of filming.| Contestant | Age | City | Outcome |
| Nymphia Wind | 27 | New York City, New York | |
| Sapphira Cristál | 34 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |
| Plane Jane | 25 | Boston, Massachusetts | 3rd place |
| Q | 26 | Kansas City, Missouri | 4th place |
| Morphine Love Dion | 26 | Miami, Florida | 5th place |
| Dawn | 25 | New York City, New York | 6th place |
| Mhi'ya Iman Le'Paige | 34 | Miami, Florida | 7th place |
| Plasma | 24 | New York City, New York | 8th place |
| Xunami Muse | 34 | New York City, New York | 9th place |
| Megami | 33 | New York City, New York | 10th place |
| Geneva Karr | 30 | Brownsville, Texas | 11th place |
| Amanda Tori Meating | 26 | Los Angeles, California | 12th place |
| Mirage | 29 | Las Vegas, Nevada | 13th place |
| Hershii LiqCour-Jeté | 32 | Los Angeles, California | 14th place |
;Notes
Lip syncs
'''Legend:'''Guest judges
- Charlize Theron, actress and producer
- Becky G, singer and actress
- Isaac Mizrahi, fashion designer
- Sarah Michelle Gellar, actress
- Icona Pop, electropop musical duo
- Law Roach, retired stylist
- Adam Shankman, director, writer, producer, dancer and choreographer
- Kyra Sedgwick, actress
- Kaia Gerber, model
- Jamal Sims, choreographer
- Joel Kim Booster, actor and comedian
- Mayan Lopez, actress
- Kelsea Ballerini, singer
- Ronan Farrow, journalist
Special guests
Guests who appeared in episodes, but did not judge on the main stage.;Episodes 1–2
- Derrick Barry, contestant on season 8 and All Stars season 5
- Love Connie, drag performer and actor
- Charo, singer, actress, musician and comedian
- Melissa McCarthy, actress and comedian
- Chad Michaels, contestant on season 4 and winner of All Stars season 1
- Leland, music producer
- Freddy Scott, composer and actor
- Claudia "Norvina" Soare, president of Anastasia Beverly Hills
- Albert Sanchez, photographer
- Matt Rogers, comedian, podcaster and television host
- Sasha Colby, winner of season 15
- Malaysia Babydoll Foxx, Miss Congeniality of season 15
- Cassandra Peterson, actress