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Spanning old masters and pop artists, contemporary greats and even a renowned Mexican director, galleries and institutions throughout the US are preparing a series of spectacular exhibitions on the horizon in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago in 2023, and currently just a placeholder listing on a major museum's website, this expansive survey of a pioneering figures of the pop art movement carries some pretty heavy expectations. The institution will be drawing on its decades-old collection of close to 500 works by Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, dozens borrowed works from collections around the world. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

San Francisco sister institutions, one prestigious venue and another, will be centering Venice with two linked shows: the former museum will offer a exploration of the city as an engine of high art throughout the centuries, while the other zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the prospect of depicting Venice – a subject that had captivated the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually met the challenge, creating approximately 37 paintings, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and 21 March-26 July.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than a million feet of film that was left out of the released movie, crafting an immersive experience that also serves as a homage to celluloid. Accounts suggest Iñárritu dug deep into the archives to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. It's possible the installation will instil a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the mixed media sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her initial pieces and moving all the way up to a new series of works made from scrap metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her components directly from the city environment, producing intriguing and unusual constructions that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable art spots. With major shows at Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s thirty years of creation are ripe for a thorough overview. 5 March–2 August.

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

Anyone who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – it’s actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum will display the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus around 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

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

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a major, large-scale film-based work by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang here investigates the everyday realities of trans life. Lover Love is designed as a highly interactive experience, with visitors encouraged to play around with the four moveable screens that show the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases 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 transforming discarded objects to make intricate, queer-themed assemblages. This exhibition showcases new work based on the concept of queer weddings. It extends her longstanding practice of using reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are socialized to use physical space differently, this exhibition investigates how body language influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s research included art as old as 2000 BC. Here, Wex’s findings are displayed and put into conversation with the work of modern diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the haunting silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of up and coming Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. In September, a Michigan museum presents a collection of the artist's architectural studies. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.