The Obama Presidential Center Opens on Chicago's South Side
The Obama Presidential Center, a museum and public campus located on Chicago's South Side, officially opened on Thursday, June 18, 2026, following years of construction. The grand opening ceremony featured musical performances by multiple artists and speeches by former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Opening Ceremony
The ceremony took place at the John Lewis Plaza on Thursday morning at 11 a.m. CT. The event was live-streamed on the Obama Foundation's website, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook accounts.
The center opens to the public on Friday, June 19.
Musical Performances
The ceremony included performances by the following artists:
Artist Performance The Roots Opened the ceremony Jennifer Hudson Sang the national anthem Common Performed John Legend Covered Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll All Be Free" Christina Aguilera Sang a cover of Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" Marc Anthony Performed his 2013 hit "Vivir Mi Vida" Tems Performed her hit "Me & U" Eddie Vedder Performed an original song titled "Better Believe" with Guitars Over Guns Bruce Springsteen Performed "Land of Hope and Dreams" U2 members Bono and The Edge Performed "City of Blinding Lights" Stevie Wonder Closed the performances with "All I Do" and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)"Notable Attendees
The event was attended by current and former political leaders, entertainment figures, and athletes, including:
Political figures: Former U.S. Presidents Joe Biden, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton; former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; former Vice President Kamala Harris; U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth; U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi; Illinois Governor JB Pritzker; Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson; former Mayors Rahm Emanuel and Lori Lightfoot; California Governor Gavin Newsom; Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro; former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; former German Chancellor Angela Merkel; and former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
Entertainment figures: Jon Batiste, Ken Burns, Tom Hanks, Oprah Winfrey, George Lucas, Conan O'Brien, Tyler Perry, and Steven Spielberg.
Athletes: Isiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade, Billie Jean King, Kevin Warren, and Tom Ricketts.
Others: Former U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice, civil rights leader Al Sharpton, and members of the Obama White House and campaign staff.
Speeches
Michelle Obama listed achievements of the Obama administration, including "ending a war," "winning a peace prize," and "listening to science." She also referenced "the lies about your birthright," a statement that multiple sources noted referred to the "birther" conspiracy theory about Barack Obama's birthplace promoted by President Donald Trump.
Barack Obama praised bipartisan values and emphasized the peaceful transfer of power, fair elections, and allegiance to the Constitution rather than any president or party. He referenced former political opponents John McCain and Mitt Romney, stating that values like honesty, integrity, and compassion are American, not partisan. Obama also commented on foreign policy, advocating for international cooperation over domination.
"Values like honesty, integrity, and compassion are American, not partisan." — Barack Obama
Foundation Statement
Valerie Jarrett, CEO of The Obama Foundation, said in a press release:
"This Grand Opening ceremony will be unlike any other — filled with music, performances, and hope. The Grand Opening Ceremony will reflect a spirit of inspiration and joy, with a big boost from the performers who are sharing their talent with us. We hope to inspire people everywhere to believe in their power to bring change home."
Public Access
Throughout the opening weekend, the center will offer performances, art activities, gardening programs, and more.
Museum tickets for the opening weekend are sold out, but the rest of the campus is free and open to the public.
Background
The Obama Presidential Center is located where the Obamas first met. The ceremony occurred four days after a UFC event at the White House where a competitor made remarks about Michelle Obama.