Mayor Zohran Mamdani Skips 82nd Annual Columbus Day Parade

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani broke decades of mayoral tradition by skipping the 82nd annual Columbus Day Parade on Fifth Avenue on October 12, 2026. While Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, and City Council Speaker Julie Menin attended the event, Mamdani fulfilled a campaign pledge to prioritize city leadership over parade attendance.

To mark the occasion, Mamdani released a video celebrating Italian American Heritage Month and announced a heritage reception at Gracie Mansion, though the video omitted any mention of Christopher Columbus. He also issued a statement honoring Indigenous New Yorkers for their resilience and ancestral traditions in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day.

The decision drew sharp criticism from Italian American advocacy groups. Angelo Vivolo, president of the Columbus Heritage Coalition, accused the mayor of being "an antisemite and anti-Italian" and stated the absence confirmed his "disrespect for the Italian American community." The Italian-American Civil Rights League further accused him of refusing to acknowledge Italian American history, citing a 2020 social media post where Mamdani gestured offensively at a statue of Columbus.

Conversely, City Council member Joann Ariola supported the boycott, stating she was part of a chorus of Italian American voices that encouraged the mayor to stay away. This incident follows other breaks with precedent by the Mamdani administration, including skipping the Israel Day Parade and the publication of a city map that omitted Little Italy while including "Little Palestine."