As the fashion and celebrity world prepares for next month’s Met Gala, one high-profile invite appears to be going unanswered.
Zohran Mamdani and First Lady Rama Duwaji have both been invited to the 2026 Met Gala, but sources tell Page Six the couple will not be attending.
According to insiders, the decision is largely tied to Mamdani’s democratic socialist platform, which prioritizes avoiding high-society events that symbolize the kind of wealth concentration he often critiques. By declining the invitation, the 34-year-old is also steering clear of a star-studded, billionaire-heavy evening built around luxury and exclusivity.
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Zohran Mamdani Will Reportedly Skip the Met Gala.
“He’s not coming,” a source said. “And it would be foolish if he did… can you imagine? It goes against everything he believes in.”
This year’s Met Gala is co-chaired and sponsored in part by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, who are serving as lead sponsors supporting the “Costume Art” exhibition. The 2026 event, themed “Fashion is Art” and set for May 4, also includes backing from Saint Laurent and Condé Nast.
Bezos' involvement has sparked online backlash and protests from critics who argue it reflects growing billionaire influence over the fashion industry.
Traditionally, the New York City mayor is invited to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual fundraiser, making Mamdani’s absence a rare break from long-standing protocol. Still, not everyone agrees with the decision.
“It’s such a New York institution,” a well-placed socialite told Page Six. “I think he should go. It’s a very New York moment.”
The news also comes shortly after Vogue's Anna Wintour praised the style of Mamdani’s wife during a recent interview with Meryl Streep, saying: “I’m full of admiration for New York City’s new first lady because she looks so cool and wears a lot of vintage — young and modern and also entirely herself.”
Zohran Mamdani Working Toward Taxing the Rich
Zohran has continued to emphasize his “tax the rich” agenda, reinforcing campaign promises aimed at reshaping the city’s approach to wealth and taxation. One of his key proposals includes a pied-à-terre tax targeting second homes valued over a certain threshold, with backing from Kathy Hochul.
The plan is projected to raise millions annually from wealthy non-residents, with revenue intended to support public services such as childcare, housing, and public safety.
Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), was sworn in as New York City’s 112th mayor on January 1, 2026. At 34 years old, he is the youngest person to hold the office in over a century.
He also holds several historic firsts: the city’s first Muslim mayor, first South Asian mayor, and the first mayor born in Africa, having been born in Kampala, Uganda.
