About the Lights at the Plaza
The Empire State Plaza, New York State Capitol, and Alfred E. Smith Building are among several landmarks across the state that illuminate to mark important events and 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) |
| September 14 | National Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month | Gold |
| September 15 | Myotonic Dystrophy Awareness Day | Green |
| September 16 | World PCOS Day | Teal |
| September 23 | Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness | Light Blue |
| September 29 | Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day | Gold |
| October 1 | Domestic Violence Awareness Month | Purple |
| October 13 | Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day | Pink, Teal, Green |
| October 17 | Purple Thursday for Domestic Violence | Purple |
| October 25 | World Spina Bifida Day | Teal |
| November 1 | Light the World in Teal for Alzheimer's Awareness Month | Teal |
| November 11 | "Operation Green Light" for Veterans Day | Green |
| November 20 | Transgender Day of Remembrance | Pink, White, Light Blue |
Past
| Date | Commemoration | Color(s) |
| September 11 | 9/11 Anniversary | Blue |
| September 9 | Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day | Red |
| September 2 | Labor Day | Red, White, and Blue |
| August 31 | International Overdose Awareness Day | Purple and Silver |
| August 26 | Women's Equality Day | Purple and Gold |
| August 21 | National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day | Purple |
| August 7 | Purple Heart Day | Purple |
| July 4 | Independence Day | Red, White, and Blue |
| June 30 | Pride Month | Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple |
| June 29 | Pride Month | Pink, White, and Light Blue |
| June 28 | Pride Month | Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple |
| June 27 | Pride Month | Pink, White, and Light Blue |
| June 26 | Pride Month | Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple |
| June 25 | Pride Month | Pink, White, and Light Blue |
| June 24 | Pride Month | Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple |
| June 23 | Pride Month | Pink, White, and Light Blue |
| June 19 | Juneteenth | Red, Black, and Green |
| June 15 | World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) | Purple |
| June 12 | The 126th Philippine Independence Day | Blue, Red, and Yellow |
| June 9 | Pride Month | Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple |
| June 8 | Pride Month | Pink, White, and Light Blue |
| June 7 | Pride Month | Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple |
| June 1 | Pride Month | Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple |
| May 28 | Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month | Pink and Light Blue |
| May 27 | Memorial Day | Red, White, and Blue |
| May 24 | Schizophrenia Awareness Day | Purple |
| May 19 | Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month | Teal |
| May 14 | Two-Year Anniversary of Mass Shooting at Tops Supermarket in Buffalo, NY | Orange |
| May 13 | Israel Independence Day | Blue and White |
| May 11 | Nurses Week | Blue |
| May 10 | Child Care Provider Appreciation Day | Blue, Red, and Yellow |
| May 9 | Public Service Recognition Week | Blue |
| May 8 | Lung Cancer Action Week | Turquoise |
| May 7 | Police Officers Memorial Remembrance Ceremony | Blue |
| May 6 | Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples | Red |
| May 5 | Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week | Blue |
| May 4 | Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters | Red |
| May 2 | Foster Care Month | Blue |
| May 1 | Mental Health Awareness Month | Green |
| April 24 | Denim Day (in solidarity with sexual assault survivors and victims) | Teal |
| April 22 | National Crime Victims' Rights Week | Violet, Berry, and Navy |
| April 18 | New York State Parks and Historic Sites Centennial (100th Anniversary of NYS Parks as a system) | Dark Green, and Gold |
| April 17 | National Work Zone Awareness Week | Go Orange Day | Orange |
| April 12 | National Donate Life Day | Blue and Green |
| April 11 | #SparkTheNight | World Parkinson's Day | Blue |
| April 10 | Fair Housing Month | Blue |
| April 5 | Child Abuse Prevention Month | Blue |
| April 4 | Parkinson's Disease Awareness | Orange |
| April 2 | Autism Awareness Day | Blue |
| April 1 | Month of the Military Child | Purple |
| March 31 | Transgender Day of Visibility | Pink, White, and Light Blue |
| March 29 | Vietnam Veterans Day | Green, Yellow, and Red |
| March 25 | Greek Independence Day | Blue and White |
| March 21 | World Down Syndrome Day | Blue and Yellow |
| March 19 | Sudden Unexpected Death in Childhood (SUDC) Awareness | Blue and Yellow |
| March 17 | St. Patrick's Day | Green |
| March 12 | Problem Gambling Awareness Month | Yellow |
| March 8 | International Women's Day and Women's History Month | Purple |
| March 7 | Kidney Cancer Awareness Month | Orange |
| March 6 | Red Cross Month | Red |
| February 29 | International Rare Disease Day | Green, Pink, and Blue |
| February 24 | Second Anniversary of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine | Blue and Yellow |
| February 6 | Teen Dating Violence Awareness Day | Orange |
| February 2 | National Wear Red Day | Red |
| January 27 | International Holocaust Remembrance Day | Yellow |
| January 18 | Stalking Awareness Day | Yellow |
| January 15 | Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Red, Black, and Green |
| January 11 | National Human Trafficking Awareness Day | Blue |
| January 9 | National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day | Dark Blue |