Zohran Mamdani is set to assume office as mayor of New York City as the clock strikes midnight ushering in 2026, with the swearing-in ceremonies stretching through New Year’s Day in keeping with city tradition.
The Democrat will be sworn in twice on Thursday, first in a private, family ceremony around midnight at the former City Hall subway station in Manhattan, followed by a public event in the afternoon on the steps of City Hall.
As a mayor’s term officially begins at the start of the new year, incoming city leaders have traditionally marked the occasion with two ceremonies. Outgoing mayor Eric Adams took his first oath shortly after the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square, while his predecessor Bill de Blasio was sworn in at his Brooklyn home.
Mamdani’s initial oath will be administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James at the decommissioned City Hall subway station, one of the original stops on the city’s first underground rail line. Known for its ornate tiled arches and vaulted ceilings, the station was closed in 1945 and is now accessible only through guided tours or brief glimpses from passing trains.
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Explaining the choice of venue, Mamdani’s office said it reflected his “commitment to the working people who keep our city running every day.”
In a statement, Mamdani said, “When Old City Hall Station first opened in 1904, one of New York's 28 original subway stations, it was a physical monument to a city that dared to be both beautiful and build great things that would transform working peoples' lives.”
He added, “That ambition need not be a memory confined only to our past, nor must it be isolated only to the tunnels beneath City Hall: it will be the purpose of the administration fortunate enough to serve New Yorkers from the building above.”
The second swearing-in ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. on Thursday, when Mamdani will again take the oath of office, this time administered by US Senator Bernie Sanders, a long-time political influence. US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will deliver the opening remarks.
The public ceremony will be accompanied by a block party along a stretch of Broadway leading up to City Hall. Mamdani’s office said thousands are expected to attend, with music, performances and interfaith elements planned.
Mamdani’s inaugural committee includes actor John Turturro, playwright Cole Escola and author Colson Whitehead, alongside advocates, small business owners and campaign workers who, his office said, have “provided perspective, guidance, and cultural sensibility” for the celebrations.
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