Zohran Mamdani to be Sworn in as NYC Mayor on New Year’s Eve/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Zohran Mamdani will become New York City’s next mayor as 2026 begins, taking his first oath of office just after midnight. A private ceremony at a historic subway station will be followed by a public swearing-in and block party outside City Hall. The celebrations reflect Mamdani’s vision to uplift working-class New Yorkers.
Zohran Mamdani Swearing-In Quick Looks
- Zohran Mamdani will be sworn in as New York City mayor as 2026 begins.
- A private midnight ceremony will take place at the old City Hall subway station.
- A public swearing-in and block party will be held outside City Hall on Thursday.
- New York Attorney General Letitia James will administer the first oath.
- U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders will conduct the second swearing-in at 1 p.m.
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will deliver opening remarks at the public ceremony.
- Mamdani’s team says the subway location reflects solidarity with working-class New Yorkers.
- The decommissioned station is a symbol of the city’s original subway expansion.
- Inaugural committee members include actor John Turturro and writer Colson Whitehead.
- The City Hall event will feature music, performances, and interfaith programming.
Zohran Mamdani to be Sworn in as NYC Mayor on New Year’s Eve
Deep Look
As the new year begins, New York City will also usher in a new era of leadership. Zohran Mamdani is set to be sworn in as mayor when the clock strikes midnight on January 1, 2026. His first act in office will be marked by a symbolic ceremony deep beneath the city streets, followed by a public celebration the next day that blends politics, culture, and community.
Following a long-standing tradition of dual swearing-in ceremonies, Mamdani’s first oath will take place in a private event at the historic Old City Hall subway station. Located in lower Manhattan, the station was one of the original 28 stops when New York’s subway system debuted in 1904. Though it was decommissioned in 1945, its tiled arches and elegant design remain an enduring reminder of the city’s ambition and legacy.
New York Attorney General Letitia James — an outspoken Democrat and a high-profile critic of former President Donald Trump — will administer the oath in the early hours of 2026. Mamdani’s office stated that the setting honors the city’s labor force and those who keep it running every day.
“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,” Mamdani said in a statement.
“That ambition need not be a memory confined only to our past,” he added, “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.”
Later on Thursday, Mamdani will again take the oath of office — this time in front of the public, in a large-scale celebration outside City Hall. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a longtime political mentor to Mamdani and fellow progressive, will administer the second oath at 1 p.m.
Opening remarks will be delivered by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, another political ally known for her grassroots organizing and policy advocacy on climate and economic justice.
Mamdani’s transition team has assembled an inaugural committee that reflects the diversity of the city and the coalition that helped carry him to victory. Members include actor John Turturro, playwright Cole Escola, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead, small business owners, advocates, and campaign workers. His office noted that the committee provided “perspective, guidance, and cultural sensibility” to shape the ceremony.
The afternoon ceremony will be accompanied by a block party stretching along Broadway up to City Hall. Mamdani’s team expects thousands to attend. The event will feature live music, cultural performances, and interfaith offerings in a celebration designed to showcase the spirit of inclusivity and unity that Mamdani has promised to bring to city leadership.
Mamdani’s path to the mayor’s office marks a significant shift in New York politics. Known for his advocacy on housing, transit equity, and worker protections, he has been a vocal supporter of democratic socialism and a rising figure in progressive political circles. As a City Council member representing Queens, he built a reputation for grassroots activism and policy detail.
His ascendancy also signals a generational and ideological transformation in City Hall. Mamdani succeeds Mayor Eric Adams, who took his own oath just after the Times Square ball drop in 2021. Adams’ predecessor, Bill de Blasio, began his tenure with a small ceremony at home in Brooklyn.
Now, Mamdani begins his chapter underground, in one of New York’s most storied spaces, stepping into office with a clear message about remembering the past while building for the future.
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