The Most Exciting American Art Exhibitions Coming in 2026

Spanning old masters and pop artists, modern visionaries alongside a major Latin American director, galleries as well as galleries across the US have a series of dazzling exhibitions coming up in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago in 2023, and currently just a placeholder listing at a major museum's website, this major retrospective of a pioneering figures of the pop art movement comes with some pretty heavy anticipation. The institution will be drawing on its long-held collection of nearly 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, dozens borrowed works from institutions around the world. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area partner museums, one prestigious venue and another, will focus on Venice through two interconnected shows: one location will offer a celebration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, and the latter zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the prospect of depicting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually rose to the task, producing some 37 canvases, 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 debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than a million feet of footage that never made it of the final cut, crafting an art installation that doubles as a homage to film. Reportedly the director dug deep into the vaults to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of one of his most beloved films. Perhaps the exhibit will instil some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation creator a major career survey, starting with her initial pieces and moving all the way up to a fresh series of pieces fashioned from scrap metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove frequently takes her materials straight from the city environment, creating intriguing and unusual constructions that have appeared in prestigious art spots. With major shows at the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, her three decades of work are ripe for a in-depth survey. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone familiar with the book *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus around 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of Renaissance Italy – yet 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 famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works from all across Europe and over 200 works in all, this promises to be a blockbuster show. 29 March–28 June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York queer art museum presents a significant and immersive film-based work by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang here explores the daily struggles of trans life. Lover Love promises to be a very engaging experience, with visitors encouraged to interact with the four moveable screens that display the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center showcases new work from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for deconstructing unconventional materials to make intricate, queer-themed assemblages. This exhibition highlights new work based on the concept of queer weddings. This continues her longstanding practice of using found items as a symbolic act of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how genders are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this exhibition examines how body language influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s research spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the evocative shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of rising Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.