Former President Barack Obama, along with several other living presidents, hosted a dedication ceremony for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago on June 18, 2026. The Obama Foundation announced the event in March, and it featured performances from artists including The Roots, Christina Aguilera, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Stevie Wonder, and Marc Anthony.
The center, which cost $850 million to build, is situated on approximately 19 acres in Jackson Park. It includes a 235-foot tower housing a museum, a branch of the Chicago Public Library, and sports courts designed to function as a community center. The facility features a 45,000 square-foot multipurpose athletic space known as the Home Court, which includes a gymnasium with a regulation-size NBA court.
The center will open to the public on June 19, coinciding with Juneteenth celebrations. Notably, former President Donald Trump was not invited to the ceremony, while former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton confirmed their attendance. C-Span will provide coverage of the event, which begins at 10:15 a.m. EST. Visitors can purchase tickets for the museum, while access to the rest of the campus, including the library and playground, is free.