30 Best Museum Exhibitions in NYC to Explore in 2026

New York City is hosting a wide range of museum exhibitions in 2026, spanning contemporary art, Renaissance masterpieces, modern art, technology, history and culture. Time Out has selected 30 exhibitions across the city for visitors looking to explore the latest museum offerings.

New Humans: Memories of the Future

The New Museum’s reopening exhibition, “New Humans: Memories of the Future,” occupies the museum’s expanded building and features work by more than 200 artists, writers, scientists and filmmakers.

The exhibition examines how technology and social change continue to reshape ideas about what it means to be human. Featured artists include Hito Steyerl, Wangechi Mutu, Anicka Yi, Salvador Dalí, Hannah Höch and H.R. Giger, alongside new site-specific commissions.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, “Raphael: Sublime Poetry” brings together more than 170 works by Renaissance artist Raphael from museums and collections around the world.

The exhibition follows Raphael’s career from his early years in Urbino through his time in Florence and Rome. Finished paintings are displayed alongside preparatory drawings, sketches and studies, highlighting his approach to composition, anatomy, storytelling and the depiction of women.

Whitney Biennial 2026

The Whitney Museum of American Art is presenting the 2026 Whitney Biennial, featuring 56 artists whose work explores subjects including artificial intelligence, climate grief and geopolitical power.

The exhibition extends across most of the museum’s galleries and includes performances and public programming focused on relationships between people, institutions, governments and technology.

Frida and Diego: The Last Dream

MoMA is hosting “Frida and Diego: The Last Dream,” an exhibition celebrating Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

Running from March 21 through September 12, 2026, the exhibition includes five paintings and a drawing by Kahlo, more than a dozen works by Rivera and photographic portraits of the two artists. The installation is presented in conjunction with the Metropolitan Opera’s production of “El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego.”

Marcel Duchamp at MoMA

MoMA is presenting the first major Marcel Duchamp retrospective in North America in five decades. The exhibition runs from April 12 to August 22 and features nearly 300 works spanning six decades and multiple artistic mediums.

Highlights include “Nude Descending a Staircase (No. 2)” and “The Box in a Valise.”

Maestros and the Machines at Mercer Labs

Mercer Labs is presenting “Maestros and the Machines,” a technology-focused exhibition that includes “The Engine,” an installation conceived and directed by artist Roy Nachum.

The installation uses mirrored surfaces and a large-format screen displaying shifting landscapes, patterns and imagery to alter visitors’ perception of space, movement and orientation.

The broader list includes exhibitions at museums and cultural institutions throughout New York City, offering visitors options ranging from major art retrospectives to interactive and technology-driven installations.