New York Harbor lit up Wednesday night as nearly 3,000 drones took to the sky in a moving tribute to the people killed in the September 11 attacks.Titled “2,977 Lights Over New York Harbor,” the public art display used 2,977 lights – one for each person who died in the attacks. The tribute took place on September 9, just ahead of the 25th anniversary of 9/11.Videos shared online show the lights slowly rising above the harbor before coming together to form the outline of the Twin Towers. The scale of the display made the familiar skyline appear in the night sky once again, creating an emotional moment for those watching from Lower Manhattan and nearby areas.One video shared by Brandon Tatum described the display as a tribute featuring one drone for every life lost on 9/11, calling it a “beautiful tribute” to the victims.The installation was developed with members of the 9/11 community, including victims’ family members, survivors and first responders, according to ABC7. Organizers described the free event as a moment for remembrance, reflection and unity before the anniversary observance.A number of people connected to the 9/11 community helped shape the project. They included Brenda Berkman, an FDNY first responder and artist; Tim Brown, who served as an FDNY first responder in 1993 and again in 2001; Terry Strada, president of 9/11 Families United and widow of Tom Strada; Jim Smith, whose wife, NYPD Officer Moira Smith, died in the attacks; and Genevieve Siller, daughter of Stephen Siller.The drone display originated from Governors Island and appeared alongside the annual Tribute in Light, adding another layer to an already familiar part of New York’s 9/11 remembrance.Clips of the display quickly began circulating on X, with many viewers describing the sight as a powerful way to remember the 2,977 lives lost.
The Tribute in Light is tested over the skyline of lower Manhattan, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Jersey City, NJ. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
One caption read: “Tonight, 2,977 lights rose above New York Harbor, representing every person killed in the September 11 attacks.”Another simply described it as a “powerful 9/11 Tribute Drone Show from Lower Manhattan.”Twenty-five years on, the tribute offered a striking reminder that behind the numbers are individual lives, families and stories that continue to be remembered.