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From old masters to contemporary icons, contemporary greats alongside a renowned Latin American film-maker, galleries as well as institutions throughout the United States have a series of spectacular exhibitions coming up for 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back in 2023, now merely a mostly empty page at The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of a central creators of the pop art movement comes with significant anticipation. The museum plans to utilize its decades-old holdings of nearly 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, dozens borrowed works from institutions globally. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area partner museums, the Legion of Honor along with deYoung, will focus on Venice with two interconnected exhibitions: one location will offer a celebration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, while the other will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the prospect of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually rose to the task, creating some 37 paintings, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and 21 March-26 July.

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

Marking the 25th anniversary of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than 1m ft of footage that never made it into the released movie, creating an art installation that also serves as a homage to celluloid. Reportedly the director dug deep into the archives to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. It's possible the exhibit will evoke a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a major career survey, starting with her early works and progressing all the way up to a new series of works fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her components directly from the city environment, producing fascinating and strange constructions that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable venues. Having had major shows in Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s thirty years of work are ripe for a in-depth survey. Early Spring to Summer.

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

Those familiar with the book *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is actually 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 since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus around 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works were part of a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of Renaissance Italy – yet he has seldom been honored with a major show on American soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for iconic works 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: 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 prominent voice in digital art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang here explores the daily struggles of transgender existence. The installation is designed as a very engaging experience, with audience members encouraged to interact with the four moveable screens that show the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center will feature new work from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for deconstructing discarded objects to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights new work based on the theme of queer weddings. It extends her longstanding practice of using reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how genders are socialized to use physical space differently, this exhibition examines how non-verbal communication influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

And more …

In February, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the evocative shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of up and coming artist an innovative creator. 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 collection of the artist's architectural studies. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.