Nigerian superstar, Tems has been confirmed as one of the headline performers at the Grand Opening Ceremony of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, further cementing her status as one of Africa’s most celebrated voices on the global stage. 

The Grammy-winning artist joins an extraordinarily star-studded lineup for the landmark event, which takes place on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at the center’s John Lewis Plaza located at 6001 South Stony Island Avenue in Jackson Park.

Tems will share the stage with some of the biggest names in music history, including rock legend, Bruce Springsteen, Motown icon, Stevie Wonder, U2’s Bono and The Edge, Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, R&B powerhouses Jennifer Hudson and John Legend, Grammy-winning rapper Common,

Latin music star Marc Anthony, Christina Aguilera, and legendary hip-hop outfit The Roots. Actress and producer Marsai Martin, best known for her role in ABC’s sitcom Black-ish, will also participate in the ceremony, alongside youth organisations Guitars Over Guns and Uniting Voices Chicago, as well as the Illinois Army National Guard’s Color Guard.

The ceremony, which is invite-only, will serve as the official dedication of the Obama Presidential Center, a long-anticipated landmark on Chicago’s South Side that has been years in the making. Both former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama are scheduled to deliver speeches at the event. The center is set to open its doors to the general public on June 19, which coincides with the Juneteenth holiday.

For those unable to attend in person, the Obama Foundation is hosting a free public watch party at Midway Plaisance, and the ceremony will be livestreamed globally starting at noon EDT on the Foundation’s social media platforms.

Valerie Jarrett, Chief Executive of the Obama Foundation, described the occasion as one that would stand apart from any other celebration. She said the grand opening would be filled with music, performances, and hope. The lineup was unveiled through an animated group chat post showing artists enthusiastically responding to their invitations, with Springsteen expressing disbelief at the occasion and The Roots describing it as a profound honour.

Tems’ inclusion in such a historic occasion is a significant moment not just for the Afrobeats genre, but for African music more broadly. Her presence on a bill of this magnitude

alongside artists who have defined American music across multiple generations

underscores just how far Nigerian artists have travelled in reshaping the global cultural conversation.