New York City is turning the energy of the 2026 FIFA World Cup into a lasting public art project. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced a citywide mural initiative featuring 12 works created by local artists across all five boroughs.
The project is being led by the Groundswell Community Mural Project in collaboration with the Department of Parks & Recreation, the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Department of Youth and Community Development. Community paint days will invite residents to take part in the creative process, beginning July 14 at Montbellier Park in Laurelton, Queens, where artist Peach Tao will guide the first mural.
According to city officials, the murals are designed to reflect the shared spirit of neighborhoods shaped by longtime New Yorkers and new arrivals from around the world. The selected sites span the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island, with artists including Angel Garcia, VASH, Miki Mu, Yolande Delius, Viktoriya Basina, Misha Tyutyunik, Vincent Ballentine, Carlos Mateu, Colleen Kong-Savage, Mimi Ditkoff, and Lina Montoya.
The initiative aims to leave behind a cultural marker that extends beyond the tournament itself, linking sport, community participation, and public art in one citywide canvas. As the World Cup reaches its final stages, New York is positioning creativity as part of its global celebration. This kind of civic art could help shape how future major events connect with local identity and community life.
