Must-See American Gallery Shows Arriving in 2026

Spanning old masters to pop artists, contemporary greats alongside a major Latin American film-maker, galleries and galleries throughout the United States are preparing some dazzling shows on the horizon in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back during 2023, now just a placeholder listing on The Whitney’s online schedule, this expansive survey of one of the pioneering figures of the Pop Art era comes with some pretty heavy expectations. The museum will be drawing on its decades-old collection of close to 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, numerous loans from collections globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area partner museums, one prestigious venue and deYoung, will be centering Venice with two linked shows: the former museum presents a celebration of the city as an engine of high art throughout the centuries, and the latter will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. The artist was daunted by the challenge of depicting Venice – a theme that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually rose to the task, producing some 37 paintings, 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*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than 1m ft of film that never made it of the final cut, creating an art installation that also serves as a homage to film. Accounts suggest the director dug deep into the vaults to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. Perhaps the installation will instil some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the mixed media sculpture and installation artist a major career survey, beginning with her early works and moving all the way up to a fresh series of pieces made from found metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove often sources her materials directly from the city environment, creating intriguing and unusual constructions that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable art spots. Having had major shows at Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, her thirty years of creation are ready for a thorough overview. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those familiar with the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize 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 volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has rarely received a large-scale exhibition on US soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from throughout Europe and over 200 works in all, this is poised as a major event. 29 March–28 June.

Shu Lea Cheang's *Lover Love*: An Interactive Vision

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a major, large-scale film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the daily struggles of trans life. Lover Love promises to be a very engaging piece, with audience members invited to interact with the four moveable screens that display the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases new work 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 known for deconstructing unconventional materials to make intricate, queer-themed assemblages. The show showcases new work based on the theme of same-sex marriage. This continues her longstanding practice of employing reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are socialized to inhabit space differently, this show examines how non-verbal communication shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s research included art as old as ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and put into conversation with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the evocative silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming artist an innovative creator. During the summer, an Arkansas museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. And also in September, an Arizona venue exhibits the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.