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Spanning Renaissance masters to contemporary icons, modern visionaries alongside a major Latin American film-maker, art museums as well as galleries throughout the United States have a series of spectacular shows on the horizon in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago in 2023, and currently merely a placeholder listing on a major museum's website, this major retrospective of a pioneering figures of the pop art movement carries significant anticipation. The institution plans to utilize its long-held collection of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, dozens loans from collections globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area partner museums, the Legion of Honor along with deYoung, will be centering the Floating City with two interconnected exhibitions: the former museum presents a exploration of the city as an engine of high art for hundreds of years, while the other will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the prospect of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – yet he ultimately met the challenge, producing approximately 37 canvases, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

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

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than 1m ft of footage that was left out into the released movie, crafting an immersive experience that doubles as a love letter to celluloid. Accounts suggest Iñárritu delved into the vaults to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of one of his most beloved films. Perhaps the exhibit will instil a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the mixed media sculpture and installation creator a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her initial pieces and progressing all the way up to a fresh series of works fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove often takes her components straight from the city environment, creating intriguing and unusual constructions that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable venues. Having had major shows at Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, her thirty years of creation are ripe for a thorough survey. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those familiar with the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – this is in fact 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 exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus around 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

Italian master artist 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 aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from all across Europe and over 200 works total, this is poised as a major event. 29 March–28 June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a significant and immersive video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media 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 very engaging piece, with audience members encouraged to interact with the multiple movable screens that display the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

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 transforming discarded objects to make intricate, queer-themed sculptures. This exhibition showcases new work based on the concept of same-sex marriage. This continues her longstanding practice of employing reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how genders are conditioned to use physical space differently, this show examines how non-verbal communication shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s research spanned art as old as 2000 BC. Here, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and put into conversation with the work of contemporary diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the evocative silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming artist an innovative creator. During the summer, an Arkansas museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a collection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.