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Spanning Renaissance masters to pop artists, contemporary greats alongside a renowned Mexican film-maker, art museums and institutions throughout the United States have some spectacular exhibitions on the horizon in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago during 2023, now merely a mostly empty page on a major museum's website, this expansive survey of one of the pioneering figures of the Pop Art era carries some pretty heavy anticipation. The museum plans to utilize its decades-old holdings of nearly 500 works from Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, numerous 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 deYoung, will be centering the Floating City with two interconnected shows: one location presents a celebration of the city as an engine of high art for hundreds of years, and the latter 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 inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – yet he ultimately met the challenge, creating some 37 canvases, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and 21 March-26 July.

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

Marking the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over 1m ft of film that never made it of the final cut, crafting an immersive experience that doubles as a love letter to celluloid. Accounts suggest the director dug deep into the archives to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of one of his most beloved films. Perhaps the installation will instil a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the multidisciplinary sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her initial pieces and moving through to a new series of pieces fashioned from found metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove often takes her components straight from the urban landscape, creating fascinating and strange constructions that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable art spots. With significant exhibitions in the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s three decades of work are ripe for a in-depth overview. 5 March–2 August.

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

Anyone who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 cut-paper works 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 preparatory models – the first such showing since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus around 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has seldom received a large-scale exhibition on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works 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: Lover Love

A New York queer art museum will host a significant and immersive film-based work by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang here explores the everyday realities of trans life. The installation is designed as a very engaging experience, with audience members invited to play around with the multiple movable screens that display the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center showcases new work from this artist, who was forced to flee her home country of Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for deconstructing discarded objects to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. This exhibition showcases recent pieces based on the theme of same-sex marriage. This continues her ongoing project of employing reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are socialized to use physical space differently, this show examines how body language shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of modern diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of rising Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, the Detroit Institute of Arts will show a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.