Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: Zohran Mamdani is set to take oath on Thursday, January 1, as New York City’s first Muslim and youngest mayor. The official swearing in will take place in a few hours from now. At 34, Mamdani is the youngest mayor New York City has had in a century, as well as its first Muslim mayor and its first mayor of South Asian descent. His term officially began at midnight on January 1.
A private oath beneath City hall
As the clock struck midnight, Mamdani took the oath of office during a private ceremony held inside the decommissioned Old City Hall subway station, tucked beneath Park Row and City Hall Park. The station, which opened in 1904 as one of the city’s original 28 subway stations, ceased operations in 1945 and remains largely inaccessible to the public, opening only for rare guided tours.
The choice of venue was deliberate. Linking the start of his administration to one of the city’s earliest infrastructure achievements, Mamdani framed the moment as a bridge between New York’s past ambitions and its future responsibilities.
Explaining the decision, he said in a press release, “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. 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 midnight ceremony was intimate. Mamdani was sworn in alongside his wife, artist Rama Duwaji, with his parents, filmmaker Mira Nair and Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani, also present.
The oath of office was administered by New York State Attorney General Letitia James, whom Mamdani has previously described as a “political inspiration.” The setting and guest list underscored both the personal and political dimensions of the moment, blending family, history, and progressive leadership at the start of his tenure.
Public ceremony to take place at 1PM ET
While the first oath was taken in private, the day will culminate in a large public ceremony at City Hall Plaza on Thursday afternoon. At least 4,000 people are expected to attend, turning the inauguration into a citywide celebration.
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is set to introduce Mamdani, while the public oath of office will be administered by independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, cementing the mayor’s ties to the broader progressive movement.
From an abandoned subway station beneath City Hall to a packed public plaza above it, Mamdani’s inauguration reflects both continuity and change, grounding a new administration in the city’s history while signaling a bold, generational turn in its future.
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: Bernie Sanders takes the stage
The atmosphere at City Hall shifted as the crowd rose to its feet for Senator Bernie Sanders, who walked onstage to administer the oath of office to Mamdani.
Sanders was met with sustained applause and chants of his name as he approached the podium. It was a familiar role for the Vermont senator, who had previously sworn in Bill de Blasio during his second inauguration in 2018.
Opening his remarks, Sanders described the occasion as “moving and beautiful.”
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: Jumaane Williams takes oath
Public advocate Jumaane Williams has taken the oath of office. He was sworn in by a group of immigrants. Williams, a progressive activist, is known for his focus on police accountability and civil rights. He was previously seen as a potential mayoral candidate and narrowly lost to current Governor Kathy Hochul in the race for lieutenant governor.
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: Mark Levine takes oath as comptroller
Letitia James, the state attorney general, administered the oath of office to Mark Levine, saying she felt she was helping to “usher in a new era” for the city. James had earlier sworn in Zohran Mamdani shortly after midnight.
After taking office, Levine struck a light note, joking about the nature of his role. “I know you are all wondering: what the heck is a comptroller?” he said. He then explained that the comptroller, one of the city’s three citywide elected officials, serves as New York’s chief financial officer, responsible for auditing city agencies.
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: Zohran Mamdani enters
Zohran Mamdani made his entrance to loud cheers, walking hand in hand with his wife, Rama Duwaji, before taking his seat. Mamdani waved to the crowd as the couple settled in.
Duwaji, New York City’s new first lady, is an artist who has drawn attention for her understated, elegant style. For the ceremony, she wore a brown coat suited to the cold weather.
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: Mamdani's parents are seated
Mamdani’s parents have arrived. They have taken their seats near the front, just ahead of his two senior advisers, Elle Bisgaard-Church and Dean Fuleihan. Both the women are set to join him at City Hall. Also onstage was Jessica Tisch, the police commissioner appointed under Eric Adams whom Mamdani has asked to continue in the role.
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: Letitia James, Bernie Sanders at City Hall Plaza
The crowd erupted in cheers as Letitia James walked to her seat, waving to attendees. James had sworn Mamdani in as mayor just after midnight.
Moments later, the block party grew even louder when Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appeared on the screens.
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: Ceremony starts shortly
The city’s two most recent mayors are onstage, visibly bracing against the cold. Bill de Blasio and Eric Adams were seated alongside Senator Chuck Schumer, who did not endorse Mamdani during the mayoral race.
In his remarks, Mamdani described de Blasio as the best mayor New York City has had in his lifetime and singled out the rollout of universal prekindergarten as a defining achievement of his administration.
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: Lineup for the inauguration ceremony
Around 4,000 attendees have filled the City Hall Plaza as the inauguration ceremony is about to commence soon. Here's a lineup of performances before Mamdani takes oath as Mayor of New York City:
- Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is scheduled to deliver the opening remarks, followed by Senator Bernie Sanders, who will administer the oath of office. Acclaimed poet Cornelius Eady will read an original piece during the ceremony
- Even before proceedings formally begin, the atmosphere has been set by DJ mOma, who has been playing music for attendees braving the cold. His set has included tracks such as “I’ll Take You There” by the Staple Singers and “Rapture” by Blondie, alongside selections spanning Bhangra, Stevie Wonder and Celia Cruz. DJ mOma said he had not originally planned to be in New York on January 1, but agreed to participate when asked
- The inauguration is scheduled to begin at 1 pm ET, with ceremonial officers presenting the colours. Actor and singer Javier Muñoz, known for his roles in In the Heights and Hamilton, will perform the national anthem
- Actor Mandy Patinkin, a longtime supporter of Mamdani, will sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” with the P.S. 22 Chorus of Staten Island. Before the oath is administered, singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus will perform “Bread and Roses,” a poem and song closely associated with labour movements
- Mamdani will then be sworn in on the steps of City Hall, using Qurans that belonged to his grandparents, before delivering his inaugural address
- The programme will conclude with a performance of “Gaddi Red Challenger” by Toronto-based artist Babbulicious, followed by an announcement from Bernie Wagenblast, widely recognised as the voice of the New York City subway, formally introducing Mamdani as the city’s new mayor
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: Attendees start to fill City Hall
Thousands of attendees have gathered outside City Hall Plaza for Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration as New York City mayor. According to USA Today, long lines were seen around the venue.
For the security screening, attendees passed through airport-style checks before entering the plaza.
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: What's happening in New York right now?
According to NYT, a queue is formed outside the inauguration block party as attendees waited to enter. An a cappella group is performing Sing Out, Louise!, at the front. The group, wearing hot pink “vote, resist, sing” sashes, performed a song written for the new mayor to the tune of “New York, New York.”
Meanwhile, a marching band advanced up Broadway from Liberty Street. There is a sense of anticipation among the assembled crowd, NYT stated.
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: Mamdani's new residence
Zohran Mamdani announced weeks ago that he and his wife, Rama Duwaji, would soon leave their one-bedroom apartment in Queens for Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City’s mayors for generations. The move will take them from a modest, rent-stabilised home to a far larger and more secure space designed for both living and public entertaining.
Yet the transition has not come without a sense of loss. Mamdani has lived in Astoria since 2019 and the neighbourhood played a central role in how he introduced himself to voters. Local streets doubled as campaign backdrops.
“We will miss much about our home in Astoria,” Mamdani said while announcing the move in December.
The contrast between his current home and his next one is stark. Mamdani’s Astoria apartment spans roughly 800 square feet and is protected by rent stabilisation. Gracie Mansion, by comparison, is a 226-year-old, 11,000-square-foot residence on the Upper East Side, complete with gleaming mirrors, faux mahogany doors and a vegetable garden that, from time to time, attracts rabbits.
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: A look at Zohran's campaign promises
Rent freeze - Mamdani has pledged to immediately freeze rents for all rent-stabilised tenants and deploy every available city resource to accelerate housing construction and ease rental pressures
Fare-free buses - He has promised to permanently eliminate fares on all city buses, while speeding up services through priority bus lanes, bus queue-jump signals and dedicated loading zones to reduce congestion caused by double parking
Free childcare - Mamdani plans to introduce universal, high-quality childcare for all New Yorkers aged six weeks to five years
City-owned grocery stores - To tackle rising food prices, he has proposed creating a network of city-owned grocery stores aimed at keeping prices low rather than generating profits
Lower cost of living - His campaign said these measures, including universal childcare and public grocery stores, form a broader strategy to bring down the cost of living, with a clear plan in place to fund them
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: Swearing in time and place
At 1 pm ET (11.30 pm IST), Senator Bernie Sanders, a fellow democratic socialist, will swear in Mamdani at a public ceremony on the steps of New York City Hall in Lower Manhattan. City Comptroller Mark Levine and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams are also expected to take the oath of office. A public block party is planned after the ceremony.
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: What has happened so far?
What began as a long-shot campaign ended as a political earthquake, placing a once-obscure legislator at the helm of America’s largest city. For those who have joined us now, here's what has happened so far:
- Just after midnight on Thursday, Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as mayor of New York City. A public inauguration is scheduled later tonight at around 11.30 pm Indian time
- His assumption of office caps a rapid political rise that has seen him move in just over a year from a little-known State Assembly backbencher to the leader of the United States’ largest city
- At 34, Mamdani is the youngest mayor New York has had in more than a century. Born in Uganda, he is also the city’s first mayor of African origin, its first Muslim and its first Asian American
- A democratic socialist, he is regarded as New York’s most left-leaning mayor since Fiorello La Guardia
- Mamdani won the November election by mobilising a large, youth-driven volunteer base and running a digitally focused campaign
- He drew voter support with a platform aimed at easing the city’s cost-of-living pressures, including proposals for free child care, fare-free buses and a partial freeze on rents
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: Where was Mamdani born?
Zohran Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, to filmmaker Mira Nair and academic and author Mahmood Mamdani. His family moved to New York City when he was seven years old, and he became an American citizen in 2018.
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: Mamdani's historical win
In 2025, Mamdani shocked the political establishment by defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in both the Democratic primary and the general election. Running on a bold progressive agenda focused on affordability, he transformed the mayoral race into a national moment that drew attention all the way to the White House under Republican President Donald Trump.
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: Mayor Eric Adams will be in attendance
The ceremony was also attended by outgoing mayor Eric Adams, who had earlier stopped short of confirming his presence but later said he wanted to attend to “show the smooth, peaceful transition of power.”
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: Why Mamdani took oath in subway station?
“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 people’s lives,” Mamdani said in a statement.
“That ambition need not be a memory confined only to our past.”
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: Mamdani makes history with Qur’an oath
In a nod to his Muslim faith, Mamdani took his oath of office on the Qur’an, Islam’s holiest book, becoming the first mayor of New York City to do so. He was sworn in at midnight with his hand placed on two Qur’ans, one belonging to his grandfather and another once owned by Arturo Schomburg, the Black writer and historian. The latter was lent to the mayor by the New York Public Library.
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: How many people in attendance can be expected?
Traditionally reserved for around 4,000 ticketed guests, the ceremony will instead be reimagined by Mamdani as a free, public block party along Broadway’s Canyon of Heroes.
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: Who administered the oath?
The oath was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a close political ally, at the old City Hall subway station. The station, one of the city’s original subway stops, is known for its sweeping arches and ornate ceilings and has long been closed to the public. Its use for the ceremony underscored both the city’s history and Mamdani’s message of renewal.
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: His first remarks to New Yorkers
In his first remarks as mayor, Mamdani wished New Yorkers a Happy New Year both “inside and outside the tunnel,” calling the moment “truly the honour and the privilege of a lifetime.”
“I cannot wait to see everyone tomorrow as we begin our term. After just having taken my oath to become the mayor of the city of New York, I do so also here in the old City Hall subway station – a testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, the health, the legacy of our city,” the New York City mayor said.
Zohran Mamdani Oath Ceremony LIVE: Inaugural ceremony at 1PM ET
The Inaugural ceremony will be held on Thursday afternoon at 1PM ET with several thousand supporters and political allies in attendance. The ceremonial inauguration will be held outside City Hall — seat of the New York City government — with Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont administering the oath of office to the new Mayor.