Obama Presidential Center Opening and Events

The Obama Foundation will host a free watch party at the Midway Plaisance to mark the inaugurational opening of the Obama Presidential Center on June 18. The grand opening ceremony is set for 11 a.m. This is an exclusive invite-only event featuring performances from renowned global artists and storytelling sessions about the Foundation’s mission to motivate, empower, and connect community change-makers.

If you wish to participate in the festivities, you can attend the watch party at the Midway, located just west of the presidential center. The event will be situated on the Midway Plaisance and the University of Chicago campus, dated June 2, 2025.

Request forms for up to four free watch party tickets are accessible at obama.org/grandopening.

Individuals seeking tickets must apply by May 26; however, availability is limited, parking is not provided, and submitting an application does not ensure ticket allocation. Additionally, the center will livestream the inaugural ceremony at obama.org.

The watch party promises a relaxing “picnic-style atmosphere” with entry starting at 9 a.m. Attendees can enjoy live music, an art market, local food vendors, and a selection of unique merchandise.

The museum’s tickets, priced at $30 for adults and $23 for children from outside Illinois, and $26 and $15 for Illinois residents, are currently sold out for the official opening weekend coinciding with Juneteenth. As the summer progresses, ticket availability remains limited, but some tickets will be offered sporadically from August 10 onwards. Locals have also shown strong interest in the free admission on Illinois Free Days, with slots booked through November.

An all-encompassing 90-minute campus experience tour is available for $75 to $95, featuring art, architecture, and landscape designs, along with a museum entry and priority line access. Yet, these too are booked solidly until September 20.

Museum tickets provide timed entry, but other campus facilities – the Chicago Public Library branch, the playground, the athletic center, the surrounding park, and the Sky Room – are freely accessible.

This announcement follows a series of anticipated updates concerning the Obama center’s debut, which includes new artworks, the final designations of campus spaces, and previews of the Oval Office replica.