The season welcomed Gottmik, the show's first ever openly transgender male and assigned female at birth contestant since the series began in 2009. The teaser revealed that the season's premiere would consist of six 'Lip-Sync for Your Life' battles in a Lip-Sync Extravaganza, along with a new socially distanced stage and werkroom design. Īfter the season's first teaser trailer was accidentally leaked a day prior, the cast was officially revealed by season 12 winner Jaida Essence Hall on December 9, 2020. In addition to airing on VH1, the premiere episode was simulcast across 5 other channels: Logo, MTV, MTV2, Pop, and The CW, becoming the most-watched episode in the franchise's history. Casting calls for season 13 were opened in December 2019. VH1 renewed both RuPaul's Drag Race and its spin-off RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars for a thirteenth and sixth season respectively on August 20, 2020. The competition is broadcast on VH1 in the United States and showcases 13 new queens competing for the title of 'America's Next Drag Superstar'. The cast was announced via Twitter on December 9, 2020. The thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on January 1 and concluded on April 23, 2021.