Twenty-five years after the September 11 terrorist attacks, Baltimore-area firefighters, first responders, families and community members will come together to make a simple but powerful promise: We will never forget.

The Baltimore 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb will take place Saturday, September 5, 2026, at M&T Bank Stadium. The annual event honors the firefighters and other first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice on September 11, 2001.

Participants will climb flights of stairs in the stadium stands equivalent to 110 stories—the same number of floors as the World Trade Center towers. Each climber, whether wearing firefighter turnout gear, station gear or workout attire, will carry the photograph of a firefighter who lost their life on September 11.

The photograph transforms the climb into something deeply personal. Participants are not simply climbing stairs; each is climbing in remembrance of an individual who answered the call that morning and did not return home.

For those participating, every step has meaning. Every flight climbed represents courage, sacrifice and service.

The event welcomes more than firefighters. Police officers, EMTs, military members, families and members of the general public are invited to participate.

You do not have to be the fastest or the strongest. You simply have to be willing to climb with purpose.

Participants are encouraged to bring their families, colleagues and friends and help fill M&T Bank Stadium with people committed to ensuring that the sacrifices of September 11 are remembered by future generations.

A Baltimore Tradition of Remembrance

The Baltimore 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb has brought together people who value and support first responders for approximately 15 years, helping establish Baltimore as an important participant in the national stair-climb tradition.

The event supports the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, which organizes 9/11 Memorial Stair Climbs across the country. The climbs provide a way for communities to honor fallen firefighters while supporting the Foundation's mission and programs.

This year's climb takes on additional significance as the nation commemorates the 25th anniversary of September 11.

According to Kacey Merrill of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, organizers are already seeing a strong response for this year's milestone Baltimore event.

Previously held at the Hilton Hotel, the Baltimore climb will take place this year at M&T Bank Stadium, providing participants with an opportunity to commemorate the anniversary on a larger scale.

Climbing With Purpose

The Memorial Stair Climb is not a race. Participants may climb at their own pace, individually or as part of a team.

The experience of carrying the photograph of a fallen firefighter throughout the climb reinforces the purpose behind every step. For firefighters and other first responders, the climb provides an opportunity to remember colleagues who answered the call without knowing what awaited them and to recognize the men and women who continue that tradition of service today.

For members of the public, it is an opportunity to stand beside first responders and demonstrate that their courage and sacrifices have not been forgotten.

Twenty-five years later, remembering September 11 means more than remembering what happened. It also means remembering how people responded—with courage, service, compassion and an extraordinary willingness to help one another.

On September 5, Baltimore has an opportunity to honor that legacy—and the individuals behind it—one step at a time.

Event Information

Baltimore 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb
Saturday, September 5, 2026
M&T Bank Stadium
1101 Russell Street
Baltimore, MD

Registration/Check-in: 7:30 a.m.
Opening Ceremony: 8:30 a.m.
Climb Begins: 9:00 a.m.

Post-Climb Gathering

Kacey Merrill of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and BCFD Local 734 invite all climbers to join both organizations following the climb for Mission BBQ and prizes.

Local 734 Hall – Gameday Firehouse
1202 Ridgely Street
Baltimore, MD

Registration is $35, and registered participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt. One hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and its work supporting families impacted by September 11.

Parking instructions and additional event information are available through the event website.

Online Registration: Baltimore 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb
Visit: https://nfff.akaraisin.com/ui/baltimore26/about?utm_source=chatgpt.com

About the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

The mission of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is to honor America's fallen fire heroes; support their families, colleagues and organizations; and work to reduce preventable firefighter deaths and injuries.