Meeting planners seeking new and culturally significant venues are anxiously awaiting the opening of the Obama Presidential Center on Chicago’s historic South Side this summer.
Opening to the public on Juneteenth weekend 2026, the 19-acre campus dedicated to and inspired by the first Black President of the United States will be a compelling new destination for visitors to Chicago.
For meeting and event organizers, the Center promises to be a major draw for attendees eager to explore the major new attraction.
A guide to the new Obama Presidential Center
The opening comes at a time when attendees are craving new and unique experiences. Not only is it an only-in-Chicago venue, but the Center is redefining the traditional Presidential Library experience to reflect that Barack Obama is considered the country’s first president of the digital age.
A 2026 opening is also fitting as it falls in the middle of America’s 250th anniversary. The Center aims to showcase both history and progress, while inspiring future generations to dream big.
“Here on the South Side of Chicago, hope is getting a permanent home,” President Obama said in a statement. “This is not a monument to the past; it is a living destination for people who refuse to accept the status quo. If you feel that way, this is your invitation to join us.”
Here’s how you can transform your meeting into a significant event at Chicago’s newest monumental meetings hub.
Meeting and event spaces at the Obama Presidential Center
The Obama Presidential Center promises to stand out as a premier home for events of all sizes.
Event spaces at the Obama Presidential Center
The Center’s four distinct meeting spaces have been built with flexibility in mind, thoughtfully designed to host large gatherings, education sessions, receptions, intimate meetings, and beyond.
These dynamic event spaces include executive boardrooms, media studios, large auditoriums, and even a vegetable garden — each offering a different opportunity for engaging and immersive programming.
Obama Presidential Center Museum
The museum building is built to create memorable experiences and presents a variety of options for meeting planners.
The museum building contains 12,400 square feet that can accommodate 600 guests for a complete buyout. Your guests will enjoy dedicated access to the Museum’s exhibit galleries along with the opportunity for private tours of the Museum.
Venues within the museum building include:
- Hope and Change Lobby: The stunning three-story lobby features a grand staircase, world-class art, and floor-to-ceiling glass windows that overlook the campus grounds. The space also includes two landscaped courtyards. The capacity is 500 reception-style.
- Our Story Lobby: This modern, light-filled space opens out into a spacious courtyard for guests to mingle in good weather. The capacity is 275 reception-style.
- Presidential Suite: Ideal for VIP receptions and C-suite gatherings, this luxurious space features artwork from the Obama’s private collection and stunning lake and city views. The capacity is 18 seated, 50 reception-style.
- The Sky Room & Sky Room Vista: These adjoining spaces are located 180 feet above the campus, offering panoramic vistas of Lake Michigan and parts of downtown. The capacity is 220 seated, 299 reception-style.
- Harold Washington Atrium Overlook: A cozy conclave with floor-to-ceiling windows that can be used for business lunches or small gatherings. The capacity is 22 seated.
Forum Building
Home to seven venues designed for collaboration and creativity, the Forum Building is the perfect setting for thought leadership events, networking, happy hours, awards banquets, and more.
The Forum Building is also available for full, private rental. Spaces within the building include:
- The Elie Wiesel Auditorium offers state-of-the-art technology for panels, business presentations, and performances. Perfect for recorded, hybrid or live-streamed events. The capacity is 299, auditorium seating.
- Hadiya Pendleton Atrium is an airy, light-filled space designed for casual cocktail hours and receptions. The capacity is 300 for a full rental, 150 for semi-private.
- The Democracy in Action Lab comprises seven rooms, ideal for workshops, lectures, team meetings, and more. The capacity is 299 participants.
- The Media Suite is a creative space that has everything you need for a podcast interview, live broadcast, or intimate performance. The capacity is 100 attendees.
- The restaurant, taking a cue from First Lady Michelle Obama’s close collaboration with White House chefs, seats 120 for group meals. A private dining room holds 24 attendees.
- The Rooftop offers scenic views for groups seeking unique sites for receptions, parties, and networking events. The capacity is 600 reception-style.
Home Court
Given President Obama’s love of basketball, it’s only natural that Center’s largest indoor gathering venue features an NBA regulation-size basketball court.
But the Home Court is so much more than a sports venue. Think of it as a unique backdrop for panels, meetings, education sessions, celebrations, and more. The space brings the wow factor for weddings, cultural events, product launches, and beyond.
The space can accommodate 700 attendees seated and 999 theatre-style. Breakout rooms are available for small lectures, seminars, working sessions, meetings, and meals.
Outdoor venues
The thoughtful details and breathtaking surroundings extend beyond the walls of the Obama Presidential Center.
The outdoor venues include the Great Lawn, a show-stopping venue for festivals, weddings, concerts, and outdoor dinners. The gently sloping lawn features views of the surrounding campus and the historic Jackson Park lagoon, with 58,000 square feet that can fit up to 2,000 attendees. Note that rentals require city permits.
The Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit and Vegetable Garden and Garden Classroom is a place to plant seeds of innovation. Located on top of the Obama Presidential Center’s Chicago Public Library branch, it’s an ideal backdrop for smaller-scale dining events and hands-on workshops. Inspired by Michelle Obama’s White House kitchen garden, the space can accommodate 30 to 60 attendees.
Group activities at the Obama Presidential Center
The opening of the Obama Presidential Center is a chance for attendees to explore a new cultural landmark in Chicago.
Visitors can discover the story of the country’s first Black president and First Lady through dynamic, immersive exhibits. The museum’s four floors delve into the work and impact of the Obama presidency, alongside the promise and future of democracy.
Experiences include a full-size replica of President Obama’s Oval Office, intimate family photographs from the Obama’s year in the White House, and interactive activities. Audio guides allow for a custom experience, with options for history buffs, families, art lovers, and more.
The vibrant lakefront campus also includes outdoors areas like Women’s Garden or the Wetland Walk, a branch of the Chicago Public Library, and more community spaces. A restaurant and cafe will feature local flavors and ingredients.
Private tours of the museum’s exhibits and customized artwork are available to provide valuable context on the Obama administration, the center as a whole, and its surrounding neighborhood.
Wheelchairs are available on the ground floor of the Museum and Forum. Other accessibility options include assistive-listening devices, hearing loops, and closed captioning for those with hearing disabilities, and braille and tactile stations for the visually impaired.
Things to do around the Obama Presidential Center
Chicago is a natural home for this important venue, due to Barack and Michelle Obama’s deep ties to the city’s South Side.
The First Lady grew up in the city’s South Shore neighborhood. Mr. Obama’s formative political years were spent as a community organizer and law professor at the University of Chicago. The couple met when Barack interned under Michelle at a Chicago law firm and the couple celebrated their wedding at city’s South Shore Cultural Center.
The Obama Presidential Center is set within historic Jackson Park, the site of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. It’s worth walking through the wooded island, which includes the peaceful Japanese Garden. Athletic attendees will appreciate the golf course and basketball, tennis, and pickleball courts.
The surrounding Hyde Park neighborhood offers a chance to walk in the former president’s footsteps. It features a lively mix of restaurants, shopping, and cultural attractions, including:
- The interactive Museum of Science and Industry, one of the largest science centers in the Western Hemisphere.
- The acclaimed University of Chicago campus, filled with striking architecture.
- Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures Museum, with artifacts from ancient civilizations.
- The Robie House, a UNESCO World Heritage Site designed by Frank Lloyd Wright .
- The Renaissance Society, an independent contemporary art museum.
The area is also home to an abundance of local dining options. Established in 1921, Valois Restaurant is known to be one of Barack Obama’s favorite breakfast spots. The former president has also visited Virtue, a James Beard Award-winning restaurant showcasing Southern American cuisine.
In Hyde Park, nearby hotels include Hyatt Place Chicago-South/University Medical Center, Sophy – Hyde Park, and The Study at University of Chicago.
