Former US President Barack Obama will visit Manchester for the first time this autumn, headlining a live event titled 'An Evening with Barack Obama' at the Co-op Live on October 15. The event is described as a call to hope and resilience.
Obama's Historic Legacy
Obama made history in 2008 when he became the first African-American to be elected the 44th president of the United States. He was re-elected for a second term in 2012. He won 69.5 million votes in his 2008 election, a record later surpassed by Joe Biden's 81.3 million votes in 2020.
UK Tour Details
The Manchester talk is one of three UK events Obama is hosting that month, with the other two taking place in Glasgow and Belfast. The tour follows a similar speaking tour organized last year by Seat Unique, Fane, Kilimanjaro Live, and Singular Artists. Seat Unique described the event as 'a call to hope, resilience, and the belief that ordinary people, together, can still shape what comes next'.
Quotes and Context
“True democracy is a project that’s much bigger than any one of us,” Obama has previously said. “It’s bigger than any one person, any one president, and any one government. It’s a job for all of us.”
Stuart Galbraith, CEO of Kilimanjaro, and Alex Fane, CEO of Fane Group, said: “We are incredibly honoured to bring President Obama to the UK and Ireland for these truly special events. His message of unity and progress resonates deeply, and we anticipate an evening that will inspire and empower all who attend.”
Previous Dublin Visit
During his Dublin visit last September, Obama was formally presented with the Freedom of the City award, which he and his wife, Michelle, had been granted in 2017 following a vote by Dublin City Council. Other international figures to receive the honor include former US Presidents Bill Clinton and John F. Kennedy, former South African President Nelson Mandela, and environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg in 2023. However, several Dublin councillors opposed Obama’s award, citing his foreign policy in several countries including Libya, Yemen and Somalia, and what they described as his 'support for the terrorist regime in Israel'.
Ticket Information
Tickets go on general sale on Friday, July 31 at 10am via www.Myticket.co.uk or www.seatunique.com. In each city, 100 tickets will be set aside for charitable organizations.
