The United States is celebrating the anniversary of the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks on Friday, September 11 2026. The day will include ceremonies, moments of silence readings of the names of the victims and special programming on television and streaming services. This anniversary is a quarter of a century since the attacks that killed 3,000 people. These events changed national security, foreign policy and daily life. Major events are happening at the three places connected to the attacks. These places are the World Trade Center site in New York the Pentagon near Washington, D.C. And the Flight 93 crash site in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. People who want to watch the 25th-anniversary events from their homes can do so through news networks and official memorial livestreams. Many broadcasters and streaming services are also showing reports and documentaries, about the attacks, the people who died and the lasting effects of the events.
9/11 Programming Guide 2026: When Does the New York Memorial Ceremony Begin?
The main New York commemoration happens at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center site in Manhattan. The ceremony has the reading of the names of people who died in the 2001 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The museums livestream starts at 8:40 a.m. EDT on September 11 with the moment of silence planned for 8:46 a.m. EDT. That time is the moment American Airlines Flight 11 hit the North Tower 25 years ago. The ceremony will have moments of silence to remember the important times during the attacks, including the hits on the Twin Towers their falling down and the crashes, at the Pentagon and Shanksville.
9/11 Programming Guide 2026: What Is New About the 25th Anniversary Ceremony?
One of the significant changes this year is the addition of a seventh moment of silence. I notice that the National September 11 Memorial and Museum traditionally observes six moments of silence during the ceremony. For the anniversary an additional pause has been introduced to remember people who later died from illnesses and injuries connected to the September 11 attacks. I see that the addition reflects the continuing health consequences of the disaster. Thousands of people who were exposed to conditions at and, around the World Trade Center site have suffered health problems in the years since the attacks. The number of people who have died from 9/11-related illnesses has now surpassed the number killed on the day itself. I understand that the seventh moment of silence will take place after the reading of the names of those killed in the 2001 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. “Each year we vow to never forget. As time moves forward that vow becomes more important.”
9/11 Programming Guide 2026: Where Can You Watch the New York Ceremony Live?
People who cannot attend the ceremony in person can watch the event through the National September 11 Memorial and Museums livestream. The livestream will start at 8:40 a.m. EDT, six minutes before the moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. The ceremony will remain a part of the days live television and digital coverage as networks report from Ground Zero and other locations. ABC News is also among the broadcasters providing 25th-anniversary coverage. ABC News has aired a special produced in collaboration with the 9/11 Memorial and Museum featuring survivors, victims families and stories of people whose lives were shaped by the attacks. Because local television schedules and streaming availability can vary viewers should also check listings and the official digital platforms of their preferred news networks, for live coverage times.
9/11 Programming Guide 2026: What Is Happening at the Pentagon?
The Pentagon will host a 25th-anniversary remembrance ceremony on September 11. President Donald Trump is set to attend the event at the Pentagon. This will be the year in a row that he observes the anniversary at this location. Vice President JD Vance is expected to take part in the ceremony in New York. Other administration officials will be attending events in Shanksville. The Pentagon was one of three places attacked on September 11. American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building. Many people died on the plane and, inside the Pentagon. Because of its significance the Pentagon ceremony is expected to draw a lot of attention. It will likely be a part of the day’s television and online coverage.
9/11 Programming Guide 2026: What Will Happen in Shanksville?
Another memorial program will be held at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where United Airlines Flight 93 had crashed as the passengers and crew members tried to seize control of the aircraft from the hijackers. All 40 passengers and crew members in Flight 93 died in that plane.
The two-day observance at the Flight 93 National Memorial will mark the 25th anniversary. The 2022 observance will focus especially on informing the young generation about the passengers and crew members who battled the hijackers. The Flight 93 National Memorial will include various features such as Wall of Names, Memorial Plaza, Tower of Voices, and Field of Honor.
9/11 Programming Guide 2026: What Special TV and Streaming Coverage Is Available?
The 25th anniversary has led to a plethora of programs on television, cable, and online streaming. News media outlets are providing live coverage, interviewing survivors and first responders, historical reporting, and documentaries about the attacks and their aftermath.
ABC News is airing special programming with interviews with veteran anchors Diane Sawyer and David Muir about their experiences reporting on the attacks. Other stories in this special include those of the survivors of the attacks, the victims’ family members and friends, and individuals who have inherited the legacy of September 11.
Documentaries are another part of the anniversary coverage. Some of the shows airing during the anniversary period include “102 Minutes: Inside the Towers,” which recounts the events inside the World Trade Center using survivor narratives. Please consult your own TV schedule on your network or streaming platform because times for programs vary from one place to another.
9/11 Programming Guide 2026: Why Is the 25th Anniversary Significant?
The 25th anniversary is especially significant because more and more Americans now do not have personal memories of September 11, 2001. More than 100 million Americans were born after the attacks, reported as part of this year’s Flight 93 ceremony. For this generation, the attack is known only through history, photos, videos, stories from relatives and school education.
Thus, the anniversary is a day of commemoration and a chance to remind the next generation of nearly 3,000 victims, rescue workers and survivors, as well as the consequences of these tragedies. “Each year we promise that we will never forget this tragic event,” said Hillman. “But as time goes on, this promise becomes even more important for us.”
The 25th anniversary commemorations in New York, the Pentagon and Shanksville will consist of the standard ceremony and much TV and digital broadcasts of it, so all the people from across the country and from other countries can commemorate this anniversary.
