The Most Exciting American Art Exhibitions Arriving in 2026
From old masters to pop artists, modern visionaries alongside a renowned Latin American film-maker, galleries and institutions throughout the United States are preparing a series of spectacular shows coming up in 2026.
Roy Lichtenstein
Announced all the way back during 2023, and currently merely a mostly empty page on a major museum's website, this expansive survey of one of the central creators of the Pop Art era comes with significant anticipation. The museum plans to utilize its decades-old holdings of nearly 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, numerous borrowed works from institutions around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.
Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice
San Francisco sister institutions, one prestigious venue and deYoung, will focus on Venice through two interconnected exhibitions: the former museum will offer a celebration of the city as a source of high art throughout the centuries, and the latter will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the prospect of depicting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for centuries – yet he ultimately met the challenge, creating some 37 canvases, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and 21 March-26 July.
Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu
Celebrating the quarter-century of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over a million feet of footage that was left out of the final cut, crafting an art installation that doubles as a homage to film. Reportedly the director delved into the archives to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of one of his most beloved films. It's possible the installation will instil some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer.
The Sculptural World of Carol Bove
The Guggenheim will give the mixed media sculpture and installation artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her early works and moving all the way up to a fresh collection of works made from found metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove often takes her materials straight from the city environment, producing intriguing and unusual constructions that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable venues. Having had major shows at the MoMA and a Parisian institution, Bove’s three decades of work are ripe for a thorough survey. Early Spring to Summer.
Henri Matisse's *Jazz*: A Symphony of Cut Paper
Anyone familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute will display all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing since the museum obtained 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: Sublime Poetry
The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of the Italian Renaissance – but he has rarely received a major show on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from throughout Europe and over 200 works in all, this is poised as a blockbuster show. Late March through June.
Shu Lea Cheang's *Lover Love*: An Interactive Vision
NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a significant and immersive video installation by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang in this piece explores the everyday realities of transgender existence. The installation promises to be a highly interactive piece, with visitors encouraged to play around with the multiple movable screens that show the central film. 2 April–January 2027.
Leilah Babirye
A Boston contemporary art center showcases recent creations from this artist, who was compelled to leave her home country of Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming discarded objects to make elaborate, queer-themed assemblages. This exhibition highlights new work based on the concept of same-sex marriage. This continues her ongoing project of using reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.
Taking Back Our Space
Building on the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are socialized to inhabit space differently, this show examines how body language influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art dating back to 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.
And more …
Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the evocative silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of up and coming Black artist an innovative creator. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue displays the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.
