This Friday marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum will commemorate the 2,977 lives lost in the tragedy with its annual ceremony.
The somber event will be held at the site where the Twin Towers once stood.
Here is what you need to know about the annual remembrance ceremony:
Where to watch
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum will stream the ceremony live on its website starting at 8:40 a.m.
The event at the reflecting pools will not be open to the public.
What to expect
The ceremony will adhere to its traditional format, with the addition of a new moment of silence for those who have died from 9/11-related illnesses or injuries.
The first of seven moments of silence will be observed at 8:46 a.m., followed by church bells ringing across the city.
Families of the victims from the 2001 and 1993 attacks will read names in pairs, pausing for these moments of silence:
- 8:46 a.m. — when Flight 11 hit the North Tower;
- 9:03 a.m. — when Flight 175 hit the South Tower;
- 9:37 a.m. — when Flight 77 hit the Pentagon;
- 9:59 a.m. — the time the South Tower collapsed;
- 10:03 a.m. — when Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania;
- 10:28 a.m. — the time the North Tower collapsed.
For the first time, a seventh moment of silence will be held at 12:30 p.m. for those who have died from related illnesses.
The ceremony will conclude with the Playing of Taps at 1 p.m.
Who will be there
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has committed to attending the solemn event for the first time as mayor, despite criticism from some victims’ families and first responders over his remarks on Israel.
Despite the backlash, he plans to stand in solidarity with the families, survivors, and first responders affected by the attacks.
Governor Kathy Hochul also plans to attend, despite a Port Authority police union asking her to stay away following her decision to illuminate One World Trade Center for Muslim American Heritage Month.
Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton are expected to be present, along with Vice President Vance at Ground Zero. President Trump will be at a service at the Pentagon.
Which streets and subways will be closed
A security fence will be placed by the US Secret Service on the east side of the West Side Highway from Liberty to Fulton Street, and around the 9/11 Memorial site, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
Vehicular traffic will be restricted from south of Canal Street to Battery Place and from Broadway to West Street starting Friday.
Broadway will remain open for southbound traffic, but trucks will be prohibited.
The Hugh Carey Tunnel will stay open, with cars allowed access to the FDR Drive.
The No. 1 train will bypass the World Trade Center Cortlandt station.
Guests attending the ceremony at Ground Zero will need to pass through security screenings.
What follows
The Memorial Plaza will open to the public at 3 p.m.
The annual Tribute in Light will illuminate New York City’s skies from Friday evening until dawn on Saturday, with a live national broadcast on Disney-affiliated channels and streamers.
Many iconic buildings across the five boroughs and the US will light up in blue to complement the installation.
