The Most Exciting American Art Exhibitions Arriving in 2026

From Renaissance masters and pop artists, contemporary greats alongside a major Latin American director, galleries as well as galleries throughout the United States have some dazzling shows on the horizon for 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back in 2023, now just a mostly empty page at The Whitney’s website, this major retrospective of a pioneering figures of the pop art movement comes with some pretty heavy expectations. The institution will be drawing on its long-held collection of close to 500 works from Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, dozens borrowed works from collections globally. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco partner museums, the Legion of Honor and deYoung, will be centering the Floating City through two linked exhibitions: one location will offer a exploration of the city as an engine of high art throughout the centuries, and the latter will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the prospect of depicting Venice – a theme that had captivated the most revered artists for centuries – but he eventually met the challenge, creating approximately 37 canvases, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

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

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over 1m ft of film that was left out into the final cut, crafting an immersive experience that also serves as a love letter to celluloid. Accounts suggest the director delved into the archives to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. Perhaps the exhibit will evoke some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the multidisciplinary sculptor artist a major career survey, starting with her initial pieces and progressing all the way up to a new collection of pieces made from found metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her materials directly from the urban landscape, producing fascinating and strange constructions that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable art spots. With significant exhibitions in the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s thirty years of creation are ripe for a in-depth survey. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone familiar with 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 paired with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition 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. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great artist 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 large-scale exhibition on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify 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 total, this promises to be a major event. 29 March–28 June.

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

A New York queer art museum presents a significant and immersive video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang in this piece explores the daily struggles of trans life. The installation promises to be 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

A Boston contemporary art center will feature 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 deconstructing unconventional materials to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. The show showcases new work based on the concept of same-sex marriage. This continues her longstanding practice of employing reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Building on the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to use physical space differently, this exhibition investigates how body language influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies included art as old as ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the evocative shadow-based work of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of rising artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts will show a collection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.