The Most Exciting US Gallery Shows Arriving in 2026

Spanning old masters to contemporary icons, modern visionaries and even a major Latin American director, galleries and galleries throughout the US are preparing a series of spectacular shows on the horizon in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago in 2023, now just a placeholder listing on The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of a central creators of the Pop Art era carries some pretty heavy expectations. The institution plans to utilize its long-held holdings of nearly 500 works from Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, numerous borrowed works from collections around the world. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area sister institutions, one prestigious venue along with deYoung, will focus on the Floating City with two linked shows: one location presents a exploration of the city as an engine of high art throughout the centuries, while the other zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the prospect of painting Venice – a subject that had captivated the most revered artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately rose to the task, producing approximately 37 paintings, among them the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and 21 March-26 July.

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

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over 1m ft of footage that was left out of the final cut, creating an art installation that doubles as a homage to celluloid. Accounts suggest Iñárritu dug deep into the vaults to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of one of his most beloved films. Perhaps the installation will evoke some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give 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 found metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove often sources her components straight from the city environment, creating fascinating and strange constructions that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable venues. Having had major shows in Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, Bove’s three decades of creation are ripe for a in-depth survey. 5 March–2 August.

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 cut-out *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he combined 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 cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus around 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of Renaissance Italy – but he has seldom been honored with a major show on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from throughout Europe and more than 200 works total, this is poised as a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

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

NYC’s queer art museum will host a major, large-scale video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang here investigates the everyday realities of trans life. Lover Love promises to be a very engaging experience, with visitors invited to play around with the multiple movable screens that display the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center showcases 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 known for transforming discarded objects to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. The show showcases new work based on the theme of queer weddings. It extends her longstanding practice of using found items as a meaningful gesture of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Building on the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are socialized to inhabit space differently, this show investigates how body language influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s research spanned art as old as ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the haunting shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of rising Black artist an innovative creator. During the summer, an Arkansas museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a collection of the artist's architectural studies. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.