After 10 years in the making, the Obama Presidential Center has officially opened its doors to the general public with a host of activities celebrating community, creativity, joy and programs designed to engage, educate, entertain and inform. Early visitors to the center received a surprise greeting from former President and First Lady, Barack and Michelle Obama. The President and Mrs. Obama later met with a group of visiting students, staff and parents from nearby Ray Elementary School and read the book “Where the Wild Things Are.” to them in the brand new Chicago Public Library branch located at the center.
Grand Opening Weekend programs are free, open to the public and feature live performances, family-friendly activities, food, art, and storytelling across the campus. While the not formally ticketed, the Center does request that you make reservations for admission to the campus. Guests can reserve up to nine (9) RSVP spots per transaction. Tickets ARE required to get into the museum. Admission is discounted for Illinois residents at $26 for adults and $15 for kids. Illinoisans can visit the museum for free on Tuesdays. However, all museum tickets are sold out until November and December tickets will be released soon.
Important Information about Grand Opening Weekend:
- Museum tickets are sold out for the Grand Opening Weekend. Plan your Museum visit (Opens in a new tab) for a future date.
- The Presidential Center Campus is expected to be very active during Grand Opening Weekend. You may experience wait times, so please leave plenty of time to explore.
- Food and beverage will be available for sale at Tafari’s Kitchen and the Cafe as well as the Plaza, Fruit & Vegetable Garden Picnic Area, and Home Court Picnic Area
Obama Presidential Campus Hours:
- Friday, June 19, 2026: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | see the full event schedule here
- Saturday, June 20, 2026: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | see the full event schedule here
- Sunday, June 21, 2026: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | see the full event schedule here
