Clinton, Bush, Biden attend Obama presidential center grand opening: Watch

Former U.S. Presidents Clinton, Bush, Biden and Obama arrived at the opening ceremony for the Obama Presidential Center and Library opening in Chicago's Jackson Park.

The sprawling $850 million, 19-acre civic campus is located on the South Side of Chicago in Jackson Park. Built through private donations via the Obama Foundation, the center is operated privately and functions independently of the National Archives and Records Administration system.

The site was chosen for the Obama family's deep roots in the neighborhood, both in their lives before political prominence and after President Barack Obama's meteoric rise to lead the nation.

All attended the formal dedication ceremony for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago earlier today, Thursday, June 18, 2026.

Notably, the current U.S. President Donald.J.Trump was not in attendance.

The event served as a major cultural moment for Chicago, with the Obamas focusing their remarks on themes of optimism, empathy, and the importance of community-led change.

The ceremony was a star-studded event featuring performances by artists like Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, and The Roots, as well as appearances by global figures including former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

This event concludes a decade of planning and development for the project.

The center is designed not just as a library but as an expansive 19-acre community hub in Jackson Park, featuring a museum, a branch of the Chicago Public Library, and athletic facilities

As reported, June 18 was the formal dedication while the center will officially opens to the public by tomorrow, June 19, 2026.

Additionally, Obama's prominent foreign allies like former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were also in attendance at the ceremony.