Incoming New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is set to make history as he takes his oath of office on a centuries-old Quran, becoming the first mayor of the city to be sworn in on Islam’s holy book, according to local media reports. At just 34, Mamdani will also be the first Muslim, the first South Asian and the first African-born individual to hold the city’s top executive position when his term officially begins shortly after midnight on New Year’s Day.
The milestone moment comes as part of a carefully planned dual-inauguration, following a long-standing New York tradition reported by The New York Times.
Why there are two oath-taking ceremonies
As per tradition, Mamdani’s mayoral term will begin the moment the New Year starts. To mark this, his team has scheduled two separate swearing-in ceremonies.
The first oath will take place just after midnight in a private ceremony attended by close family members. The venue is the former City Hall subway station in Manhattan—one of the original stations of New York City’s earliest underground transit line.
A closed subway station with a message
The City Hall subway station has been closed since 1945 and is rarely opened to the public. Mamdani’s office said the choice of location reflects his “commitment to the working people who keep our city running every day”.
Mamdani has also pointed to the station as a reminder of an era when New York invested heavily in public infrastructure to improve daily life, an approach he has said his administration wants to bring back.
Following a familiar New York tradition
The dual-inauguration format is not new to the city. Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams and former mayor Bill de Blasio also took their initial oaths shortly after midnight, followed by larger public ceremonies later in the day.New York Attorney General Letitia James, a political supporter of Mamdani, will administer the private midnight oath.
Public ceremony at City Hall
Later on Thursday afternoon, Mamdani will take the oath again during a public ceremony on the steps of City Hall. The event is scheduled to begin at 1 pm local time.
The public swearing-in will be administered by Senator Bernie Sanders, one of Mamdani’s political inspirations. Opening remarks will be delivered by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a close ally of the mayor-elect.
With symbolic venues, historic firsts, and prominent political figures in attendance, Mamdani’s inauguration is shaping up to be a moment that blends tradition, change, and a distinctly New York sense of theatre.