🔗 Share this article Must-See US Gallery Shows Arriving in 2026 Spanning Renaissance masters to contemporary icons, modern visionaries and even a major Latin American director, art museums and institutions throughout the United States are preparing some dazzling exhibitions on the horizon in 2026. Roy Lichtenstein First revealed all the way back in 2023, and currently merely a placeholder listing on a major museum's online schedule, this major retrospective of one of the pioneering figures of the Pop Art era carries some pretty heavy expectations. The museum will be drawing on its long-held holdings of close to 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, dozens loans from collections around the world. Dates to be announced 2026. Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice San Francisco sister institutions, the Legion of Honor along with another, 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 the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. The artist was daunted by the challenge of depicting Venice – a subject that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – but he eventually met the challenge, creating some 37 paintings, 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 A visual from the artistic project. Courtesy: Example Source Celebrating the quarter-century of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over 1m ft of footage that never made it into the released movie, creating an art installation that also serves as a homage to film. Accounts suggest Iñárritu 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 pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer. The Sculptural World of Carol Bove The Guggenheim is dedicating the mixed media sculpture and installation artist a major career survey, starting with her initial pieces and moving through to a fresh series of pieces fashioned from scrap metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove frequently sources her components 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 at Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, her thirty years of creation are ripe for a thorough overview. Early Spring to Summer. Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color The artist - *Horse, Rider, and Clown* from *Jazz*, 1947. Credit: Example Archive Those familiar with 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 paired with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum acquired 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. March through early Summer. Raphael: Sublime Poetry The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of Renaissance Italy – yet he has seldom received a large-scale exhibition on US soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. 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 in all, this promises to be a blockbuster show. 29 March–28 June. Shu Lea Cheang's *Lover Love*: An Interactive Vision An artistic creation by the artist. Photo: Example Photographer NYC’s queer art museum presents a major, large-scale film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. As with much of her work, Cheang in this piece explores the everyday realities of transgender existence. The installation is designed as a very engaging piece, with audience members encouraged to interact with the four moveable screens that show 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 native Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for transforming unconventional materials to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. The show highlights new work based on the theme of same-sex marriage. This continues her ongoing project of using reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027. Taking Back Our Space Study from Marianne Wex's influential project. Courtesy: Example Museum Expanding upon the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are socialized to use physical space differently, this exhibition examines how body language shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and put into conversation with the work of modern diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027. Additional Highlights for 2026 In February, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the haunting shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of up and coming Black artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a collection of the artist's architectural studies. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.