Unmissable US Gallery Shows Coming in 2026

Spanning Renaissance masters to contemporary icons, contemporary greats alongside a renowned Latin American film-maker, art museums and institutions throughout the US have a series of spectacular exhibitions on the horizon in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back during 2023, now merely a mostly empty page on The Whitney’s online schedule, this expansive survey of a pioneering figures of the Pop Art era carries some pretty heavy anticipation. The museum will be drawing on its decades-old collection of close to 500 works by Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, dozens loans from institutions globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area partner museums, the Legion of Honor and another, will be centering Venice through two linked exhibitions: the former museum will offer a exploration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, and the latter zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the challenge of depicting Venice – a theme that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – yet he ultimately rose to the task, producing approximately 37 paintings, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and 21 March-26 July.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than 1m ft of film that never made it into the released movie, crafting an immersive experience that doubles as a love letter to film. Reportedly Iñárritu delved into the vaults to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. It's possible the installation will instil a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the mixed media sculptor creator a major career survey, beginning with her early works and progressing all the way up to a fresh series of pieces fashioned from scrap metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove often sources her components directly from the urban landscape, creating intriguing and unusual constructions that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable venues. Having had major shows in the MoMA and a Parisian institution, her three decades of work are ready for a thorough overview. Early Spring to Summer.

Henri Matisse's *Jazz*: A Symphony of Cut Paper

Those who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, Chicago’s Art Institute will display the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus some 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

Italian master painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of the Italian Renaissance – but he has seldom been honored with a major show on American soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from all across Europe and over 200 works total, this promises to be a major event. 29 March–28 June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a significant and immersive film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. As with most of her work, Cheang here explores the daily struggles of transgender existence. The installation is designed as a very engaging piece, with audience members invited to play around with the multiple movable screens that show 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 compelled to leave her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for transforming unconventional materials to make intricate, queer-themed sculptures. This exhibition showcases new work based on the concept of same-sex marriage. This continues her longstanding practice of using found items as a symbolic act of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this exhibition investigates how non-verbal communication influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art dating back to 2000 BC. Here, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the evocative silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of up and coming artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, an Arkansas museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring through a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a collection of the artist's architectural studies. And also in September, an Arizona venue exhibits the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.