RuPaul's Drag Race Live! ending Las Vegas residency after six years

Overview

Updated Yesterday

After six years and 1,500 shows, RuPaul's Drag Race Live! will close at the Flamingo Las Vegas on New Year's Eve. The residency opened in January 2020 and became a fixture of the Strip's entertainment lineup.

The show's end will free up the Flamingo Showroom, which has hosted the production since its debut. No replacement show has been announced.

Why it matters

The closure ends a six-year run that brought a TV franchise to the Strip and gave drag performers a steady Las Vegas stage.

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Key Indicators

1,500

Total shows

The residency is scheduled to end after 1,500 performances.

Years on the Strip

The show opened in January 2020 and will close in December 2026.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

RuPaul

Creator and director of RuPaul's Drag Race Live!

Active; show ending

Organizations Involved

Voss Events

Producer

Co-producer of the residency

Event production company that co-produced the residency.

World of Wonder

Production company

Co-producer of the residency

Production company behind RuPaul's Drag Race.

Flamingo Las Vegas

Casino and hotel

Venue hosting the residency

Las Vegas Strip casino that houses the Flamingo Showroom.

Timeline

September 2019 November 2026

6 events Latest: Yesterday

Tap a bar to jump to that date

November 2026
Ending announced
Latest Announcement

KLAS reports the residency will close on New Year's Eve after six years.
Yesterday
October 2022
300th show
Milestone

The residency celebrates its 300th performance.
October 6th, 2022
August 2021
Residency resumes
Reopening

The show returns to the Flamingo after an 18-month hiatus.
August 5th, 2021
March 2020
Pandemic hiatus
Closure

Performances pause due to COVID-19.
March 15th, 2020
January 2020
Residency opens
Opening

The show debuts at the Flamingo Showroom.
January 30th, 2020
September 2019
Residency announced
Announcement

RuPaul's Drag Race Live! is announced at DragCon NYC with two rotating casts.
September 8th, 2019

Scenarios

Drag Race Live! closes as scheduled on New Year's Eve

Likely Resolves by Jan 1, 2027

Discussed by: KLAS reporting

The show performs its final scheduled performance on December 31, 2026, and the Flamingo Showroom goes dark. No extension is announced.

Flamingo announces replacement show for Drag Race Live!

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Not yet discussed publicly

The Flamingo Showroom will host a new resident production, which is announced within six months of the closure.

Drag Race Live! moves to another Las Vegas venue

Unlikely Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Not yet discussed publicly

The production continues in Las Vegas at a different casino or theater, extending the show's run beyond the Flamingo.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

September 2008 - November 2019

Donny and Marie Osmond residency at Flamingo (2008-2019)

Donny and Marie Osmond performed a residency at the Flamingo Showroom for 11 years. The sibling duo's show was a mix of music and comedy.

Then

The show closed in November 2019 after an 11-year run.

Now

The Flamingo Showroom was left without a resident show until RuPaul's Drag Race Live! opened in January 2020.

Why this matters now

The Flamingo has a history of long-running residencies. Drag Race Live! followed Donny and Marie in the same showroom and will end after a shorter run.

March 2011 - June 2019

Celine Dion's Caesars Palace residency (2011-2019)

Celine Dion performed her second Las Vegas residency at Caesars Palace for eight years. The show was one of the highest-grossing residencies in Las Vegas history.

Then

Dion ended the residency to tour and pursue other projects.

Now

The Colosseum at Caesars Palace continued hosting other residencies, including by Elton John and Rod Stewart.

Why this matters now

Dion's residency showed how a single performer could anchor a Las Vegas showroom for years. Drag Race Live! used a rotating cast instead of a single star.