Must-See American Gallery Shows Arriving in 2026

Spanning Renaissance masters and pop artists, contemporary greats and even a major Mexican director, art museums and institutions across the US are preparing some dazzling shows coming up in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back during 2023, and currently just a placeholder listing on The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of one of the central creators of the Pop Art era comes with some pretty heavy expectations. The museum will be drawing on its decades-old holdings of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, numerous borrowed works from institutions around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area partner museums, the Legion of Honor along with another, will focus on the Floating City through two linked exhibitions: the former museum presents a exploration of the city as a source of high art for hundreds of years, and the latter will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. The artist was daunted by the prospect of depicting Venice – a subject that had captivated the most revered artists for centuries – but he eventually met the challenge, producing some 37 canvases, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

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

Marking the quarter-century of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than 1m ft of footage that never made it of the final cut, creating an immersive experience that doubles as a homage to film. Reportedly the director dug deep into the archives to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of one of his most beloved films. Perhaps the exhibit will instil a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the mixed media sculpture and installation artist a major career survey, starting with her early works and progressing all the way up to a new collection of pieces fashioned from found metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her materials straight from the city environment, producing fascinating and strange sculptures that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable venues. Having had significant exhibitions at the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, her three decades of creation are ripe for a in-depth overview. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone who know 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 paper compositions that he paired with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as around 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of the Italian Renaissance – but he has rarely received a major show on American soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works 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

A New York queer art museum will host a significant and immersive film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. As with much of her work, Cheang here explores the everyday realities of trans life. The installation promises to be a very engaging piece, with visitors encouraged to interact with the multiple movable screens that show the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her home country of Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming unconventional materials to make intricate, queer-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights recent pieces based on the concept of queer weddings. This continues her longstanding practice of using found items as a symbolic act of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are conditioned to use physical space differently, this exhibition investigates how non-verbal communication shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies included art as old as 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of modern diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the evocative silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a collection of the artist's architecture paintings. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue displays the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.