Every Photo from Barack and Michelle Obama’s PEOPLE Cover Shoot at Their Massive New Chicago Center (Exclusive)

Jason Sargent Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Janine RubensteinWed, June 24, 2026 at 8:00 PM UTC

Barack and Michelle Obama at the Obama Presidential Center on June 13, 2026Credit: Matt Sayles

For this week's PEOPLE cover story with the Obamas, I got an early sneak peek at the then-unopened Obama Presidential Center, where our team — with the help of photographer Matt Sayles — had the honor of capturing the former first couple for an intimate joint interview, the likes of which they haven't done since leaving the White House nearly a decade ago.

The shoot and interview took place on the upper floors of the center's museum tower, where the former president's new private office sits overlooking the sprawling public campus that houses his presidential library. When the pair arrived, you could feel the excitement and joy they both had ahead of showcasing the center to (and for) the South Side Chicago community they love so much. You could also feel the love emanating between them, as if there's such a thing as 34-year-married newlyweds.

The gentle touches, easy laughter and smiles made the shoot fly by with ease as they moved from one set up to the next. Their love, like the pieces on the walls around them, presents like a work of fine art, painstakingly crafted over time using a hodgepodge of materials until no more tinkering can make it any better. A joy to witness.

Below, our favorite shots from Sayles' photoshoot with the Obamas at the Obama Presidential Center on June 13.

01 of 08

Embracing at the Obama Center

02 of 08

The Formal Pose