The Most Exciting US Art Exhibitions Coming in 2026
From Renaissance masters and contemporary icons, modern visionaries alongside a major Mexican director, art museums as well as institutions across the US have a series of spectacular shows coming up in 2026.
The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein
Announced all the way back during 2023, now merely a placeholder listing at The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of one of the pioneering figures of the pop art movement carries significant expectations. The museum will be drawing on its decades-old holdings of close to 500 works from Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, dozens loans from collections globally. TBD 2026.
Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice
San Francisco partner museums, the Legion of Honor and deYoung, will be centering the Floating City through two interconnected shows: the former museum presents a exploration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, and the latter zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the prospect of painting Venice – a theme that had captivated the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually met the challenge, creating some 37 paintings, among them the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.
Alejandro G Iñárritu's *Sueño Perro*: A Cinematic Resurrection
Marking the quarter-century of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over 1m ft of footage that was left out of the released movie, crafting an art installation that doubles as a homage to celluloid. Accounts suggest Iñárritu dug deep into the vaults to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. It's possible the exhibit will evoke some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.
The Sculptural World of Carol Bove
The Guggenheim will give the mixed media sculptor artist a major career survey, beginning with her early works and progressing through to a new collection of pieces made from found metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove frequently sources her components directly from the urban landscape, producing intriguing and unusual constructions that have appeared in prestigious art spots. Having had significant exhibitions at Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s thirty years of work are ripe for a thorough survey. 5 March–2 August.
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 cut-out *Icarus* – it’s actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute will display the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus around 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.
Raphael: Sublime Poetry
The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of Renaissance Italy – but he has rarely been honored with a large-scale exhibition on US soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this landmark show. 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. Late March through June.
Shu Lea Cheang's *Lover Love*: An Interactive Vision
NYC’s 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 new media art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang here explores the everyday realities of transgender existence. Lover Love is designed as a very engaging experience, with visitors invited to interact with the four moveable screens that show the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.
Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance
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 recognized for deconstructing discarded objects to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. The show highlights new work based on the theme of queer weddings. This continues her longstanding practice of employing found items as a symbolic act of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.
Taking Back Our Space
Expanding upon the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how genders are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this exhibition investigates how non-verbal communication influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s research included art as old as 2000 BC. Here, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and put into conversation with the work of modern diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.
And more …
In February, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the evocative silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a collection of the artist's architecture paintings. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue displays the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.
