The Most Exciting American Art Exhibitions Arriving in 2026

Spanning old masters and pop artists, contemporary greats and even a major Latin American film-maker, galleries as well as galleries across the US are preparing a series of dazzling shows on the horizon in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back in 2023, and currently merely a placeholder listing on a major museum's website, this major retrospective of a central creators of the pop art movement comes with significant anticipation. The institution will be drawing on its long-held collection of close to 500 works by Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, dozens loans from institutions around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area partner museums, one prestigious venue and another, will focus on Venice with two linked exhibitions: the former museum presents a celebration of the city as an engine of high art for hundreds of years, while the other zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the prospect of depicting Venice – a subject that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately met the challenge, producing approximately 37 canvases, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and 21 March-26 July.

Alejandro G Iñárritu's *Sueño Perro*: A Cinematic Resurrection

Marking the 25th anniversary of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than a million feet of film that was left out into the final cut, creating an immersive experience that doubles as a love letter to celluloid. Accounts suggest the director delved into the archives to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. It's possible the exhibit will evoke a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculptor creator a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her early works and progressing through to a fresh collection of works made from scrap metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove frequently sources her materials directly from the city environment, producing intriguing and unusual sculptures that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable art spots. Having had major shows in the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s thirty years of creation are ready for a in-depth survey. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, Chicago’s Art Institute will display all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus some 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of Renaissance Italy – but he has seldom received a major show on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from all across Europe and more than 200 works in all, this is poised as a blockbuster show. 29 March–28 June.

Shu Lea Cheang's *Lover Love*: An Interactive Vision

NYC’s queer art museum presents a significant and immersive video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang here explores the everyday realities of trans life. The installation is designed as a very engaging piece, with audience members invited to interact with the four moveable screens that display the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center showcases new work from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for deconstructing unconventional materials to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. The show highlights recent pieces based on the concept of same-sex marriage. It extends her longstanding practice of using reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are socialized to inhabit space differently, this exhibition examines how non-verbal communication shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s research included art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and put into conversation with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the evocative shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of up and coming artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum presents a collection of the artist's architectural studies. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue exhibits the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.