The Most Exciting American Gallery Shows Coming in 2026

From old masters and pop artists, modern visionaries alongside a major Latin American film-maker, art museums as well as institutions throughout the US have some dazzling shows on the horizon for 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago in 2023, and currently merely a mostly empty page at The Whitney’s website, this major retrospective of a central creators of the pop art movement carries some pretty heavy expectations. The museum plans to utilize its long-held collection of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, numerous loans from collections around the world. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco partner museums, the Legion of Honor along with another, will focus on Venice with two linked shows: one location presents a exploration of the city as a source of high art throughout the centuries, and the latter will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the prospect of depicting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for centuries – but he eventually met the challenge, creating some 37 canvases, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and 21 March-26 July.

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

Celebrating the quarter-century of his groundbreaking first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than 1m ft of footage that never made it of the final cut, crafting an immersive experience that also serves as a love letter to celluloid. Reportedly the director delved into the archives to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. It's possible the exhibit will evoke a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the multidisciplinary sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her early works and progressing through to a new collection of works fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her materials straight from the urban landscape, producing fascinating and strange sculptures that have appeared in prestigious venues. Having had major shows in the MoMA and a Parisian institution, her thirty years of creation are ready for a in-depth overview. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – it’s actually one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute will display the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus around 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has seldom been honored with a major show on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from all across Europe and over 200 works total, this is poised as a blockbuster show. 29 March–28 June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York queer art museum presents a major, large-scale video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang in this piece explores the daily struggles of trans life. Lover Love promises to be a highly interactive piece, with audience members invited to interact with the multiple movable screens that display the central film. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center showcases new work from this artist, who was forced to flee her home country of Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for deconstructing unconventional materials to make intricate, queer-themed assemblages. This exhibition showcases recent pieces based on the theme of queer weddings. It extends her ongoing project of employing 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 foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to use physical space differently, this exhibition investigates how non-verbal communication influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art as old as 2000 BC. Here, Wex’s explorations are displayed and put into conversation with the work of modern diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of up and coming Black artist an innovative creator. During the summer, an Arkansas museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.