The grand opening of former President Barack Obama's presidential center on Chicago's South Side will feature a lineup of award-winning musicians and performers, the Obama Foundation announced Tuesday. The event, set for Thursday, marks the culmination of a long-delayed and costly project.
Valerie Jarrett, the foundation's CEO, described the ceremony as “unlike any other — filled with music, performances, and hope.” She added that the event “will reflect a spirit of inspiration and joy, with a big boost from the performers who are sharing their talent with us.”
The roster includes Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Christina Aguilera, John Legend, The Roots, Common, Jennifer Hudson, Marc Anthony, Tems, and U2's Bono and The Edge. Actress Marsai Martin, known for her role on “Black-ish,” will also participate. The Illinois National Guard's Color Guard is scheduled to perform during the opening ceremony.
The event will be livestreamed starting at 11 a.m. local time (noon EDT) on the foundation's social media channels. Both Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama are slated to deliver speeches at the dedication, ahead of the library's public opening on June 19.
In a video message shared in March, Obama thanked residents of Chicago's South Side, where the center is located. “Thank you for raising Michelle, for welcoming me as one of your own and for lifting up our family every step of the way,” he said. “And thank you for embracing this presidential center, not as something of mine, but of yours. Hope is coming home, and it wouldn't have happened without all of you.”
During a recent Instagram tour, Obama highlighted his “favorite exhibit” — a collection of letters he received from Americans during his presidency. “Some of the letters make me cry still,” he said.
The $850 million project has been the most expensive and longest-delayed presidential library in history. Originally slated to open in spring 2026, the center includes a museum, Obama Foundation offices, a Chicago Public Library branch, and a playground.
The opening comes amid ongoing political debates over Obama's legacy, including comparisons to former President Donald Trump's foreign policy moves. Recent discussions have touched on the Iran nuclear deal — Obama's signature accord, which Trump withdrew from — and the future of the Affordable Care Act, another Obama-era achievement now facing enrollment challenges.
Political observers note that the center's opening could energize Democratic voters ahead of upcoming elections, with some drawing parallels to how Obama's coalition-building strategies are being adapted by figures like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The event also serves as a cultural touchstone, drawing A-list talent to a community that Obama has long called home.
