The Most Exciting US Art Exhibitions Arriving in 2026

From Renaissance masters to pop artists, contemporary greats and even a major Mexican director, galleries as well as institutions throughout the United States are preparing some dazzling exhibitions coming up in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back in 2023, and currently just a placeholder listing at The Whitney’s website, this expansive survey of one of the central creators of the Pop Art era comes with significant expectations. The museum plans to utilize its long-held holdings of nearly 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, dozens loans from institutions around the world. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area sister institutions, one prestigious venue and deYoung, will be centering Venice with two interconnected shows: the former museum presents a exploration of the city as an engine of high art for hundreds of years, and the latter zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. The artist was daunted by the prospect of depicting Venice – a theme that had captivated the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually met the challenge, producing some 37 paintings, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Marking the quarter-century of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than 1m ft of footage that never made it into the final cut, creating an immersive experience that also serves as a homage 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 installation will instil a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the mixed media sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her early works and progressing all the way up to a fresh collection of pieces made from scrap metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove often takes her components directly from the urban landscape, producing intriguing and unusual sculptures that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable venues. With major shows at Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, Bove’s thirty years of creation are ripe for a in-depth survey. 5 March–2 August.

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

Those who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum will display the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as around 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of the Italian Renaissance – but he has seldom been honored with a major show on US soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from throughout Europe and over 200 works total, this is poised as a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York queer art museum presents a significant and immersive video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. As with most of her work, Cheang in this piece explores the everyday realities of trans life. Lover Love is designed as a very engaging experience, with audience members invited to interact with the multiple movable screens that display the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center showcases recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for deconstructing discarded objects to make intricate, queer-themed assemblages. The show showcases recent pieces based on the theme of queer weddings. This continues her ongoing project of using reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

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 show investigates how non-verbal communication influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies included art dating back to ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of modern diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

In February, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the evocative silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, a Michigan museum presents a selection of the artist's architectural studies. And also in September, an Arizona venue exhibits the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.