Ciao, bella! Italian cultural pride filled Fifth Avenue on Monday as NYC hosted the 82nd Columbus Day Parade, returning after last year’s march was canceled due to heavy storms.
Organized by the Columbus Citizens Foundation, the annual parade celebrates Italian and Italian-American heritage, as well as Italian Americans’ contributions to the United States.
This year’s theme, “Two Flags, One Home,” honored both Old Glory, celebrating America’s 250th birthday, and the red, white and green colors of the Italian flag.
Holding the Italian flag at the Columbus Day Parade.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
Gov. Kathy Hochul, who was met with some jeers along the parade route, and state Attorney General Lethal James were among the elected officials who attended the festive occasion, holding a banner together that read, “Governor Kathy Hochul Celebrates Italian American Heritage,” as Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” played in the music played in the background.
At one point, the political pair made a stop at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where they were greeted by Rev. Enrique Salvo and Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
Thousands of spectators lined the world-famous thoroughfare between 44th and 72nd streets, waving Italian flags, cheering and wearing their best wearing red, white and green garb.
FDNY is represented at the Columbus Day Parade in NYC.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
People raised green, white and red flags, cheering and screaming as their favorite floats came by.
Richard Zito of Staten Island made the trip into the city and shared with amNewYork what Columbus Day means to him
“It is about passing down pride to the next generation,” he said “My grandchildren need to know where they came from,” he said.
Italian cultural pride filled Fifth Avenue on Oct. 12, 2026.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
Ray Dalio, a philanthropist and founder of investment management firm Bridgewater Associates, was the grand marshal at the parade.
“His profound impact on global economics and his dedication to sharing the Principles of success embody the excellence and industrious spirit that Italian Americans have brought to this nation for two and a half centuries,” the Columbus Citizens Foundation said about honoring Dalio at the pararde.
A float in NYC’s Columbus Day Parade.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
Mamdani a no-show at the Columbus Day Parade
Noticeably absent from the NYC tradition was Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has made clear in the past, including during last year’s mayoral debates, that he would not attend every parade in the city as mayor.
Mamdani received headline-making backlash from New Yorkers earlier this year for omitting Manhattan’s Little Italy, along with other Jewish and Irish neighborhoods, off of a tourism map highlighting immigrant neighborhoods in NYC.
Despite the parade and map snubs, the mayor released a social media video on Saturday recognizing Italian Heritage Month.
In the video, he discusses the Italian immigration to NYC at the turn of the 20th century, the struggles and discrimination they faced when they arrived and other challenges they faced as they took on heavy labor and grueling work to build the city and the country Americans live in today.
Happy Italian Heritage Month, New York. Here’s continuing to fight for Vito Marcantonio’s vision of a government that works for all working people. https://t.co/9mlQN7mAZR
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) October 10, 2026
“Through it all, Italians didn’t turn away from New York City,” the mayor says in the video. “Instead, they organized with the vision of a better future.”
Meanwhile, the mayor is expected to host a reception celebrating Italian-American heritage at Gracie Mansion this month, though a date has not been publicly announced.
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell 
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell 
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell 
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell 
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell 
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell