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Spanning old masters and pop artists, modern visionaries and even a major Mexican director, galleries and institutions across the United States are preparing some spectacular exhibitions on the horizon in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back in 2023, and currently just a mostly empty page at The Whitney’s online schedule, this expansive survey of one of the pioneering figures of the pop art movement comes with some pretty heavy expectations. The museum plans to utilize its decades-old collection of close to 500 works from Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, dozens loans from collections globally. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area partner museums, one prestigious venue along with another, will be centering the Floating City through two linked shows: one location presents a celebration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, while the other zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the prospect of depicting Venice – a subject that had captivated the most revered artists for centuries – yet he ultimately rose to the task, creating approximately 37 paintings, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August 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*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than 1m ft of film that was left out into the released movie, crafting an art installation that doubles as a love letter to film. Reportedly Iñárritu delved into the vaults to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of one of his most beloved films. Perhaps the exhibit will instil a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the mixed media sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her initial pieces and progressing through to a fresh series of works fashioned from found metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove frequently sources her components directly from the urban landscape, producing fascinating and strange sculptures that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable venues. With major shows at the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, her three decades of creation are ripe for a thorough overview. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those 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 bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus some 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has seldom received a major show on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from throughout Europe and over 200 works total, this promises to be a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

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

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a significant and immersive video installation by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang in this piece explores the daily struggles of trans life. The installation is designed as a very engaging experience, with visitors invited to interact with the multiple movable screens that show the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston 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 recognized for deconstructing unconventional materials to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. This exhibition highlights new work based on the concept of same-sex marriage. It extends her longstanding practice of employing found items as a meaningful gesture of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Building on the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this exhibition investigates how body language influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s research spanned art as old as 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse 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, an art gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming Black artist an innovative creator. During the summer, an Arkansas museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, a Michigan museum 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.