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Spanning old masters to contemporary icons, modern visionaries and even a major Mexican director, galleries as well as institutions across the US have a series of dazzling exhibitions on the horizon for 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back in 2023, and currently just a mostly empty page at a major museum's website, this expansive survey of one of the central creators of the Pop Art era comes with some pretty heavy expectations. The institution will be drawing on its long-held collection of nearly 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, dozens borrowed works from institutions around the world. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area sister institutions, the Legion of Honor along with another, will focus on Venice with two linked shows: the former museum presents a celebration of the city as an engine of high art throughout the centuries, and the latter zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the prospect of depicting Venice – a subject that had captivated the most revered artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately rose to the task, producing approximately 37 paintings, among them 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 quarter-century of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over 1m ft of film that was left out of the final cut, creating an art installation that also serves as a love letter to film. Reportedly the director dug deep into the archives to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. Perhaps the installation will instil a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the mixed media sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her initial pieces and moving through to a fresh series of pieces made from found metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove often sources her materials directly from the urban landscape, creating fascinating and strange constructions that have been displayed in prestigious venues. Having had significant exhibitions in the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, her thirty years of creation are ripe for a thorough survey. Early Spring to Summer.

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

Anyone 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 cut-paper works that he combined with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of Renaissance Italy – yet he has seldom been honored with a large-scale exhibition on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from throughout Europe and more than 200 works total, this is poised as a major event. 29 March–28 June.

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

A New York queer art museum presents a major, large-scale film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. As with much of her work, Cheang here investigates the everyday realities of trans life. The installation is designed as a highly interactive piece, with audience members invited to interact with the multiple movable screens that show the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center will feature recent creations from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for deconstructing discarded objects to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. This exhibition showcases new work based on the theme of queer weddings. This continues her ongoing project 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 analyzed how men and women are socialized to inhabit space differently, this exhibition investigates how body language shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of modern diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising artist an innovative creator. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a collection of the artist's architectural studies. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.