Unmissable US Art Exhibitions Coming in 2026

Spanning Renaissance masters to pop artists, contemporary greats and even a renowned Mexican film-maker, art museums and institutions throughout the US are preparing a series of spectacular shows coming up for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago in 2023, and currently just a placeholder listing on a major museum's online schedule, this major retrospective of a central creators of the Pop Art era carries significant anticipation. The museum will be drawing on its decades-old holdings of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, dozens loans from institutions around the world. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco partner museums, one prestigious venue along with another, will be centering the Floating City with two interconnected shows: one location presents a celebration of the city as an engine of high art for hundreds of years, and the latter zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the prospect of painting Venice – a subject that had inspired the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually rose to the task, creating some 37 canvases, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

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

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than a million feet of film that was left out of the final cut, creating an art installation that also serves as a love letter to film. Reportedly Iñárritu delved into the vaults to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of one of his most beloved films. Perhaps the installation will evoke a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer.

Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the multidisciplinary sculptor creator a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her early works and progressing all the way up to a new series of pieces fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her materials directly from the city environment, creating fascinating and strange constructions that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable venues. With significant exhibitions in Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, Bove’s three decades of work are ready for a in-depth survey. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 paper compositions that he combined with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum exhibits the complete set 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. The cut paper works represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has rarely been honored with a major show on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from throughout Europe and more than 200 works in all, this promises to be a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a significant and immersive video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. As with most of her work, Cheang here investigates the everyday realities of transgender existence. The installation is designed as a very engaging experience, with visitors encouraged to play around with the four moveable screens that show the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston will feature recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for deconstructing unconventional materials to make intricate, queer-themed assemblages. This exhibition showcases recent pieces based on the concept of same-sex marriage. It extends her ongoing project of employing found items as a meaningful gesture of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are conditioned to use physical space differently, this exhibition examines how body language influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies included art dating back to ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s findings are displayed and put into conversation with the work of contemporary diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

In February, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the haunting silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming 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 collection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.