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9/11 25th anniversary live updates: Families gather for ceremonies at World Trade Center, Pentagon, Shanksville

Ceremonies were held Friday in New York City, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

ByEmily Shapiro and Ivan Pereira
Last Updated: September 11, 2026, 3:13 PM EDT

Friday marks 25 years since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, which claimed the lives of 2,977 people at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Another 9,000 people have died from 9/11-related illnesses over the last 25 years.

Victims' families, first responders and politicians gathered for annual remembrance ceremonies at the memorials in downtown Manhattan, the Pentagon in Virginia, and Shanksville, as Americans across the country pause to remember and reflect.

"9/11 Tribute in Light: Live from Lower Manhattan," a one-hour ABC News multiplatform live special, premieres on Friday, Sept. 11, at 8:00 p.m. EDT across ABC, Disney+, Hulu, National Geographic, ABC Owned Television Stations livestreams and ABC News Live.

9-11 25 Years Later, America Remembers
ABC News

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
9:19 AM EDT

Former presidents attend New York City ceremony

Former President Barack Obama, former President Joe Biden, former President George W. Bush, former President Bill Clinton and their wives are at Friday morning’s New York City 9/11 ceremony.

PHOTO: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Bill Clinton, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and former President Barack Obama in New York City, September 11, 2026.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Bill Clinton, former First Lady Michelle Obama, former President Barack Obama former First Lady Jill Biden, former President Joe Biden, former President George W. Bush, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Vice President JD Vance attend the 25th anniversary ceremonies of the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City, September 11, 2026.
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PHOTO: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Bill Clinton, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and former President Barack Obama in New York City, September 11, 2026.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Bill Clinton, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and former President Barack Obama attend the 25th anniversary ceremonies of the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City, September 11, 2026.
Pool Feed

PHOTO: 25th Anniversary Of 9/11 Attacks Memorialized In New York City
Former first lady Laura Bush, Former President George W. Bush, Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Vice President JD Vance stand during a ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center at the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum on September 11, 2026 in New York City.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

PHOTO: 25th Anniversary Of 9/11 Attacks Memorialized In New York City
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Former President Bill Clinton, Former first lady Michelle Obama, and Former President Barack Obama attend a ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center at the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum on September 11, 2026 in New York City.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Other politicians in attendance include New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and former New York City Mayors Bill de Blasio, Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg. Prior to the ceremony’s start, Mamdani shook hands with Giuliani, who had publicly called on the city’s first Muslim mayor not to attend.

Vice President JD Vance is also at the lower Manhattan ceremony. President Donald Trump is instead attending the 9/11 tribute at the Pentagon in Virginia, where he’s expected to deliver remarks.

Former President Barack Obama, former President Joe Biden, former President George W. Bush and their wives are at Friday morning’s New York City 9/11 ceremony.
1:52
Former presidents attend NYC ceremony for 9/11 anniversaryFormer President Barack Obama, former President Joe Biden, former President George W. Bush and their wives are at Friday morning’s New York City 9/11 ceremony.
ABCNews.com
9:13 AM EDT

Mamdani, Giuliani shake hands

Prior to the start of the lower Manhattan ceremony, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani shook hands with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who had publicly called on the city’s first Muslim mayor not to attend.

PHOTO: Rudy Giuliani observes the memorial before a ceremony to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center at the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum on September 11, 2026, in New York City.
Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani observes the memorial before a ceremony to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center at the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum on September 11, 2026, in New York City.
Pool/Getty Images

PHOTO: 25th Anniversary Of 9/11 Attacks Memorialized In New York City
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani attends a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, in New York City, September 11, 2026.
Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters
9:03 AM EDT

2nd moment of silence marks crash at World Trade Center's South Tower

The second moment of silence was held at 9:03 a.m., marking the moment United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the World Trade Center’s North Tower.

American flags and flowers line the memorial ahead of a ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York, September 11, 2026.
David Dee Delgado/Reuters
8:51 AM EDT

Reading of the names underway at 9/11 Memorial & Museum ceremony

The annual reading of the victims’ names is now underway at the ceremony at New York City’s 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

A firefighter pauses at the memorial ahead of a ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center at the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum on September 11, 2026 in New York City.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

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