"It's against his views." New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will skip the upcoming Met Gala on principle.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, 34, and his wife, Rama Duwaji, 28, will skip the 2026 Met Gala, which will take place on May 4. According to Page Six, citing sources, the decision is due to the mayor's principled position.
Traditionally, the mayor of New York receives an annual invitation from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to one of the world's most high-profile fashion events, and refusals are extremely rare. However, Mamdani has decided to break with this practice. "He won't be attending. His appearance would look strange—it goes against his views," an insider noted, adding that participation in the event "would be illogical."
According to a source, the decision is directly related to the mayor's political beliefs. Mamdani previously stated that "society shouldn't operate by the rules of the billionaire world," despite the Met Gala being partially funded by major entrepreneurs, including Jeff Bezos, one of the evening's key sponsors. Nevertheless, the mayor's radical stance has sparked a mixed reaction: some among New York's elite believe he should have attended, as the Met Gala is "an important symbol of the city."
The situation is exacerbated by recent comments from Anna Wintour, who is effectively overseeing the event. In an interview with Meryl Streep for Vogue, she spoke warmly of Rama Duvaji, praising her style and expressing admiration for the New York First Lady. Now, however, her demonstrative refusal of the invitation, according to some experts, could further distance the mayor's office from the fashion industry.
It was also previously announced that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry would be skipping the Met Gala, but in their case, the reason was different: the couple simply did not receive an invitation.
As a reminder, Zohran Mamdani became the youngest mayor of New York City in 100 years and the first Muslim to hold the post. The Democratic candidate garnered over 50% of the vote. His initiatives include raising taxes on the wealthy, opening municipal stores, free public transportation and preschool, and raising the minimum wage from $16.50 to $30 per hour. His victory sparked widespread controversy: Donald Trump called Mamdani a "communist fanatic" and declared that he would not support his initiatives. Rama Duwaji, meanwhile, is known not only as the mayor's wife and a keen fashionista, but also as an artist, illustrator, and ceramicist. Her work explores themes of activism, ethics, and feminism, earning her widespread public support and the unofficial title of "queen of the zoomers."
The Met Gala is an annual event featuring world-renowned celebrities to raise funds for the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This year's theme is "Costume Art": the gala will explore the role of the human body in art across eras, from classical sculpture to contemporary fashion.
Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images ramaduwaji, zohrankmamdani/Instagram**