Must-See US Gallery Shows Arriving in 2026

From Renaissance masters and contemporary icons, modern visionaries alongside a renowned Latin American director, art museums and institutions throughout the US are preparing some dazzling shows on the horizon for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago in 2023, now merely a placeholder listing on a major museum's website, this expansive survey of a pioneering figures of the pop art movement comes with some pretty heavy expectations. The museum will be drawing on its long-held collection of nearly 500 works from Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, numerous borrowed works from collections around the world. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

San Francisco sister institutions, the Legion of Honor along with deYoung, will focus on the Floating City through two linked exhibitions: one location will offer a celebration of the city as an engine of high art throughout the centuries, and the latter zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the challenge of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – yet he ultimately rose to the task, creating some 37 canvases, among them the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and 21 March-26 July.

Alejandro G Iñárritu's *Sueño Perro*: A Cinematic Resurrection

Celebrating the quarter-century of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over a million feet of film that was left out into the released movie, crafting an immersive experience that doubles as a love letter to film. Accounts suggest Iñárritu dug deep into the archives to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of one of his most beloved films. Perhaps the installation will instil a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her early works and progressing all the way up to a new collection of pieces fashioned from scrap metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove often takes her components directly from the urban landscape, creating fascinating and strange constructions that have appeared in prestigious venues. Having had significant exhibitions at Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, Bove’s three decades of work are ripe for a in-depth survey. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those familiar with the book *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – it’s in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as some 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

Italian master painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of the Italian Renaissance – but he has rarely received a large-scale exhibition on American soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from all across Europe and over 200 works total, this is poised as a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s queer art museum presents a major, large-scale video installation by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the daily struggles of transgender existence. The installation promises to be a very engaging experience, with audience members invited to play around with the four moveable screens that display the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center will feature new work 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 intricate, queer-themed assemblages. The show showcases new work based on the concept of same-sex marriage. This continues her ongoing project of employing reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are socialized to use physical space differently, this show examines how non-verbal communication influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art dating back to 2000 BC. Here, Wex’s findings are displayed and put into conversation with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the haunting shadow-based work of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts will show a collection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.