Today, Sept. 11, 2026, marks the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York’s Twin Towers, in which nearly 3,000 people lost their lives in what remains one of the most shocking events in the nation’s history.
The attacks resulted in immeasurable loss, long-term health consequences and lasting shifts in U.S. foreign policy.
On Wednesday, “2,977 Lights Over New York Harbor,” an exhibition produced by Addison Mehr and Sky Elements, illuminated the downtown Manhattan skyline.
The lights recreated the Twin Towers at full architectural scale, with each light representing one of the 2,977 people killed in the attacks 25 years ago. The project was a collaboration among artists, producers, 9/11 families and survivors.
On Friday morning, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $2.2 million in funding for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum to expand free admission for New Yorkers, according to a press release from the governor’s office.
“The events of 9/11 and those we lost that day should never be forgotten, and every New Yorker, especially those too young to remember the attacks, should have the opportunity to visit the 9/11 Memorial Museum,” Hochul said.
Hochul also released an op-ed in the New York Post, telling readers that the words “Never Forget” do not just mean something today, but every day.
“‘Never Forget,’ means refusing to let this solemn anniversary become a source of division among us,” she wrote.
City Council Honors Victims and First Responders
On Sept. 10, one day before the 25th anniversary, the New York City Council approved legislation commemorating the attacks, including a measure to co-name 26 thoroughfares and public spaces in honor of those who lost their lives.
Earlier this summer, City Council Speaker Julie Menin launched a citywide initiative to honor FDNY and NYPD personnel with red and blue street signs.
Additionally, Resolution 7-A, sponsored by Menin, Council Member Joann Ariola and Council Member Rita Joseph, calls on the New York State Legislature to incorporate a 9/11 curriculum into schools across the state.
Mamdani Announces 9/11 Records Portal
Earlier this week, on Sept. 8, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani vowed not only to remember the tragedy but also to continue the city’s efforts to address its lasting impact.
Mamdani announced the launch of a public document portal that allows New Yorkers to revisit records related to the city’s response to the attacks, including records that were not located until 2025.
“This portal is part of our administration’s enduring commitment to honor those we lost, care for those living with lasting health consequences and give thousands of New Yorkers the answers they’ve been asking for,” he said.
In an Instagram video Friday morning, Mamdani described Sept. 11 as “the darkest day in our city’s history,” while also highlighting the service and solidarity shown by New Yorkers in the days and months that followed.
Mamdani recognized those who opened their homes to victims with nowhere to go, donated blood in the aftermath and helped carry people in need down hundreds of stairs.
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, who represents Ditmas Park, Flatbush, East Flatbush and Midwood, also called for continued gratitude toward first responders, regardless of how much time has passed.
“The passage of time can never diminish the debt of gratitude we owe to those who gave everything for our city and nation,” Hermelyn said. “Let us re-commit to the collective fortitude that guided us through our darkest hours.”
