🔗 Share this article Unmissable American Art Exhibitions Coming in 2026 From old masters to contemporary icons, contemporary greats alongside a renowned Latin American film-maker, art museums and institutions throughout the United States are preparing a series of dazzling shows on the horizon for 2026. The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein First revealed all the way back during 2023, now just a placeholder listing on The Whitney’s website, this expansive survey of a central creators of the Pop Art era carries significant anticipation. The museum will be drawing on its decades-old collection of close to 500 works from Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, dozens borrowed works from institutions around the world. Dates to be announced 2026. Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet Bay Area partner museums, one prestigious venue and deYoung, will focus on Venice with two linked shows: one location will offer a exploration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, and the latter will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the prospect of painting Venice – a subject that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually rose to the task, creating some 37 paintings, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer. Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu A visual from the artistic project. Courtesy: Example Source Marking the 25th anniversary of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than 1m ft of footage that was left out into the final cut, creating an art installation that doubles as a homage to celluloid. Reportedly the director delved into the vaults to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. Perhaps the installation will instil some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July. Carol Bove The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation creator a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her early works and moving through to a new series of works fashioned from scrap metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her materials directly from the urban landscape, producing fascinating and strange constructions that have been displayed in prestigious art spots. Having had significant exhibitions at the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s three decades of work are ripe for a in-depth overview. 5 March–2 August. Henri Matisse's *Jazz*: A Symphony of Cut Paper The artist - *Horse, Rider, and Clown* from *Jazz*, 1947. Credit: Museum Collection Those familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – it’s in fact 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 exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus around 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations were part of a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer. Raphael: Master of the Renaissance Italian master painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of the Italian Renaissance – 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 well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works from all across Europe and over 200 works in all, this promises to be a major event. Late March through June. Shu Lea Cheang's *Lover Love*: An Interactive Vision An artistic creation by Shu Lea Cheang. Photo: Gallery NYC’s queer art museum presents a major, large-scale film-based work by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the everyday realities of transgender existence. The installation promises to be a highly interactive piece, with visitors encouraged to interact with the multiple movable screens that display the central film. Spring 2026 through early 2027. Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston will feature recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for deconstructing discarded objects to make intricate, queer-themed sculptures. The show showcases new work based on the concept of same-sex marriage. It extends her longstanding practice of employing reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027. Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power Study from the artist's influential project. Courtesy: Example Museum Expanding upon the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how genders are socialized to inhabit space differently, this exhibition examines how body language shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art as old as ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and put into conversation with the work of contemporary diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027. Additional Highlights for 2026 Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the haunting shadow-based work of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of up and coming Black artist an innovative creator. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a selection of the artist's architecture paintings. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.