Must-See American Art Exhibitions Arriving in 2026

From Renaissance masters and contemporary icons, contemporary greats alongside a major Mexican director, art museums as well as institutions across the United States have a series of dazzling shows on the horizon in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago in 2023, now just a mostly empty page at a major museum's website, this expansive survey of a pioneering figures of the pop art movement carries some pretty heavy expectations. The museum will be drawing on its decades-old holdings of nearly 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, numerous loans from institutions globally. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area sister institutions, one prestigious venue along with deYoung, will focus on Venice through two interconnected exhibitions: one location will offer a exploration of the city as an engine of high art throughout the centuries, and the latter zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the prospect of depicting Venice – a theme that had captivated the most revered artists for centuries – yet he ultimately met the challenge, creating some 37 paintings, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Celebrating the quarter-century of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than 1m ft of film that was left out of the released movie, crafting an immersive experience that also serves as a love letter to celluloid. Accounts suggest the director delved into the vaults to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. It's possible the exhibit will instil a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation creator a major career survey, beginning with her initial pieces and moving all the way up to a new collection of pieces fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her materials straight from the urban landscape, creating fascinating and strange sculptures that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable art spots. With major shows at Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, her three decades of work are ready for a thorough survey. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those 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 combined with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, 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 around 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works were part of a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of the Italian Renaissance – but he has seldom received a major show on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works from all across Europe and more than 200 works in all, this promises to be a major event. 29 March–28 June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a major, large-scale video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang here explores the daily struggles of transgender existence. The installation promises to be a highly interactive piece, with audience members invited to interact with the multiple movable screens that display the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center will feature recent creations from this artist, who was compelled to leave her home country of Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming discarded objects to make intricate, queer-themed assemblages. This exhibition showcases recent pieces based on the theme of queer weddings. This continues her longstanding practice of using reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to use physical space differently, this show examines how non-verbal communication shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s research included art dating back to ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and put into conversation with the work of modern diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the evocative silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his sculptural works. In September, a Michigan museum presents a collection of the artist's architectural studies. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.