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From old masters to pop artists, modern visionaries alongside a renowned Mexican film-maker, galleries and galleries across the United States are preparing a series of spectacular exhibitions on the horizon for 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back in 2023, now just a placeholder listing on a major museum's online schedule, this expansive survey 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 holdings of close to 500 works from Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, numerous borrowed works from collections around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

San Francisco partner museums, the Legion of Honor along with deYoung, will be centering Venice with two interconnected shows: the former museum will offer a celebration of the city as a source of high art for hundreds of years, 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 theme that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – but he eventually rose to the task, producing approximately 37 canvases, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Marking the quarter-century of his groundbreaking first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over a million feet of film that was left out of the released movie, crafting an art installation that also serves as a love letter to film. Accounts suggest Iñárritu dug deep into the vaults to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of one of his most beloved films. Perhaps the installation will instil some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the mixed media sculpture and installation creator a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her early works and moving all the way up to a new collection of pieces made from found metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her materials straight from the urban landscape, producing intriguing and unusual constructions that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable art spots. With major shows at the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s thirty years of work are ripe for a thorough survey. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he combined with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum will display the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus around 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations were part of a prolific final chapter 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 renowned masters of Renaissance Italy – yet he has seldom been honored with a major show on American soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from all across Europe and more than 200 works in all, this is poised as a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York queer art museum presents a significant and immersive video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang in this piece explores the everyday realities of trans life. The installation promises to be a highly interactive experience, with audience members encouraged to interact with the multiple movable screens that show the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center showcases recent creations from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming unconventional materials to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights recent pieces based on the theme of same-sex marriage. This continues her longstanding practice of employing found items as a symbolic act of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to use physical space differently, this exhibition examines how non-verbal communication influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies included art as old as ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the evocative shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue displays the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.