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From Renaissance masters to contemporary icons, contemporary greats and even a renowned Mexican film-maker, art museums as well as galleries throughout the United States are preparing some dazzling shows on the horizon in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back in 2023, and currently just a mostly empty page on The Whitney’s website, this expansive survey of a central creators of the Pop Art era comes with some pretty heavy anticipation. The museum will be drawing on its long-held collection of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, numerous borrowed works from institutions around the world. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

San Francisco partner museums, the Legion of Honor and deYoung, will be centering Venice with two linked shows: one location will offer a celebration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, while the other will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the challenge of painting Venice – a subject that had inspired the most revered artists for centuries – yet he ultimately rose to the task, creating some 37 canvases, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and 21 March-26 July.

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

Marking the quarter-century of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over 1m ft of film that was left out of the released movie, creating an immersive experience that also serves as a homage to film. Accounts suggest the director dug deep into the vaults to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. Perhaps the exhibit will instil some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her early works and progressing through to a new 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 fascinating and strange sculptures that have been displayed in prestigious art spots. With major shows in the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s thirty years of creation are ripe for a in-depth overview. Early Spring to Summer.

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

Those who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he combined with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits all 20 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 prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of Renaissance Italy – but he has rarely been honored with a major show 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 over 200 works total, this is poised as a blockbuster show. 29 March–28 June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York queer art museum will host a major, large-scale video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the everyday realities of transgender existence. Lover Love is designed as a very engaging piece, with audience members invited to interact with the multiple movable screens that show the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center will feature 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 transforming unconventional materials to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights recent pieces based on the theme of same-sex marriage. This continues her longstanding practice of employing reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are conditioned to use physical space differently, this show examines how body language influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s research included art dating back to ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and juxtaposed 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 Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of up and coming Black artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring through a show of his sculptural works. In September, a Michigan museum presents a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.