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New York City is about to welcome a new mayor and the swearing-in is unfolding with a very New York level of theatricality. When Zohran Mamdani officially takes office on January 1, 2026, the day will include a midnight oath in a long-abandoned subway station, followed by a public ceremony and a massive Broadway block party expected to draw tens of thousands of people.
If you’ve seen the headlines but not the full picture, here’s how the day is set to unfold:
When it’s happening
Mamdani will officially become New York City’s 112th mayor just after midnight on January 1. The public-facing portion of the inauguration begins later that day, with a ceremonial swearing-in scheduled for 1pm on the steps of City Hall.
Where it’s taking place
The midnight oath will happen inside the old City Hall subway station, a vaulted, chandeliered stop that’s been closed to the public since 1945. Roughly 13 hours later, the focus moves above ground to City Hall and Broadway, where roads between Murray and Liberty Streets will be shut down for a car-free celebration.
What to expect
The daytime ceremony will include remarks from Mamdani and other city officials, as well as live musical performances and interfaith elements. Large video screens will broadcast the City Hall proceedings to the surrounding crowd on Broadway. There will be no heating tents, according to the transition team, so plan accordingly.
The street celebration is the same one we detailed earlier, which breaks down road closures, crowd capacity and logistics.
Who will be there
New York Attorney General Letitia James will administer the official oath during the private midnight ceremony. Senator Bernie Sanders is slated to conduct the ceremonial swearing-in at City Hall in the afternoon. Incoming Comptroller Mark Levine and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams are also expected to speak.
Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams has not confirmed whether he will attend.
How to attend
Attendance at the City Hall steps will be capped at roughly 4,000 ticketed guests. The Broadway block party, however, is open to the public and designed to accommodate up to 40,000 people. RSVP information and updates are available through Mamdani’s transition website.