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Spanning old masters and pop artists, modern visionaries and even a renowned Mexican film-maker, galleries as well as galleries throughout the US are preparing some spectacular shows on the horizon in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago in 2023, now just a mostly empty page at The Whitney’s website, this expansive survey of one of the central creators of the pop art movement comes with some pretty heavy anticipation. The institution will be drawing on its decades-old holdings of close to 500 works by Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, numerous borrowed works from institutions globally. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco sister institutions, the Legion of Honor along with another, will be centering the Floating City through two linked shows: the former museum will offer a exploration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, and the latter zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. The artist was daunted by the prospect of depicting Venice – a theme that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually met the challenge, creating some 37 canvases, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer 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*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than a million feet of footage that never made it of the final cut, creating an immersive experience that doubles as a love letter to film. Reportedly the director delved into the archives to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. It's possible the exhibit will evoke a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation creator a major career survey, beginning with her initial pieces and moving through to a new collection of pieces fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove often sources her components directly from the urban landscape, creating intriguing and unusual constructions that have been displayed in prestigious art spots. With major shows in Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, her thirty years of work are ripe for a in-depth 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* – this is actually one of 20 paper compositions that he combined with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute will display all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as around 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of the Italian Renaissance – but he has seldom received a large-scale exhibition on American soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from all across Europe and over 200 works in all, this promises to be a major event. 29 March–28 June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a major, large-scale film-based work by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang here investigates the everyday realities of transgender existence. The installation is designed as a very engaging piece, with audience members encouraged to play around with the multiple movable screens that display the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her home country of Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming discarded objects to make intricate, queer-themed assemblages. The show highlights new work based on the concept of same-sex marriage. It extends her ongoing project of employing found items as a symbolic act of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the pioneering work 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 shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art as old as 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.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the evocative silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of up and coming Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a collection of the artist's architecture paintings. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.