NOTE: A live stream of the festivities will appear in the player above until 1 p.m.
Chicago looked like Hollywood as stars came out in droves for the grand opening ceremony of the Obama Presidential Center Thursday.
Celebrities, political figures, dignitaries and more were seen on Chicago’s South Side, in the stands and on the stage, as they celebrated the long-awaited debut of former president Barack Obama’s presidential center.
US comedians Stephen Colbert (L) and Conan O’Brien (R) speak during the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP via Getty Images) US singersongwriter Jennifer Hudson performs during opening day of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP via Getty Images) CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 18: Eddie Vedder performs with Guitars Over Guns during the dedication ceremony for the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in John Lewis Plaza on June 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Barack Obama served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017 and was the first African American to hold the office. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) US singer-songwriter John Legend and his wife US model Chrissy Teigen arrive at the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images) CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 18: Steven Spielberg (L) and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) attend the dedication ceremony for the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in John Lewis Plaza on June 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Barack Obama served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017 and was the first African American to hold the office. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) US basketball player Dwyane Wade arrives at the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP via Getty Images) Sasha Obama, daughter of former US President Barack Obama, right, and Malia Obama, daughter of former US President Barack Obama, arrive for the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in the Jackson Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, US, on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Intended as a celebration of the progress embodied by the nation’s first Black leader, its Juneteenth unveiling comes at a time when his agenda – and broader diversity initiatives – are wilting from a decade of concerted attack. Photographer: Talia Sprague/Bloomberg via Getty Images CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 18: Christina Aguilera performs during the dedication ceremony for the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in John Lewis Plaza on June 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Barack Obama served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017 and was the first African American to hold the office. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 18: David Letterman attends the dedication ceremony for the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in John Lewis Plaza on June 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Barack Obama served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017 and was the first African American tohold the office. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (L/R) US writer Derek Blasberg, US television personality Oprah Winfrey and US model Karlie Kloss pose for a selfie at the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP via Getty Images) CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 18: Mark Hamill (R) and his wife Marilou York pose for a photo ahead of the dedication ceremony for the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in John Lewis Plaza on June 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Barack Obama served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017 and was the first African American to hold the office. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Ayo Dosunmu #13 of the Minnesota Timberwolves arrives during the opening day of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP via Getty Images) CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 18: LL Cool J attends the dedication ceremony for the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in John Lewis Plaza on June 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Barack Obama served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017 and was the first African American to hold the office. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/Getty Images) Former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel (C) attends the opening day of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images) Actress Quinta Brunson arrives for the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in the Jackson Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, US, on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Intended as a celebration of the progress embodied by the nation’s first Black leader, its Juneteenth unveiling comes at a time when his agenda – and broader diversity initiatives – are wilting from a decade of concerted attack. Photographer: Talia Sprague/Bloomberg via Getty Images CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 18: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (C) attends the dedication ceremony for the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in John Lewis Plaza on June 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Barack Obama served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017 and was the first African American to hold the office. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 18: George Lucas attends the dedication ceremony for the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in John Lewis Plaza on June 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Barack Obama served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017 and was the first African American to hold the office. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) US comedians Stephen Colbert (L) and Conan O’Brien (R) speak during the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP via Getty Images) US actor Tyler Perry arrives at the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images) CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 18: Jon Batiste attends the dedication ceremony for the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in John Lewis Plaza on June 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Barack Obama served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017 and was the first African American to hold the office. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) US actress Gabrielle Union arrives at the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP via Getty Images) US television personality Oprah Winfrey speaks with California Governor Gavin Newsom at the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP via Getty Images) US singer-songwriter John Legend and his wife US model Chrissy Teigen arrive at the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images) US comedian Stephen Colbert arrives at the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Pedro UGARTE / AFP via Getty Images) US basketball player Dwyane Wade arrives at the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP via Getty Images) CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 18: Jill Vedder and Steven Spielberg attend the dedication ceremony for the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in John Lewis Plaza on June 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Barack Obama served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017 and was the first African American to hold the office. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 18: David Letterman attends the dedication ceremony for the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in John Lewis Plaza on June 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Barack Obama served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017 and was the first African American to hold the office. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 18: Former U.S. President Joe Biden, Former first lady Jill Biden, Former U.S. President George W. Bush, Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton bow there heads during the dedication ceremony for the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in John Lewis Plaza on June 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Barack Obama served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017 and was the first African American to hold the office. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 18: (L-R) Former second gentleman Doug Emhoff and former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris wave as they arrive to the dedication ceremony for the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in John Lewis Plaza on June 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Barack Obama served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017 and was the first African American to hold the office. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat of New York, arrives at the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images) (L/R) US actress Rita Wilson, US Representative Nancy Pelosi, and US actor Tom Hanks arrive at the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images) US actor Tom Hanks arrives at the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP via Getty Images) CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 18: Eddie Vedder performs with Guitars Over Guns during the dedication ceremony for the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in John Lewis Plaza on June 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Barack Obama served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017 and was the first African American to hold the office. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)Beyond the Obamas, and their daughters, here’s a look at the big names spotted so far (this list will continue to be updated):
Tom Hanks Steven Spielberg Justin Trudeau Kamala Harris Angela Merkel Bill and Hillary Clinton Former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush Former President Joe Biden and former first lady Dr. Jill Biden Nancy Pelosi Jennifer Hudson Hakeem Jeffries David Letterman Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union Stephen Colbert California Gov. Gavin Newsom Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker John Legend and Chrissy Teigen Oprah Winfrey Jon Batiste Tyler Perry Conan O’Brien George Lucas Quinta Brunson Rahm Emanuel Bill Daley LL Cool J Ayo Dosunmu Tom Ricketts Gabby Giffords Al Sharpton Pete Buttigieg Josh Shapiro Billie Jean King Dave Chappelle Christina Aguilera Eddie Vedder Derek Blasberg Karlie Kloss Anthony Blinken Bill Foster Danny Davis Dick Durbin CommonOthers expected to perform:
Bruce Springsteen Stevie Wonder Christina Aguilera Bono The Roots Stevie Wonder Marc Anthony Tems U2’s The Edge Marsai MartinHence then, the article about celebrities spotted at star studded obama presidential center grand opening in chicago was published today ( ) and is available on NBC Chicago ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Celebrities spotted at star-studded Obama Presidential Center grand opening in Chicago )
Last updated :
Also on site :
- Sumsub Becomes First Verification Platform to Enable AI Agents to Build Compliance Setup
- What the hell were ITV thinking by making Emma Hayes stand in the kitchen?
- F.F. Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua dealing with active threat