The Tribute in Light 2025 is set to illuminate the New York City skyline on the evening of September 11, once again honoring the lives lost in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. This moving art installation features two powerful vertical columns of light that represent the Twin Towers, shining from dusk until dawn over Lower Manhattan, near the original World Trade Center site.

The installation uses 88 high-intensity xenon spotlights (44 for each tower), producing beams visible up to 60 miles away on a clear night. The lights reach as high as four miles into the sky, casting an evocative homage to the Twin Towers and symbolizing resilience, unity, and remembrance. The Tribute in Light began as a temporary memorial in 2002 and has become an annual tradition, organized by the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and the Municipal Art Society of New York.

For the 24th anniversary in 2025, the project continues its longstanding collaboration with New York City Tourism + Conventions and many city buildings that also participate by lighting their facades and rooftops in sky blue — a symbolic gesture of collective memory and honor. This luminous tribute serves not only as a memorial but also as a beacon of hope and strength, reminding millions each year of the city’s resilience in the face of tragedy.

The Tribute in Light stands as a poignant annual reminder in New York City’s heart, offering a moment of reflection and unity from dusk on September 11 to the dawn of September 12, 2025.

The beams can be best seen from Lower Manhattan and many surrounding areas, especially on a clear night.This year’s event continues to honor the memory of those lost while celebrating the enduring spirit of New York City.