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Spanning old masters to pop artists, modern visionaries alongside a renowned Latin American director, galleries as well as galleries throughout the US are preparing some dazzling shows coming up for 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back in 2023, and currently merely a mostly empty page at a major museum's online schedule, this major retrospective of a central creators of the Pop Art era comes with significant anticipation. The institution plans to utilize its long-held holdings of close to 500 works from Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, dozens borrowed works from institutions globally. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco partner museums, the Legion of Honor and another, will focus on the Floating City through two linked shows: one location presents a exploration of the city as an engine of high art throughout the centuries, while the other will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the prospect of depicting Venice – a subject that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – but he eventually met the challenge, creating approximately 37 canvases, among them the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

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

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over 1m ft of footage that never made it of the final cut, creating an immersive experience that also serves as a homage to celluloid. Reportedly the director delved into the archives to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of one of his most beloved films. Perhaps the installation will instil some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation creator a major career survey, starting with her early works and moving all the way up to a fresh collection of pieces made from scrap metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her materials directly from the city environment, creating fascinating and strange sculptures that have been displayed in prestigious venues. Having had significant exhibitions at the MoMA and a Parisian institution, her thirty years of work are ready for a in-depth overview. Early Spring to Summer.

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

Anyone familiar with the book *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – it’s in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of the Italian Renaissance – but he has rarely been honored with a large-scale exhibition on American soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from all across Europe and more than 200 works in all, this promises to be a major event. 29 March–28 June.

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

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a major, large-scale video installation by Taiwanese-American 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 highly interactive piece, with visitors invited to play around with the four moveable screens that display the central film. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center showcases recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming unconventional materials to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. This exhibition showcases recent pieces based on the concept of same-sex marriage. This continues her longstanding practice of employing found items as a symbolic act of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this show examines how non-verbal communication influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the evocative silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring through a show of his sculptural works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.