Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is set to be honored in Lower Manhattan, where global geopolitics will meet local remembrance under the chandeliers of a waterfront ballroom.
The Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center site has named Zelenskyy its 2026 "Beacon of Hope" honoree and is planning a black-tie fundraising dinner in Lower Manhattan on Sept. 26, organizers say. The award is part of the shrine's annual fundraising program and folds a high-profile foreign leader into one of downtown's most symbolic post-9/11 rebuild stories.
According to the New York Post, the invitation describes Zelenskyy as "a most worthy recipient who illuminated the path forward in times of great challenge." The Post reports that the Beacon of Hope award is scheduled to be presented at a formal dinner at Cipriani South Street and that the evening is being framed as a major fundraiser for the shrine.
About the shrine
Saint Nicholas was the only house of worship destroyed on Sept. 11, 2001. The parish and National Shrine have since been rebuilt and reopened; they now stand just off the World Trade Center memorial plaza, where tourists, office workers and parishioners all pass through the same tight footprint of downtown real estate.
The shrine's official site describes the Beacon of Hope program as an annual fundraising effort that supports the church's ministries and public mission. It also lists visiting hours and event information on its Beacon of Hope page, positioning the shrine as both a working parish and a national memorial.
Dinner details and tickets
Organizers have scheduled the gala for Saturday, Sept. 26 at Casa Cipriani in Lower Manhattan. Casa Cipriani lists its address as 10 South Street, right on the waterfront.
Community coverage and the organizers' notice describe individual seats starting at $1,500, with sponsorship packages climbing significantly higher. RSVP instructions and purchase links are laid out in the event announcement, which is being used to drive the fundraising side of the evening.
Attendance and security
The New York Post reported that "sources said" Zelenskyy is expected to attend the Sept. 26 gala, although some community outlets have noted that the public announcement itself stops short of explicitly confirming his presence.
Andrew Veniopoulos, identified in event materials as the shrine's executive director, told the Post that organizers want to "honor President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people for their fight and to show solidarity." He also said that additional security would be expected for any event involving a foreign head of state, a reality that downtown residents know all too well whenever dignitaries roll through.
Why it matters
Bringing Zelenskyy into a Ground Zero tribute ties the shrine's message of resilience to a wartime leader who has been under the global spotlight since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. The Beacon of Hope dinner follows last year's inaugural gala, which honored 9/11 first responders and raised funds for the shrine, and it shows how the event blends memorial themes, fundraising goals and diplomatic symbolism in a single night.
What to know now
Organizers are asking prospective guests to confirm attendance and ticket details directly with the shrine. The event notice spells out sponsorship tiers, RSVP deadlines and purchase options.
For the official listing and ticket information, organizers point guests to the Saint Nicholas Beacon of Hope page and the shrine's event announcement.
