Sep21
UN General AssemblyMonday
UN General Assembly
World leaders, motorcades, and extensive street closures around UN headquarters.
NYC DOT · 2026 Season
NYC Gridlock Alert Days
The dates when New York City expects the heaviest traffic of the year. NYC DOT has designated 20 alert days for 2026, covering the UN General Assembly in September and the holiday season through December. Drivers are advised to use mass transit, walking, or cycling.
20 alert days in 2026Sep 21 – Dec 23, 2026
The full schedule
Filter by what's driving the congestion.
Sep22
Sep23
Sep24
Sep25
Nov18
Holiday SeasonWednesday
Holiday season traffic
Start of the holiday shopping and tourism season in Midtown.
Nov19
Nov24
ThanksgivingTuesday
Thanksgiving travel
Tuesday before Thanksgiving — one of the heaviest outbound travel days of the year.
Dec2
Dec3
Dec4
Dec8
Dec9
Dec10
Dec11
Dec15
Dec16
Dec17
Dec18
Dec23
Holiday SeasonWednesday
Pre-Christmas travel
Last-minute shopping and holiday travel before Christmas.
What is a Gridlock Alert Day?
A Gridlock Alert Day is a date designated by the NYC Department of Transportation when traffic is forecast to be exceptionally heavy — the United Nations General Assembly in September, the days around Thanksgiving, and the December holiday season. DOT monitors traffic and adjusts signals in real time on these dates.
It's not a law or a restriction — it's a heads-up. The city recommends leaving the car at home and using transit, walking, or biking instead.
If you do drive, plan for significant delays, particularly in and around Midtown Manhattan.
What drives the gridlock
UN General Assembly
World leaders and motorcades lock down the East Side around the UN headquarters.
Impacted areas
- Midtown East / Turtle Bay
- First & Second Avenues
- 42nd–48th Streets near the UN
- Queens-Midtown Tunnel
Thanksgiving
Holiday travel and Macy's parade setup congest the West Side.
Impacted areas
- Upper West Side (parade route)
- Central Park West
- Sixth Avenue
- Midtown river crossings
Holiday Season
Shoppers, tourists, and tree-lighting crowds pack Midtown through December.
Impacted areas
- Fifth Avenue
- Rockefeller Center
- Herald Square / 34th Street
- Times Square
Getting around on alert days
Recommended alternatives to driving.
Take transit
Subways, buses, commuter rail, and ferries bypass street traffic entirely and are usually the fastest way into and across Manhattan on alert days.
Walk or bike
For trips under roughly two miles, walking or a Citi Bike is often faster than driving and avoids rideshare surge pricing. A protected bike lane runs through the First Avenue tunnel past the UN.
Avoid the Manhattan core
Congestion concentrates in Midtown — around the UN on the East Side in September, and along Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, and Herald Square through December. Route around it where possible.
Archive
Past Gridlock Alert Days that NYC DOT no longer lists on its current page. Kept here for reference — always check the official source for the dates in effect today.
8 archived days
2026
- Jun 13World CupBrazil vs Morocco — Group stageSaturday · 6:00 PM ET
- Jun 16World CupFrance vs Senegal — Group stageTuesday · 3:00 PM ET
- Jun 22World CupNorway vs Senegal — Group stageMonday · 8:00 PM ET
- Jun 25World CupEcuador vs Germany — Group stageThursday · 4:00 PM ET
- Jun 27World CupPanama vs England — Group stageSaturday · 5:00 PM ET
- Jun 30World CupRound of 32Tuesday · 5:00 PM ET
- Jul 5World CupRound of 16Sunday · 4:00 PM ET
- Jul 19World CupFIFA World Cup FinalSunday · 3:00 PM ET