Drone display recreates the Twin Towers over New York City

A fleet of 2,977 drones illuminated a night sky in New York to honor the 9/11 victims.

In a moving public art installation titled “2,977 Lights Over New York Harbor”, each drone represented a victim of the September 11 attacks, casting a living memorial over the city’s harbor.

The project was a collaboration between artists, producers and 9/11 community members—including families, survivors and first responders—who orchestrated the lights to form the twin towers at full scale for a short but powerful show.

The performance, streamed live and captured on video, has been praised as a poignant reminder of resilience and remembrance. It also demonstrates how emerging technologies like drone light shows can powerfully convey complex stories.