About the Lights at the Plaza
The Empire State Plaza, New York State Capitol, and Alfred E. Smith Building join landmarks across the State to illuminate for important events and impactful moments or to raise awareness.
Launched in December 2021, the LED color-changing lighting system dynamically illuminates the Plaza’s architecture with 360 exterior LED lights. This technology is part of a comprehensive lighting project to replace over 95,000 lights at the Plaza with energy-efficient LED fixtures.
Please note: The calendar is updated continually. All dates are subject to change.
Upcoming
| Date | Commemoration | Color(s) |
| October 1, 2023 | Domestic Violence Awareness Month | Purple |
| October 8, 2023 | Go Red for Dyslexia | Red |
| October 13, 2023 | Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day | Pink |
| October 19, 2023 | Domestic Violence Awareness' Purple Thursday | Purple |
| October 26, 2023 | Lights on Afterschool | Blue and Yellow |
| November 2, 2023 | Alzheimer's Awareness Month | Teal |
| November 6, 2023 | Color The World Orange for CRPS/RSD Awareness | Orange |
| November 18, 2023 | Antibiotic Awareness Week | Light Blue |
Past
| Date | Commemoration | Color(s) |
| September 24, 2023 | Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day | Gold |
| September 16, 2023 | Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month | Teal |
| September 15, 2023 | National Myotonic Dystrophy Awareness Day | Green |
| September 14, 2023 | National Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month | Gold |
| September 11, 2023 | 9/11 Anniversary | Blue |
| September 10, 2023 | World Suicide Prevention Day | Teal and Purple |
| September 4, 2023 | Labor Day | Red, White, and Blue |
| August 31, 2023 | International Overdose Awareness Day | Purple and Silver |
| August 26, 2023 | Women's Equality Day | Purple and Gold |
| August 7, 2023 | Purple Heart Day | Purple |
| July 5, 2023 | Fourth of July | Red, White, and Blue |
| July 4, 2023 | Fourth of July | Red, White, and Blue |
| June 30, 2023 | Pride Month | Pink, White, and Light Blue |
| June 29, 2023 | Pride Month | Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple |
| June 28, 2023 | Pride Month | Pink, White, and Light Blue |
| June 27, 2023 | Pride Month | Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple |
| June 26, 2023 | Pride Month | Pink, White, and Light Blue |
| June 25, 2023 | Pride Month | Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple |
| June 24, 2023 | Pride Month | Pink, White, and Light Blue |
| June 23, 2023 | Pride Month | Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple |
| June 22, 2023 | Pride Month | Pink, White, and Light Blue |
| June 21, 2023 | Pride Month | Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple |
| June 19, 2023 | Juneteenth | Black, Red, and Green |
| June 15, 2023 | World Elder Abuse Awareness Day | Purple |
| June 11, 2023 | Pride Month | Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple |
| June 10, 2023 | Pride Month | Pink, White, and Light Blue |
| June 9, 2023 | Pride Month | Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple |
| June 8, 2023 | Pride Month | Pink, White, and Light Blue |
| June 7, 2023 | Pride Month | Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple |
| June 3, 2023 | 75 Years of Israel's Independence | Blue and White - View |
| June 2, 2023 | National Gun Violence Awareness Day | Orange - View |
| June 1, 2023 | Pride Month | Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple - View |
| May 29, 2023 | Memorial Day | Red, White, and Blue - View |
| May 25, 2023 | Foster Care Month | Blue |
| May 14, 2023 | One-Year Anniversary of the Buffalo Tops Supermarket Shooting | Orange - View |
| May 12, 2023 | National Child Care Provider Appreciation Day & Early Childhood Educator Week | Red, Yellow, and Blue - View |
| May 10, 2023 | Public Service Recognition Week | Dark Blue - View |
| May 9, 2023 | NYS Annual Police Officers Memorial Remembrance Ceremony | Blue - View |
| May 7, 2023 | International Firefighters Day | Red - View |
| May 6, 2023 | National Arthritis Awareness Month | Green - View |
| May 2, 2023 | Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week | Blue - View |
| April 27, 2023 | Severe Weather Awareness Week | Orange and Aqua - View |
| April 26, 2023 | Denim Day | Teal - View |
| April 25, 2023 | Israel Independence Day | Blue and White - View |
| April 24, 2023 | National Crime Victims' Rights Week | Blue, Green, and Purple - View |
| April 19, 2023 | Go Orange Day & National Work Zone Awareness Week | Orange - View |
| April 14, 2023 | Donate Life Day & Month | Blue and Green - View |
| April 3, 2023 | Child Abuse Prevention Month | Blue - View |
| April 2, 2023 | Month of the Military Child | Purple - View |
| April 1, 2023 | Sexual Assault Awareness Month | Teal - View |
| March 31, 2023 | International Transgender Day of Visibility | Pink, White, and Light Blue - View |
| March 29, 2023 | Vietnam Veterans Day | Green, Red, and Yellow - View |
| March 25, 2023 | Greek Independence Day | Blue and White - View |
| March 22, 2023 | Red Cross Giving Day | Red - View |
| March 12, 2023 | Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month | Blue - View |
| March 1, 2023 | Women's History Month | Purple - View |
| February 28, 2023 | International Rare Disease Day | Blue, Green, and Pink - View |
| February 24, 2023 | First Anniversary of Russian Invasion of Ukraine | Blue and Yellow - View |
| February 3, 2023 | National Wear Red Day | Red - View |
| January 26-27, 2023 | International Holocaust Remembrance Day | Yellow - View |
| January 16, 2023 | Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Black, Green, and Red - View |
