Barack Obama Presidential Center Opening Ceremony: From Jennifer Hudson To John Legend, Every Performance From The Star-Studded Event
by Becca Monaghan · BuzzFeedAfter years in the making, the $850 million Barack Obama Presidential Center officially opened its doors in Chicago on Thursday (18 June), marking a major milestone for both the city and the Obama legacy.
The launch celebration, held at the Center’s John Lewis Plaza, brought together everyone from politicians and activists to musicians and cultural icons for a day packed with standout performances and an emotional speech from Michelle Obama that moved the former president to tears.
Barack: You told me all those years ago that you couldn’t promise me the world, but you could promise me an interesting life. Of course, you outdid yourself and managed to give me both.
Eight years in the crucible, and not once did you melt from the heat. Not once did you let it… pic.twitter.com/E9Q7DQliUn
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) June 19, 2026
Via x.com
Located on Chicago’s South Side, the new center is designed to be much more than a museum. The campus aims to inspire people to get involved in their communities, with interactive exhibits, public programmes, and spaces dedicated to civic engagement.
Visitors can now explore the campus for themselves, while opening weekend festivities are continuing with a series of events designed to showcase everything the center has to offer.
And if yesterday's opening ceremony was anything to go by, there was no shortage of star power. From music legends to award-winning performers, here's a closer look at the celebrity performances that helped mark the occasion.