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From old masters and pop artists, contemporary greats and even a renowned Mexican film-maker, galleries as well as galleries across the US have a series of dazzling exhibitions on the horizon for 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back during 2023, now merely a placeholder listing on a major museum's website, this major retrospective of a central creators of the Pop Art era comes with significant anticipation. The institution will be drawing on its long-held collection of nearly 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, numerous borrowed works from institutions around the world. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area sister institutions, the Legion of Honor along with deYoung, will be centering Venice with two linked shows: one location presents a celebration of the city as a source of high art throughout the centuries, while the other will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the prospect of painting Venice – a theme that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually rose to the task, creating some 37 canvases, among them the renowned work *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 debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over a million feet of footage that never made it of the final cut, creating an art installation that also serves as a homage to celluloid. Reportedly Iñárritu dug deep into the archives to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of one of his most beloved films. It's possible the installation will instil some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation creator a major career survey, beginning with her initial pieces and moving through to a fresh series of pieces made from found metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her materials directly from the urban landscape, producing fascinating and strange sculptures that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable art spots. With significant exhibitions in the MoMA and a Parisian institution, her thirty years of creation are ready for a thorough overview. 5 March–2 August.

Henri Matisse's *Jazz*: A Symphony of Cut Paper

Anyone familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – it’s actually one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute will display the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of the Italian Renaissance – but he has rarely received a major show on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from throughout Europe and over 200 works total, this is poised as a major event. Late March through June.

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

A New York queer art museum presents a significant and immersive video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. As with much of her work, Cheang in this piece explores the daily struggles of trans life. Lover Love is designed as a highly interactive experience, with visitors encouraged to interact with the four moveable screens that show the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases recent creations from this artist, who was compelled to leave her home country of Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for deconstructing unconventional materials to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights new work based on the concept of queer weddings. This continues her ongoing project of using reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how genders are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this show investigates how non-verbal communication shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art dating back to 2000 BC. Here, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the haunting shadow-based work of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring 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, a Michigan museum presents a selection of the artist's architecture paintings. And also in September, an Arizona venue exhibits the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.