In a move blending history with a vision for the future, Zohran Mamdani is set to become the next mayor of New York City. His oath-taking ceremony is scheduled for the stroke of midnight as 2026 begins, marking a new chapter for the metropolis.
A Private Oath in a Historic Underground Setting
The initial swearing-in will be a private affair held at a unique and symbolic location: the abandoned Old City Hall subway station. New York Attorney General Letitia James will have the honour of administering the oath of office to Mamdani in this secluded setting. Following this underground ceremony, the new mayor will participate in a public inauguration.
This public event is scheduled for 1 pm on Inauguration Day on the steps of City Hall. Here, Senator Bernie Sanders will publicly swear in Mamdani, who will then deliver his inaugural address to the city's residents.
Symbolism Behind the Subway Station Venue
The choice of the long-closed subway station for the private oath has drawn attention. Attorney General Letitia James defended the decision, calling the NYC subway the city's lifeline and a great equalizer. In a statement, she elaborated, "For all of our strengths and weaknesses as individuals, we ride together on the train, to places far and wide." She added that Mamdani understands that all New Yorkers deserve a city where they can thrive, "no matter what subway line you use."
Mamdani himself reflected on the location's significance. He noted that when the Old City Hall Station first opened in 1904 as one of New York's 28 original stations, it represented a city that dared to build beautiful, transformative things for working people. "That ambition need not be a memory confined only to our past," Mamdani said. He pledged that this spirit would guide his administration from the City Hall building above.
"When I take my oath from the station at the dawn of the New Year, I will do so humbled by the opportunity to lead millions of New Yorkers into a new era of opportunity, and honored to carry forward our city's legacy of greatness," the mayor-elect stated.
The History of the Ceremony's Venue
The historic City Hall station holds a special place in New York's transit history. Although it opened with great fanfare in 1904, it was closed down on New Year’s Day in 1945. The primary reason for its closure was its curved platform, which became incompatible with newer, longer trains, creating dangerous gaps between the train doors and the platform edge.
Today, the station is not part of the regular subway route. It can only be viewed by the public during official tours organised by the New York Transit Museum. Alternatively, keen-eyed riders can catch a glimpse if they remain on the Number 6 train after its last stop at the Brooklyn Bridge station, as the train loops around through the old station to begin its journey uptown.
This deliberate choice of venue underscores the incoming administration's focus on public infrastructure, historical continuity, and a commitment to serving every New Yorker. The dual ceremonies—one intimate and historical underground, the other public and traditional above ground—symbolise a bridge between the city's illustrious past and its aspirational future under Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
