The Most Exciting US Art Exhibitions Coming in 2026

From old masters and pop artists, modern visionaries and even a renowned Latin American director, galleries and institutions throughout the US are preparing a series of dazzling shows coming up for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago during 2023, now just a placeholder listing on The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of one of the central creators of the pop art movement carries significant expectations. The institution will be drawing on its decades-old holdings of nearly 500 works from Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, dozens borrowed works from collections globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

San Francisco partner museums, one prestigious venue and deYoung, will be centering Venice with two linked exhibitions: the former museum will offer a celebration of the city as an engine of high art for hundreds of years, and the latter will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the challenge of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately met the challenge, creating some 37 canvases, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and 21 March-26 July.

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

Marking the quarter-century of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than a million feet of footage that was left out into the released movie, crafting an immersive experience that doubles as a love letter to film. Accounts suggest the director delved into the archives to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. It's possible the installation will evoke a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation creator a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her initial pieces and progressing through to a new collection of works made from scrap metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove often takes her components straight from the city environment, producing intriguing and unusual constructions that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable art spots. With significant exhibitions at the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, her three decades of work are ready for a thorough overview. 5 March–2 August.

Henri Matisse's *Jazz*: A Symphony of Cut Paper

Anyone who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with 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 exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus some 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has rarely received a large-scale exhibition on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from all across Europe and more than 200 works total, this promises to be a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

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

NYC’s queer art museum will host a significant and immersive film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the everyday realities of trans life. Lover Love promises to be a very engaging experience, with visitors invited to play around with the multiple movable screens that display the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center showcases recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming discarded objects to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. The show showcases recent pieces based on the theme of same-sex marriage. This continues her ongoing project of using reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Building on the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are socialized to use physical space differently, this show examines how non-verbal communication influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies included art as old as 2000 BC. 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.

And more …

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of rising artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring through a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a collection of the artist's architecture paintings. And also in September, an Arizona venue exhibits the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.