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From Renaissance masters to pop artists, contemporary greats alongside a renowned Mexican film-maker, art museums as well as galleries across the United States have some spectacular exhibitions on the horizon in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back in 2023, now just a mostly empty page on a major museum's online schedule, this expansive survey of a central creators of the Pop Art era comes with some pretty heavy anticipation. The institution plans to utilize its long-held holdings of close to 500 works by Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, dozens loans from institutions globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area sister institutions, the Legion of Honor along with another, will focus on Venice with two linked shows: the former museum presents a exploration of the city as an engine of high art for hundreds of years, while the other zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the challenge of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually rose to the task, creating approximately 37 paintings, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Marking the quarter-century of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over 1m ft of film that was left out into the final cut, crafting an immersive experience that doubles as a love letter to celluloid. Reportedly Iñárritu delved into the archives to create what he described as “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 hardship he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her initial pieces and moving all the way up to a new series of pieces made from scrap metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove often takes her materials straight from the urban landscape, creating intriguing and unusual constructions that have appeared in prestigious venues. With major shows in Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s three decades of work are ready for a thorough overview. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those familiar with the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute will display the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of Renaissance Italy – but he has rarely been honored with a major show on US soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from all across 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 major, large-scale video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. As with much of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the daily struggles of trans life. Lover Love promises to be a very engaging experience, with visitors encouraged to play around with the four moveable screens that display the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston will feature new work from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for deconstructing discarded objects to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. The show showcases recent pieces based on the concept of same-sex marriage. It extends her longstanding practice of employing found items as a meaningful gesture of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are conditioned to use physical space differently, this show investigates how body language influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s research spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are displayed and put into conversation with the work of modern diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the haunting silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum presents a collection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. And also in September, an Arizona venue exhibits the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.