Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as mayor of New York City shortly after midnight on Thursday 1st January 2026, marking a historic moment in the city’s civic life and leadership.
The swearing-in ceremony took place just after the legal start of the new term, with Mamdani taking the oath of office by placing his hand on the Quran, becoming the first mayor in the city’s history to do so.
A separate public inauguration ceremony was held later in afternoon at City Hall.
Mamdani used two Qurans during the ceremonies. One belonged to his grandfather, while the other was from the personal collection of Arturo Schomburg, the renowned Black writer and historian whose work helped shape the Harlem Renaissance.
Hiba Abid, the library’s curator for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies said that its a highly symbolic choice.
“We’re about to have a Muslim mayor sworn in using the Quran, but also a mayor who was born on the African continent, in Uganda. It brings together faith, identity and New York history,” Hiba added.
For the City Hall ceremony, Mamdani again used Qurans passed down through his family, showing the personal meaning of the event.
Zara Rahim, a senior adviser to the mayor, described the inauguration as a milestone for communities long underrepresented in city leadership.
“This moment will mark a turning point in the history of New York City,” Rahim said.
“It belongs to every New Yorker whose lives shaped this city quietly, without ever being reflected back to them” Rahim added.
While elected officials are not required by law to use a religious text when taking the oath of office, most past mayors have traditionally sworn in on a Bible. Mamdani’s choice reflected both his faith and the city’s evolving diversity.
Shahana Hanif, City Council Member, who was sworn in using a family Quran in 2022, said Mamdani’s inauguration shows the growing participation of Muslims in New York politics.
“The Quran represents visibility and belonging for Muslim New Yorkers. It shows how far our communities have come in civic life,” Shahana added.
Mamdani’s swearing-in places him among a small group of U.S. elected officials who have used the Quran during their oath of office, reflecting a broader shift in American political and public representation.
