9/11 Tribute in Light Special: ABC and Hulu's Live 25th Anniversary Broadcast
ABC aired its first live 9/11 Tribute in Light special for the 25th anniversary, with Lainey Wilson, Cyndi Lauper and John Ondrasik. Hosts and where it aired.
For the first time, ABC broadcast New York's annual Sept. 11 commemoration live, marking 25 years since the 2001 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pa.
The broadcast
| Title | 9/11 Tribute in Light: Live From Lower Manhattan |
| When | Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, one hour |
| Where | ABC, Disney+, Hulu, National Geographic, ABC-owned stations, ABC News Live and livestreams |
| Partner | 9/11 Memorial & Museum |
| Hosts | David Muir, Robin Roberts and Diane Sawyer, with WABC's Linsey Davis, Sade Baderinwa and Mike Marza |
Performers
The performers sang live from the base of the Tribute in Light's twin beams:
- Lainey Wilson: "I'm honored to lend my voice to this moment, and to recognize the first responders, families, and communities whose service and sacrifice continue to inspire us 25 years later."
- Cyndi Lauper, added to the lineup on Sept. 8: "It's hard to believe that it's been 25 years. Like so many of us, I feel like it was just yesterday."
- John Ondrasik (Five for Fighting) performed "Superman (It's Not Easy)," released two weeks before the attacks. It peaked at No. 14 on the Hot 100 that December and became closely associated with their aftermath; Ondrasik also sang it at the Concert for New York City at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2001.
Watching on Hulu
Hulu carried the special live. Its ad-supported plan costs $11.99 a month and the ad-free Hulu Premium plan $18.99 a month, which also allows downloads for offline viewing.
The Tribute in Light
The installation has lit the New York skyline every Sept. 11 since 2002: two white beams reaching four miles into the sky in the shape of the Twin Towers, visible within 60 miles of Lower Manhattan.
Sources · Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter, September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
When did the 9/11 Tribute in Light special air?
Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, live for one hour.
Where could you watch it?
On ABC, Disney+, Hulu, National Geographic, ABC-owned stations, ABC News Live and livestreams.
Who performed?
Lainey Wilson, Cyndi Lauper and Five for Fighting's John Ondrasik, live from the base of the Tribute in Light.
Who hosted?
David Muir, Robin Roberts and Diane Sawyer, with WABC anchors Linsey Davis, Sade Baderinwa and Mike Marza.
