Obama Presidential Library Opens Juneteenth After Years of Delays

The obama presidential library will officially open on Friday, Juneteenth, after years of construction and delays. The Obama Foundation will begin the grand opening ceremony Thursday at 11 a.m. at the center’s John Lewis Plaza, with a live stream on the foundation’s TikTok, YouTube and Facebook accounts.

Valerie Jarrett, chief executive of The Obama Foundation, said the opening celebration will bring together performers including Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, The Roots, Bono and The Edge from U2. Christina Aguilera, Eddie Vedder, John Legend, Marc Anthony, Tems, Common and Marsai Martin are also listed.

John Lewis Plaza Opening

The Thursday ceremony is the center’s public kickoff before the official opening on Friday. Jarrett said, “This Grand Opening ceremony will be unlike any other — filled with music, performances, and hope,” and added that, “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.”

The celebration marks the start of a full opening weekend built around the new campus in Chicago. Other events will run throughout the weekend, including performances, art activities, gardening programs and more.

Sold-Out Museum Tickets

Museum tickets for opening weekend are sold out, but the rest of the campus is free and accessible to the general public. That gives visitors a clear split: museum access is limited, while the broader campus remains open during the launch weekend.

Jarrett said, “We hope to inspire people everywhere to believe in their power to bring change home.” For people planning to visit, the practical option is the campus itself, since the sold-out museum will not be available for opening-weekend entry.