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From Renaissance masters to contemporary icons, modern visionaries and even a renowned Latin American film-maker, galleries and institutions across the United States have some spectacular exhibitions on the horizon for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back during 2023, now just a mostly empty page on The Whitney’s online schedule, this expansive survey of one of the pioneering figures of the pop art movement carries some pretty heavy expectations. The institution plans to utilize its long-held collection of nearly 500 works by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, dozens borrowed works from institutions globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area partner museums, the Legion of Honor along with deYoung, will focus on Venice with two interconnected exhibitions: one location presents a exploration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, and the latter will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. The artist was daunted by the challenge of depicting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for centuries – but he eventually rose to the task, producing approximately 37 canvases, among them the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

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

Marking the quarter-century of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than a million feet of film that never made it into the released movie, crafting an art installation that doubles as a homage to celluloid. Accounts suggest the director dug deep into the vaults to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” 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 also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of 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 new series of works made from scrap metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her components straight from the urban landscape, creating fascinating and strange sculptures that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable venues. Having had major shows in Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, her thirty years of work are ready for a thorough overview. 5 March–2 August.

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

Anyone familiar with the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, Chicago’s Art Institute will display the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of the Italian Renaissance – but he has seldom been honored with 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 loans from throughout Europe and over 200 works total, this is poised as a major event. 29 March–28 June.

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

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a major, large-scale video installation by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the everyday realities of transgender existence. The installation promises to be a highly interactive piece, with audience members encouraged to play around with the multiple movable screens that display the central film. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center showcases new work from this artist, who was compelled to leave her home country of Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for deconstructing unconventional materials to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. The show highlights new work based on the theme of queer weddings. This continues her longstanding practice of employing reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are socialized to inhabit space differently, this show examines how non-verbal communication influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies included art dating back to 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and put into conversation with the work of contemporary diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the haunting silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of rising Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a selection of the artist's architectural studies. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.