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Spanning Renaissance masters and contemporary icons, modern visionaries and even a renowned Mexican film-maker, galleries and institutions throughout the US are preparing a series of spectacular shows coming up in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back during 2023, now just a mostly empty page at The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of a pioneering figures of the Pop Art era comes with significant anticipation. The museum will be drawing on its long-held collection of nearly 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, numerous loans from collections globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area partner museums, the Legion of Honor and deYoung, will focus on the Floating City through two interconnected exhibitions: the former museum will offer a exploration of the city as a source of high art for hundreds of years, and the latter zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the challenge of depicting Venice – a theme that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – yet he ultimately met the challenge, producing approximately 37 paintings, 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

Marking the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over a million feet of footage that never made it of the released movie, creating an immersive experience that doubles as a homage to celluloid. Reportedly the director delved into the archives to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of one of his most beloved films. It's possible the exhibit will evoke some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the mixed media sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her initial pieces and moving through to a fresh series of pieces fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. 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 Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s three decades of work are ripe for a thorough survey. 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* – this is in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus some 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has rarely received a large-scale exhibition on American soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from all across Europe and more than 200 works in all, this is poised as a major event. 29 March–28 June.

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

NYC’s queer art museum presents a major, large-scale video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. As with much of her work, Cheang in this piece explores the daily struggles of transgender existence. Lover Love promises to be a highly interactive experience, with visitors encouraged to play around with the four moveable screens that display the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases recent creations from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for deconstructing unconventional materials to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights new work based on the concept of same-sex marriage. This continues her longstanding practice of using reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are conditioned to use physical space differently, this exhibition examines how non-verbal communication influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s research included art as old as ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the evocative silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of up and coming artist an innovative creator. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a selection of the artist's architecture paintings. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue exhibits the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.