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9/11 25th anniversary in NYC: Road closures, ceremonies and events
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Sep 10, 2026
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9/11 Memorial & Museum
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Sep 10, 2026
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Events throughout New York City on Friday will mark 25 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, which killed nearly 3,000 people and changed the city and country forever.
Among them are the annual ceremony at Memorial Plaza, as well as several other events commemorating those who died that day, or from 9/11-related illnesses in the years since.
In anticipation of the 25th anniversary, we’ve compiled information New Yorkers may find useful whether they’re attending the commemorations, need to navigate the area, or are looking for additional events.
25th anniversary commemoration at Memorial Plaza
The annual commemoration ceremony will take place at Memorial Plaza starting at 8:30 a.m., exclusively for family members of those killed in the 9/11 attacks and in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Throughout the ceremony, family members will read aloud the names of those who lost their lives.
There will be seven moments of silence throughout the ceremony, marking when each of the Twin Towers was struck and fell, the times of the attack on the Pentagon and the crash of Flight 93, and honoring those who lost their lives to 9/11-related illnesses and injuries in the years since. The first moment of silence will be observed at 8:46 a.m.
The memorial will reopen at 3 p.m. to the general public for the “Tribute in Light.”
9/11 security measures
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said there will be heightened security at and around the 9/11 Memorial this year, reflecting the significance of the 25th anniversary and the expected attendance of high-ranking officials and former presidents at the ceremony. Measures will include increased police presence in the area and a security fence installed by the U.S. Secret Service along the east side of the West Side Highway and around the perimeter of the 9/11 Memorial.
“There will be layers of security that are highly visible and others that the public will not see. New Yorkers can expect to see uniformed officers throughout the area, along with members of our Counterterrorism Bureau, heavy weapons teams and other specialized resources deployed as part of the operation,” Tisch said.
Road closures
Officials are urging New Yorkers to avoid driving in Lower Manhattan on Friday, as vehicular traffic will be highly restricted.
Street closures for the event will take effect at 6 a.m. No vehicular traffic will be allowed south of Canal Street to Battery Place and from Broadway over to West Street. Below is the full list of street closures provided by the Department of Transportation:
- Areas bounded by Chambers Street on the north; Morris Street/Edgar Street/Rector Street/Joseph P. Ward Street on the south; Broadway on the east; West Street on the west (all-inclusive)
- Joseph P. Ward Street between West and Washington streets
- Washington Street between Rector and Joseph P. Ward streets
- Rector Street between Washington and Greenwich streets
- Greenwich Street between Rector Street and Brooklyn Battery Tunnel
- Edgar Street between Greenwich Street and Trinity Place
- Trinity Place between Edgar and Morris streets
More commemorative events and locations
Tribute in Light
Starting at 3 p.m., the general public will be allowed to enter Memorial Plaza, where two beams of light representing the Twin Towers will shine into the sky at dusk. The beams reach up to 4 miles into the sky and are made up of 88 7,000-watt xenon lightbulbs, according to the memorial’s website. The installation, known as Tribute in Light, can be viewed from within a 60-mile radius of Lower Manhattan.
180 Greenwich St., Manhattan, 3 p.m.
Table of Silence Project 9/11 performance
This performance is described by organizers as “an artistic call to action for peace.” The event isn’t ticketed, but instead is first-come, first-served. Choreographed by Jacqulyn Buglisi, the performance, featuring more than 150 dancers and musicians, commemorates the loss of life and honors the bravery of all individuals affected by acts of terror, war and oppression, according to the Lincoln Center Website.
Josie Robertson Plaza, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, Manhattan, 8 a.m.
Wreath-laying at FDNY Fire Museum
FDNY members, families and friends will attend a remembrance ceremony at the Fire Museum's FDNY 343 Memorial honoring the firefighters who died on Sept. 11, 2001. Visitors are welcome to learn about the history department and its response to 9/11 through exhibits and artifacts.
78 Spring St. in SoHo, Manhattan, 11:30 a.m.
Remembrance ceremony — Postcards Memorial
Starting at 6 p.m., the Day of Reflection at the Postcards Memorial on Staten Island will honor the Staten Islanders who lost their lives on 9/11 and in the years since, Borough President Vito Fossella said in a social media post.
North Shore Waterfront Esplanade on Bank Street, Staten Island, 6 p.m.
New York Yankees vs. New York Mets Game
The 9/11 game between the two New York City baseball teams is part of a three-game series over the weekend, and will kick off with a ceremony at 6:30 p.m. The game itself will start at 7:05 p.m. on Friday at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, and will include special tributes honoring first responders and those killed in the attacks. For more information, visit the MLB website.
Yankee Stadium, the Bronx, 6:30 p.m.
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