On Friday, September 11, 2026, New Yorkers are invited to gather in Midtown for a profoundly moving tribute.
Bryant Park and Bank of America have partnered to commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with a dedicated day of remembrance.
If you are looking for a local space to reflect, the park is offering both a striking daytime visual installation and a beautiful evening of live orchestral music.
A powerful daytime installation
Beginning at 8 AM, the Bryant Park lawn will be transformed. Visitors will find 2,753 vacant park chairs arranged across the grass.
Each empty seat represents a life lost at the World Trade Center. The entire installation faces south to visually highlight the profound absence felt across our community.
The public is welcome to walk through the display until 4 PM. You are encouraged to stop by, write a note of remembrance, and lay a carnation on a chair.
Bank of America is providing the carnations and stepping up with a massive community donation. For the first 3,000 flowers placed, Bank of America will donate $25 per carnation.
These funds will be distributed among the NYC Police Foundation, the FDNY Foundation, and the Port Authority PBA Widows’ and Children’s Fund.
Free memorial concert under the stars
As evening falls, the tribute shifts to a celebration of human resilience. From 7 PM to 8:15 PM, the American Symphony Orchestra will host a free memorial concert directly on the lawn.
The program features moving works like Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man and Gustav Mahler’s Adagio from his Tenth Symphony. The music was specifically chosen to honor the courage of 9/11 heroes and the enduring strength of ordinary Americans.
You do not need a ticket to attend this performance. Simply bring a blanket, grab a spot on the grass, and settle in. If you cannot make it in person, a livestream link will also be provided.
Key event details
Here is everything you need to know before you head to Midtown:
- 📅 Friday, September 11, 2026
- Daytime Tribute: 8 AM to 4 PM (Chair display and carnation laying)
- Evening Concert: 7 PM to 8:15 PM (American Symphony Orchestra)
- 📍 Bryant Park (Entrance between 40th and 42nd Street on 6th Avenue)
- 💵 Completely free and open to the public