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From Renaissance masters to pop artists, modern visionaries alongside a major Mexican film-maker, galleries as well as galleries across the US are preparing some dazzling exhibitions coming up in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago in 2023, now merely a placeholder listing on The Whitney’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 decades-old collection of nearly 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, numerous borrowed works from collections globally. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

San Francisco sister institutions, the Legion of Honor and another, will focus on Venice with two linked exhibitions: one location will offer a exploration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, while the other zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. The artist was daunted by the prospect of painting Venice – a subject that had inspired the most revered artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately met the challenge, producing some 37 paintings, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than a million feet of footage that never made it of the released movie, creating an art installation that also serves as a love letter to film. Accounts suggest the director delved into the archives to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. Perhaps the exhibit will evoke some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a major career survey, beginning with her initial pieces and moving through to a new series of pieces fashioned from found metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her materials straight from the urban landscape, producing fascinating and strange sculptures that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable art spots. Having had major shows in Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, her three decades of creation are ripe for a thorough overview. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those familiar with the book *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – it’s actually one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus around 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

Italian master painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of Renaissance Italy – yet he has seldom been honored with a large-scale exhibition on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from all across Europe and over 200 works total, this promises to be a blockbuster show. 29 March–28 June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s queer art museum will host a major, large-scale film-based work by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang here explores the daily struggles of transgender existence. Lover Love is designed as a highly interactive experience, with visitors encouraged to interact with the four moveable screens that display the central film. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases 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 recognized for transforming discarded objects to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. The show highlights new work based on the concept of queer weddings. It extends her longstanding practice of employing reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Building on the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are socialized to use physical space differently, this show examines how non-verbal communication influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s research spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of modern diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the evocative shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of rising artist an innovative creator. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, the Detroit Institute of Arts will show a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue exhibits the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.