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Spanning Renaissance masters to pop artists, modern visionaries and even a renowned Mexican film-maker, galleries as well as galleries throughout the United States have some spectacular exhibitions coming up for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago in 2023, and currently merely a mostly empty page on The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of one of the central creators of the pop art movement comes with some pretty heavy expectations. The museum will be drawing on its decades-old collection of close to 500 works from Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, numerous borrowed works from institutions globally. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area sister institutions, the Legion of Honor and deYoung, will focus on Venice with two interconnected shows: one location presents a exploration of the city as a source of high art throughout the centuries, while the other zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the challenge of depicting Venice – a subject that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually met the challenge, producing approximately 37 canvases, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

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

Marking the quarter-century of his groundbreaking first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over 1m ft of film that was left out of the released movie, crafting an immersive experience that doubles as a homage to film. Reportedly the director dug deep into the vaults to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. Perhaps the installation will instil a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the mixed media sculpture and installation creator a major career survey, beginning with her initial pieces and moving through to a new series of pieces made from found metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her components straight from the urban landscape, producing intriguing and unusual constructions that have appeared in prestigious venues. Having had significant exhibitions in the MoMA and a Parisian institution, Bove’s thirty years of work are ready for a thorough survey. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus 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 painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of the Italian Renaissance – but he has rarely been honored with a major show 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 loans from throughout Europe and over 200 works in all, this is poised as a major event. 29 March–28 June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

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 prominent voice in digital art. As with most of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the daily struggles of trans life. The installation is designed as a highly interactive experience, with visitors invited to play around with the multiple movable screens that show the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center 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 transforming discarded objects to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. This exhibition highlights recent pieces based on the concept of queer weddings. This continues her longstanding practice of employing reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how genders are socialized to inhabit space differently, this show examines how body language shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies included art as old as 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising artist an innovative creator. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. In September, a Michigan museum presents a collection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.