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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced he will not attend the 2026 Met Gala, breaking with tradition amid mounting calls for boycotts and rumors of protests tied to the event’s high-profile backers.
At 34, Mamdani is the first NYC mayor in recent memory to skip the annual fundraiser at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where previous mayors such as Michael Bloomberg, Bill de Blasio, and Eric Adams have famously mingled with Hollywood’s elite on the red carpet.
The decision comes in the wake of controversy surrounding Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez, who were named honorary co-chairs after making a substantial, though undisclosed, donation to the event. Their involvement has ignited backlash online and in the city, with protest posters appearing around Manhattan targeting Bezos for his tax practices, ties to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and political affiliations.
When asked about his absence, Mayor Mamdani expressed his respect for the Met, describing it as “an incredible museum” and “a critical part of the city.” However, he emphasized his priorities: “My focus is also on affordability and making the most expensive city in the United States affordable, and that’s what I’m looking to spend a lot of my time focused on.”
A source close to the mayor told Page Six that his decision aligns with his values, saying, “He’s not coming. And it would be foolish if he did… can you imagine? It goes against everything he believes in.”
The 2026 Met Gala is scheduled for Monday, May 4, with the official theme titled “Costume Art” and a dress code of “Fashion is Art.” Celebrity co-chairs include Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour. Despite the star power, the event faces growing scrutiny over Bezos’s role, as activists continue to call for boycotts and stage protests ahead of the gala.
Posters spotted around the city underscore the criticism, with messages such as “Met Gala chair Jeff Bezos avoids tax, enables ICE, and backs Trump. Don’t let him get away with it,” alongside striking images linking the event to worker exploitation and law enforcement controversies.
As the city prepares for one of its most glamorous nights, Mayor Mamdani’s absence marks a notable shift, reflecting broader tensions surrounding wealth, power, and social justice in New York.