🔗 Share this article The Most Exciting American Art Exhibitions Arriving in 2026 Spanning old masters and contemporary icons, modern visionaries and even a major Latin American film-maker, galleries and galleries throughout the US are preparing a series of dazzling exhibitions on the horizon for 2026. The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein Announced all the way back during 2023, and currently merely a placeholder listing on a major museum's website, this expansive survey of a central creators of the pop art movement carries significant expectations. The institution will be drawing on its decades-old holdings of close to 500 works from Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, numerous loans from collections globally. TBD 2026. Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet San Francisco sister institutions, one prestigious venue along with deYoung, will be centering the Floating City through two linked shows: one location presents a exploration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, and the latter will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. The artist was daunted by the prospect of painting Venice – a subject that had captivated 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*. 6 January-2 August and 21 March-26 July. Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu An image from this film installation. Courtesy: Example Source Marking the 25th anniversary of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than 1m ft of footage that was left out of the released movie, creating an art installation that doubles as a homage to film. Accounts suggest Iñárritu dug deep into the vaults to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. Perhaps the exhibit will instil some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer. Carol Bove The Guggenheim will give the multidisciplinary sculptor artist a major career survey, beginning with her early works and progressing all the way up to a fresh collection of works made from found metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove often sources her materials directly from the city environment, creating intriguing and unusual sculptures that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable art spots. With major shows in Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, her three decades of work are ripe for a in-depth survey. 5 March–2 August. Henri Matisse's *Jazz*: A Symphony of Cut Paper Henri Matisse - A composition from *Jazz*, 1947. Image Source: Example Archive Those who know 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 paper compositions that he paired with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, Chicago’s Art Institute will display all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer. Raphael: Sublime Poetry The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has rarely received a large-scale exhibition on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works from throughout Europe and more than 200 works total, this promises to be a major event. 29 March–28 June. Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love *SadeX tableaux* by the artist. Credit: Example Photographer A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a major, large-scale film-based work by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang here explores the daily struggles of trans life. The installation promises to be a highly interactive experience, with visitors encouraged to play around with the multiple movable screens that display the central film. 2 April–January 2027. Leilah Babirye The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston 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 unconventional materials to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights recent pieces based on the concept of queer weddings. This continues her ongoing project of using reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027. Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power Study from Marianne Wex's seminal work. Courtesy: Collection Expanding upon the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are conditioned to use physical space differently, this show investigates how body language influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s research included art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and put into conversation with the work of contemporary diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027. And more … Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the evocative silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of up and coming artist an innovative creator. During the summer, an Arkansas museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring through a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a selection 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.