Must-See American Gallery Shows Coming in 2026

From Renaissance masters to pop artists, contemporary greats alongside a renowned Latin American film-maker, galleries as well as galleries across the United States have a series of dazzling shows coming up in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago in 2023, and currently merely a placeholder listing at a major museum's website, this major retrospective of a pioneering figures of the pop art movement carries some pretty heavy expectations. The museum plans to utilize its decades-old holdings of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, numerous loans from institutions around the world. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area sister institutions, the Legion of Honor along with deYoung, will focus on the Floating City through two interconnected exhibitions: one location presents a exploration of the city as an engine of high art throughout the centuries, while the other will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. The artist was daunted by the prospect of depicting Venice – a subject that had captivated the most revered artists for centuries – yet he ultimately rose to the task, creating some 37 paintings, including the masterpiece *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 massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over 1m ft of footage that never made it into the released movie, crafting an art installation that also serves as a love letter to film. Reportedly the director dug deep into the vaults to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. It's possible the installation will instil a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a major career survey, beginning with her early works and moving through to a fresh collection of pieces fashioned from scrap metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove often sources her materials straight from the city environment, producing fascinating and strange sculptures that have been displayed in prestigious art spots. With major shows at Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, her thirty years of work are ripe for a in-depth overview. 5 March–2 August.

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

Those who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – it’s actually one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum will display the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as 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 painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of Renaissance Italy – but he has rarely received a large-scale exhibition on US soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from throughout Europe and over 200 works in all, this promises to be a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a major, large-scale video installation by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang in this piece explores the everyday realities of trans life. Lover Love is designed as a very engaging experience, with visitors encouraged to interact with the multiple movable screens that display the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center will feature recent creations 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 discarded objects to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. The show highlights new work based on the concept of queer weddings. This continues her ongoing project of employing reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Building on the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this show investigates how body language influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s research included art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of modern diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the haunting shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of rising Black artist an innovative creator. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a collection of the artist's architectural studies. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.