The Smithsonian Institution has announced 19 new exhibitions opening across its museums in 2026, including shows at the African American History and Culture Museum, African Art Museum, Air and Space Museum, American Art Museum, American History Museum, and Asian Art Museum. Highlights include Nick Cave's immersive installation "Mammoth" at the American Art Museum, a photography survey of the U.S. Bicentennial, and a major reopening of the Air and Space Museum's final seven galleries after eight years of renovations. Several exhibitions tie into the nation's 250th anniversary, while others explore LGBTQ+ African art, HBCU collections, salsa music history, and contemporary water-themed paintings by Hiroshi Senju and Bingyi.
This slate of exhibitions matters because it represents one of the most coordinated and ambitious programming efforts by the Smithsonian, leveraging the 250th anniversary of the United States to reflect on national identity, diversity, and artistic innovation. The shows span historical narratives, social justice themes, and immersive contemporary art, signaling the Smithsonian's role as a cultural bellwether. The reopening of the Air and Space Museum's renovated galleries after an eight-year closure is particularly significant for museum attendance and public engagement with science and history.