Zohran Mamdani is set to take office as New York City’s next mayor at the stroke of midnight ushering in 2026, beginning a day-long series of inaugural events.
The Democrat will participate in two separate swearing-in ceremonies on Thursday. The first will be a private, family-only oath shortly after midnight at a long-abandoned subway station beneath Manhattan. A second, public ceremony is scheduled for Thursday afternoon, culminating in a block party outside City Hall.
Because a mayor’s term officially begins on January 1, it has long been customary for incoming mayors to hold both a symbolic overnight oath and a larger daytime celebration. Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams took his initial oath in Times Square following the New Year’s Eve ball drop, while former Mayor Bill de Blasio was sworn in at his Brooklyn home.
Mamdani’s midnight ceremony will take place at the former City Hall subway station, a historic stop known for its ornate arches and vaulted ceilings. Once the centerpiece of the city’s first subway line, the station was closed in 1945 and is now accessible mainly through guided tours or by remaining on a downtown-bound No. 6 train as it loops north.
New York Attorney General Letitia James will administer the oath. Mamdani’s office said the underground location reflects his dedication to working-class New Yorkers and symbolizes a time when the city invested heavily in infrastructure to improve daily life.
The formal public swearing-in will be held at 1 p.m. on the steps of City Hall, where U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders will administer the oath. Opening remarks will be delivered by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
In both ceremonies, Mamdani — the city’s first Muslim mayor — will take the oath with his hand on Qurans, marking the first time New York’s top elected official has been sworn in using Islam’s holy book.
His inaugural committee includes actor John Turturro, playwright Cole Escola, novelist Colson Whitehead, along with advocates, small business owners and campaign staff. The public ceremony will feature music, performances and interfaith elements, with thousands expected to attend.
Mamdani’s election also prompted historians to revise the city’s mayoral count, concluding he is the 112th mayor after correcting a long-standing archival error.
He has spent recent weeks finalizing his administration, announcing several key appointments as recently as Wednesday, just hours before taking office.
Source: AP