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Spanning Renaissance masters and pop artists, contemporary greats alongside a major Mexican film-maker, galleries and institutions throughout the US have a series of dazzling shows on the horizon in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back in 2023, and currently merely a placeholder listing at The Whitney’s website, this major retrospective of one of the central creators of the Pop Art era comes with significant anticipation. The institution plans to utilize its decades-old collection of nearly 500 works by Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, dozens loans from collections around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area partner museums, the Legion of Honor along with another, will focus on Venice through two interconnected exhibitions: one location presents a celebration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, and the latter zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the prospect of depicting Venice – a subject that had inspired the most revered artists for centuries – yet he ultimately rose to the task, producing some 37 canvases, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

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

Marking the quarter-century of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than 1m ft of film that never made it into the final cut, crafting an immersive experience that also serves as a love letter to film. Accounts suggest the director dug deep into the vaults to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. It's possible the exhibit will evoke a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the multidisciplinary sculptor creator a major career survey, beginning with her early works and moving all the way up to a fresh series of works made from found metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove often takes her components directly from the city environment, creating fascinating and strange sculptures that have been displayed in prestigious venues. With major shows at Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, her thirty years of creation are ripe for a in-depth survey. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – it’s actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus some 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of Renaissance Italy – but he has rarely received a major show on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from all across Europe and more than 200 works in all, this promises to be a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang's *Lover Love*: An Interactive Vision

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a major, large-scale film-based work by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang here explores the daily struggles of transgender existence. Lover Love promises to be a very engaging experience, with audience members invited to play around with the multiple movable screens that show the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston will feature recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her home country of Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for deconstructing unconventional materials to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. This exhibition showcases new work based on the concept of queer weddings. It extends her ongoing project of using reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are socialized to use physical space differently, this show investigates how non-verbal communication influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s research spanned art as old as 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the haunting silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of rising artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, a Michigan museum presents a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue displays the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.