At a Glance
- What
Chairs of Remembrance, a tribute to the victims of the World Trade Center attacks.
- When
Friday, September 11, 2026. This one-day installation has ended.
- Where
The central lawn of Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan.
- Hours
Display: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; final lawn entry: 3:30 p.m. Viewing from the surrounding gravel remained available until 4 p.m.
- Admission
Open to the public; no registration was required.
- Coverage
- Explore coverage
- Details
- What to Know
- Sources
TheNakedNYC coverage
Visitors leave flowers among the chairs in TheNakedNYC's reel from Bryant Park on September 11, 2026.
What to Know
One Chair for Each Life Lost
Bryant Park's green chairs became a memorial on Friday, September 11, 2026. There were 2,753 empty seats on the central lawn, one for each person killed in the World Trade Center attacks 25 years earlier.
Visitors walked among the rows and left white carnations with handwritten notes. The tribute gave people a simple way to remember: stop beside a chair, write a few words, and leave a flower for someone who should still be here.
Flowers and Handwritten Messages
The tribute was open to everyone, with no registration required. Visitors could attach a notecard to a carnation and place both on a chair. Flowers and cards were available on a first-come basis.
The Daytime Tribute
The park's hours for the September 11 display were 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with lawn entry ending at 3:30 p.m. After that, the chairs could still be viewed from the surrounding gravel until closing.
A Pledge to Support First Responders
Bank of America sponsored Chairs of Remembrance. Its $75,000 pledge named three recipients: the FDNY Foundation, New York City Police Foundation, and Port Authority PBA Widows' and Children's Fund. An equal split would give each $25,000.
The bank had a nearby connection to the tribute. Its offices around Bryant Park housed more than 10,000 employees, the company said. Staff and the public were invited to take part together.
How the Flowers Supported the Pledge
The donation terms tied each of the first 3,000 carnations left by visitors to a $25 contribution from Bank of America. That added up to the announced $75,000 commitment.
The Organizations Named
The FDNY Foundation funds fire and life-safety education, along with training and equipment for firefighters and emergency medical personnel. Through its work, the New York City Police Foundation supports police services, public-safety programs, and relationships between the NYPD and the communities it serves.
The Evening Program
Friday's schedule included a separate, free concert in Bryant Park's Picnic Performances series. The September 11 concert listing named Jenn Colella as host, with lawn access from 6 p.m. and a 7-8:15 p.m. program. No tickets were required.
For New York Resounds, the American Symphony Orchestra announced Leon Botstein as conductor. The announced program included Aaron Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man and George Walker's Lyric for Strings. Other selections were Charles Ives' The Gong on the Hook and Ladder and Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 44 in E minor. It also listed the Adagio from Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 10, arranged by Cliff Colnot.
