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From Renaissance masters and pop artists, modern visionaries alongside a major Latin American director, galleries and galleries throughout the United States are preparing some spectacular shows on the horizon in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back in 2023, and currently just a placeholder listing on a major museum's online schedule, this expansive survey of a pioneering figures of the pop art movement carries some pretty heavy expectations. The institution will be drawing on its long-held holdings of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, dozens loans from institutions around the world. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area sister institutions, one prestigious venue and another, will focus on the Floating City with two linked exhibitions: one location presents a exploration of the city as a source of high art throughout the centuries, and the latter will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the challenge of depicting Venice – a theme that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – but he eventually rose to the task, creating approximately 37 canvases, among them the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

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

Marking the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over a million feet of film that was left out of the released movie, crafting an immersive experience that also serves as a love letter to film. Accounts suggest the director dug deep into the vaults to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. It's possible the installation will instil some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation creator a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her early works and moving through to a fresh series of works made from found metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her components directly from the city environment, creating intriguing and unusual sculptures that have appeared in prestigious art spots. With significant exhibitions at the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s thirty years of creation are ready for a thorough overview. Early Spring to Summer.

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

Anyone familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – it’s in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus some 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has seldom received a major show on US soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works from throughout 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 Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a major, large-scale film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. As with much of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the daily struggles of transgender existence. The installation promises to be a very engaging experience, with audience members invited to play around with the multiple movable screens that show the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center will feature recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming discarded objects to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights new work based on the concept of queer weddings. It extends her longstanding practice of employing reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this exhibition examines how non-verbal communication shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art as old as 2000 BC. Here, Wex’s findings are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the evocative shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising Black artist an innovative creator. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a collection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue exhibits the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.