The organizers of an annual Puerto Rican heritage event that’s been held at Gracie Mansion for nearly 30 years have doubled down on their statement that this year’s celebration is moving, despite repeat assertions from Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s office a day ago that no plans had changed regarding the location.
In a statement early Thursday, the Puerto Rican Heritage Committee, which typically organizes the annual city-hosted heritage celebrations, said there was no confusion about the 2026 site.
“The Office of the Mayor was clear in the email sent to Mildred Martinez: ‘We will not be hosting a reception at Gracie Mansion.’ In light of this, the New York City Puerto Rican Heritage Committee has identified an alternative location to celebrate this tradition,” the committee said.
The reception has been at Gracie Mansion since the 1990s. Organizers say the event will still happen, now at Pacha New York in Brooklyn instead.
“While this chapter may be changing, the spirit and purpose of the celebration remain stronger than ever,” the NYC Puerto Rican Heritage Committee said in a statement.
The Mamdani administration disputed on Wednesday any suggestion that the longtime event would not be at Gracie this year. It said it was aware of no planned changes.
However, in a June 1 email obtained by News 4, Alvaro Lopez, the Brooklyn borough director for the mayor’s Office of Mass Engagement, asked directly about the event location, said it wouldn’t happen at Gracie.
“As mentioned in our call, we will not be hosting a reception at Gracie Mansion. In an effort to celebrate the National Puerto Rican Day in the company of as many working-class New Yorkers as possible, Mayor Mamdani and our administration are prioritizing his attendance at the 5th Ave Parade and the Knickerbocker Parade on June 14 instead of hosting an invitation-only reception.”
NYCGOV
NYCGOV These are photos from the 2025 celebration hosted by then-Mayor Adams at Gracie Mansion.
There was no updated statement from the mayor’s office on the matter late into the day Wednesday. The latest Puerto Rican Heritage Committee statement came out overnight. News 4 is reaching out to the city.
The committee also shared an updated flyer for the event in its release on Thursday, along with a letter to the mayor’s office illuminating its plans.
The flyer reads in part, “Join us to keep the tradition alive. This event has moved from the lobby of City Hall to the People’s House at Gracie Mansion, and now it continues in the community’s hands.”
Handout
Handout Puerto Rican Heritage Reception flyer for 2026
The Upper East Side mansion has hosted the Puerto Rican Heritage Reception since the 1990s. The yearly tradition brings together elected officials, community leaders, artists, and others.
The event is scheduled for June 11, according to organizers, the same weekend as NYC’s iconic Puerto Rican Day Parade marches up Fifth Avenue.
