Ground Zero holiday hours 2026-27

Is the 9/11 Museum open on Tuesdays in November and December 2026?

Yes, on Tuesday 24 November and on every Tuesday in December 2026.

Tuesday is the Museum's usual closing day. On its special and extended hours page it lists extra Tuesday openings through 2026, and for the rest of the year that means every Tuesday in October, 24 November (the Tuesday before Thanksgiving) and every Tuesday in December. Tuesday hours match the other days: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., last entry 5:30 p.m.

For a short December trip this matters: you can see the Museum on any day of the week. The page covers 2026 only.

Is the 9/11 Museum open on Christmas Day?

In 2024 the Museum was closed on 25 December while the Memorial plaza stayed open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Museum's own holiday visiting tips say the Museum is closed on Christmas Day, the Memorial is open on Christmas "from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., as always", and the Museum reopens on 26 December with normal hours. That post dates from 13 December 2024. The Museum has not published Christmas 2026 hours yet, so check its special hours page before you go.

If you are in Lower Manhattan on Christmas Day, walk the plaza and plan the Museum for the 24th or the 26th.

Is the 9/11 Memorial open on Thanksgiving?

A past Museum notice gave the Memorial shorter hours on Thanksgiving and closed the Museum.

A past Thanksgiving notice from the Museum gave the Memorial 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Thursday, with the Museum closed. Check the official special hours page for 2026. Thanksgiving 2026 falls on 26 November. The Museum is open on Tuesday the 24th, so the days either side give you options.

For Friday the 27th, a day off for many Americans, book a morning Museum slot well ahead.

What are the One World Observatory holiday hours?

Its visit page lists 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Sunday.

The Observatory's plan-your-visit page gives daily hours and suggests about 45 minutes to an hour at the top. Check it before a holiday visit. Its advice for sunset applies doubly in winter: buy a ticket for at least an hour before sunset. In December that means a slot around 3:30 p.m., because the sun sets at about 4:30.

The Observatory says tickets carry no refunds or rain checks, with vouchers for re-entry within 14 days at its discretion in rare zero-visibility conditions. The Observatory ticket on Viator comes with free cancellation up to 24 hours before, which helps when the forecast looks grey.

How busy is Ground Zero during the holidays?

Busier than the rest of winter, especially between Christmas and New Year. Book timed Museum tickets in advance.

The Museum's holiday tips put it plainly: "on-site ticket availability is extremely limited", wait times can be longer, and you should dress warmly because the queue to enter is outside. Everyone goes through security screening, and you cannot enter before the time on your ticket.

We would pick a 9 a.m. entry on a weekday in early December over an afternoon in the week after Christmas. Prices do not change for the holidays: $36 for adults, $30 for seniors and ages 13 to 17, $24 for ages 7 to 12.

The Museum's own timed ticket, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

★ 4.7 · 1.5 hours+ · from $36

Explore the official 9/11 Museum ticket → Tour details

Do Ground Zero tours run over the holidays?

The ExperienceFirst walks run rain or shine. On days the Museum is closed, a tour with Museum entry cannot include it.

The All Access 9/11 Experience listing says the tour "operates rain or shine" and that a large part is outdoors. Its Museum entry is timed, so a date when the Museum is closed simply will not show Museum slots. Check the date on the listing before you plan the rest of the day.

For a short holiday visit, the outdoor walk alone is a good fit: the Ground Zero walking tour covers St. Paul's Chapel, the FDNY Wall, the Survivor Tree and the pools in a small group. Our winter visiting post covers clothing and daylight.

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