Jon Stewart and Pete Davidson are bringing an all star comedy lineup to Madison Square Garden on September 10 for a one night benefit marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
NYC Still Rising After 25 Years: A 9/11 Charities Comedy Benefit will feature Stewart, Davidson, Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, Aziz Ansari, Nikki Glaser, Ronny Chieng, Shane Gillis, Josh Johnson and Cipha Sounds, with additional special guests expected.
The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. According to the venue, proceeds from the benefit will support 9/11 charities.
A Night of Comedy With a Deeper Purpose
The September 10 event is being presented as more than a traditional stand-up show.
It comes one day before the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks and brings together some of the biggest names in American comedy to honor New York City and raise money for organizations connected to the tragedy.
The event follows the original NYC Still Rising After 20 Years: A Comedy Celebration, which took place at Madison Square Garden in 2021 for the 20th anniversary.
Stewart and Davidson are returning as the driving forces behind the second edition of the benefit.
Pete Davidson’s Personal Connection to 9/11
For Davidson, the event carries a particularly personal meaning.
His father, Scott Davidson, was an FDNY firefighter who died while responding to the September 11 attacks.
Davidson was only 7 years old at the time.
That connection has remained an important part of his public story and has made his involvement in the benefit especially significant as the 25th anniversary approaches.
Stewart also has a long history of supporting 9/11 first responders and advocating for federal support for people affected by the attacks.
A Packed Comedy Lineup
The event brings together an unusually large collection of recognizable comedy names for a single night.
The current lineup includes:
- Jon Stewart
- Pete Davidson
- Dave Chappelle
- Bill Burr
- Aziz Ansari
- Nikki Glaser
- Ronny Chieng
- Shane Gillis
- Josh Johnson
- Cipha Sounds
The official Madison Square Garden listing also notes that special guests will appear and that the lineup is subject to change.
The combination of established comedy veterans, current stand-up stars and New York personalities gives the event a broad appeal beyond the traditional comedy audience.
Madison Square Garden Becomes the Setting
Madison Square Garden has a long association with major New York entertainment events, making it a fitting venue for the benefit.
The Garden is located at 4 Pennsylvania Plaza in Manhattan and regularly hosts major concerts, sporting events and comedy productions.
For the September 10 benefit, however, the venue will become the setting for an event centered on New York City’s resilience and the lasting impact of September 11.
The show begins at 7 p.m., with doors scheduled to open at 5:30 p.m.
The Show Will Be Phone Free
One of the most unusual details surrounding the event is its strict phone free policy.
Madison Square Garden says attendees will not be permitted to use cellphones, cameras, tablets, laptops, smartwatches or Bluetooth enabled headphones during the performance.
Devices will be placed inside individual Yondr pouches when guests arrive. Attendees will keep possession of the secured pouches and can access their devices at designated unlocking stations in the lobby.
Anyone caught using a prohibited device during the performance can be escorted from the venue.
The policy means much of the comedy will remain inside the arena rather than immediately appearing on social media through audience recordings.
Returning to the Garden Five Years Later
The upcoming benefit is a follow up to the 2021 event that Stewart and Davidson organized for the 20th anniversary of September 11.
That first show featured a similarly star studded lineup, including Chappelle, Burr, Davidson and Stewart along with other major comedians.
The 2026 edition expands the occasion around the 25th anniversary while maintaining the central idea of using comedy to bring New Yorkers and audiences together in support of 9/11 charities.
Why the 25th Anniversary Matters
The September 11 attacks occurred on September 11, 2001, making 2026 the 25th anniversary.
That milestone is expected to bring renewed attention to the people who died, first responders who served at the World Trade Center site and the families and communities affected by the attacks.
Holding the comedy benefit on September 10 places the event directly ahead of the anniversary.
Rather than presenting a conventional remembrance ceremony, Stewart and Davidson are using comedy as the centerpiece of a charitable gathering.
A Major New York Entertainment Event
The benefit also stands out because of the number of major comedians appearing on one bill.
Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, Nikki Glaser, Aziz Ansari, Pete Davidson and Jon Stewart each have significant followings, while Shane Gillis, Ronny Chieng and Josh Johnson bring additional momentum from the current comedy scene.
That makes the Madison Square Garden event both a charity gathering and one of the more notable comedy events on New York City’s September calendar.
What to Expect on September 10
NYC Still Rising After 25 Years: A 9/11 Charities Comedy Benefit is scheduled for Thursday, September 10, at Madison Square Garden.
The event begins at 7 p.m. and is currently scheduled to feature a long list of major comedy names, with additional guests possible before showtime. Proceeds will benefit 9/11 charities.
With the 25th anniversary approaching, the night is positioned as a distinctly New York event that combines comedy, celebrity appearances and charitable giving while remembering a defining moment in the city’s history.