Barack Obama and Michelle Obama may not be in the White House anymore, but that isn’t stopping them from giving something meaningful back to Chicago.
Their long-awaited Obama Presidential Center is finally on track to open its doors to the public next year. After more than a decade of planning, delays, and anticipation, the finish line is seemingly finally in sight – and fans are already getting emotional about what the center represents for both the Obamas and the city of Chicago. Keep reading for all the details…
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The Obama Presidential Center Is Finally Ready To Open Its Doors In 2026
After 10 years in development, the Obama Presidential Center – located in Jackson Park on Chicago's South Side – is set to open in June 2026. The community-focused campus was originally slated to open back in 2021, so this has very much been a marathon rather than a sprint.
The $800M center – yes, you read that number right! – is designed to be much more than a traditional presidential library. Visitors can expect a 225-foot museum tower, a branch of the Chicago Public Library, recording studios, and classrooms dedicated to educational programming and community events. The goal is to create a lively, welcoming space for people of all ages.
What Has Barack Obama Said About The Center?
The former POTUS announced the news on X on December 10th, telling his 118.7M followers: "Chicago is where Michelle was raised, where I got my start as an organizer, and where we built a family together. When the Obama Presidential Center opens next June, it will be our way to give back to a city that has given us so much."
The father-of-two also expanded on that vision while speaking at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, explaining: "We want to create a campus, a place where the public gathers for a range of things that puts them face-to-face with each other and gets them to meet and be in dialogue and conversation and exposed to new ideas with each other."
What Has Michelle Obama Said About The Obama Presidential Center?
The IMO podcast host has previously spoken about what the center means to her, particularly in honoring the legacy of Hadiya Pendleton, the Chicago teenager who was tragically killed in 2013. In a message shared through the Obama Foundation, she reflected on the hope she and Barack have for the space and the young people it's meant to inspire…
"I can't help but hope that, through the Obama Presidential Center, Barack and I can help young people just like Hadiya find their own place in the world, and build lives worthy of their dreams," she wrote.
Looking ahead to the opening, which is now just months away, Michelle added: "We can't wait for you to see the Atrium, and the entire Center, when we open."
Chicago is where Michelle was raised, where I got my start as an organizer, and where we built a family together. When the Obama Presidential Center opens next June, it will be our way to give back to a city that has given us so much. pic.twitter.com/DpIUDtyMpP
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 10, 2025
Fan Comments
As expected, the news has been very well received by their fans. "Wow what a wonderful gift," gushed one fan in the comment section of his post on X.
"The Obama Presidential Center looks like it will be amazing!" exclaimed a second, as a third wrote: "A beautiful way to honor the city that raised you. The Center will stand as a symbol of hope and service, reflecting everything you've worked for. Chicago will forever be proud of you."
"My Chicago," raved a fourth, followed by the red heart emoji. "A beautiful tribute to a city that shaped so much. The Center will carry that legacy forward. Chicago deserves this," praised a fifth.
