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Spanning old masters to pop artists, modern visionaries and even a major Mexican director, galleries and institutions across the US have a series of spectacular shows on the horizon for 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago in 2023, now merely a placeholder listing at The Whitney’s website, this expansive survey of a central creators of the Pop Art era carries significant anticipation. The institution will be drawing on its long-held collection of nearly 500 works by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, numerous borrowed works from institutions around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area partner museums, one prestigious venue and deYoung, will be centering Venice through two linked shows: one location presents a celebration of the city as an engine of high art throughout the centuries, while the other zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the challenge of painting Venice – a theme that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately rose to the task, creating approximately 37 canvases, including the masterpiece *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 returns to over a million feet of footage that never made it of the final cut, crafting an art installation that also serves as a love letter to film. Accounts suggest Iñárritu delved into the vaults to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. It's possible the exhibit will instil some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculptor artist a major career survey, starting with her early works and moving all the way up to a fresh series of works made from scrap metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove frequently sources her components straight from the urban landscape, creating fascinating and strange constructions that have appeared in prestigious art spots. With major shows at the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s three decades of creation are ripe for a thorough overview. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those who know the book *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 book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, Chicago’s Art Institute will display the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has rarely received a large-scale exhibition on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works from throughout Europe and over 200 works in all, this promises to be a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a significant and immersive film-based work by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang in this piece explores the daily struggles of trans life. The installation is designed as a highly interactive piece, with audience members invited to play around with the four moveable screens that display the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston will feature new work from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for deconstructing discarded objects to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. The show showcases new work based on the theme of queer weddings. This continues her longstanding practice of using found items as a symbolic act of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how genders are conditioned to use physical space differently, this exhibition examines how body language shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s research spanned art as old as ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

In February, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the evocative silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum presents a collection of the artist's architecture paintings. And also in September, an Arizona venue exhibits the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.