On September 11, 2026, New York City and the nation observed the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The annual commemorative ceremony was held at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in Lower Manhattan, on the ground where the Twin Towers once stood. Family members, survivors, first responders, and public officials gathered to honor the 2,977 people killed that day, along with the six victims of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

The ceremony took place between the two large reflecting pools that mark the footprints of the original towers. It remained closed to the general public, though it was livestreamed beginning at 8:40 a.m. so people across the country and around the world could watch. As in previous years, relatives of the victims read the names of those who died, speaking in pairs and pausing only for the traditional moments of silence.

Those moments of silence followed the exact timeline of the attacks:

8:46 a.m. marked the moment American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower.
9:03 a.m. marked the impact of United Airlines Flight 175 into the South Tower.
9:37 a.m. marked the crash of American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon.
9:59 a.m. marked the collapse of the South Tower.
10:03 a.m. marked the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
10:28 a.m. marked the fall of the North Tower.
For the first time in the history of the ceremony, a seventh moment of silence was observed at 12:30 p.m. This new pause was added to recognize the thousands of people who have died in the years since from illnesses and injuries connected to the toxic dust and debris at Ground Zero. The formal program concluded around 1 p.m. with the playing of Taps.

Among the officials present were New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who attended despite strong objections from some victims’ families and first responders; Governor Kathy Hochul; Vice President JD Vance; and four former U.S. presidents — Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. President Donald Trump took part in a separate remembrance ceremony at the Pentagon.

Security was тιԍнт throughout Lower Manhattan. A perimeter fence was installed around the memorial site, and vehicle traffic was restricted south of Canal Street. Certain subway service was adjusted, including the No. 1 train bypᴀssing the World Trade Center Cortlandt station. Invited guests pᴀssed through screening stations before entering the ceremony area.

After the formal event ended, the Memorial Plaza opened to the public at 3 p.m. As evening fell, the annual Tribute in Light installation sent twin beams of light into the sky from near the memorial site. The lights remained visible until dawn the following morning. Many buildings across New York City and other parts of the United States were also illuminated in blue as a sign of remembrance and solidarity.

Twenty-five years after the attacks, the ceremony underscored both the enduring grief of the families and the continuing impact of 9/11. The addition of a moment of silence for those who later died from related illnesses reflected a broader recognition that the human cost of the day has continued long after September 11, 2001. The reading of names, the moments of silence, and the Tribute in Light remain central ways the city and the nation keep the memory of the victims alive.

Sources : New York Post