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Spanning old masters to contemporary icons, modern visionaries alongside a major Mexican film-maker, art museums as well as galleries across the United States have some spectacular exhibitions coming up in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back in 2023, and currently just a mostly empty page on The Whitney’s online schedule, this expansive survey of one of the pioneering figures of the Pop Art era comes with some pretty heavy expectations. The museum plans to utilize its long-held holdings of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, numerous borrowed works from collections globally. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco partner museums, the Legion of Honor along with deYoung, will be centering the Floating City with two linked exhibitions: one location presents a exploration of the city as a source of high art for hundreds of years, while the other will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. The artist was daunted by the challenge of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually rose to the task, producing approximately 37 canvases, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

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

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over 1m ft of film that was left out into the final cut, crafting an immersive experience that doubles as a love letter to celluloid. Reportedly 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. It's possible the installation will evoke 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

The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a major career survey, starting with her initial pieces and moving all the way up to a fresh series of pieces made from scrap metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove often sources her components directly from the city environment, producing fascinating and strange constructions that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable art spots. With significant exhibitions in the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, her thirty years of work are ripe for a in-depth survey. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and bound into a book 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 obtained the works in 1948 – plus around 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great 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 received a major show on US soil. A premier East Coast institution 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 all across Europe and over 200 works total, this promises to be a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a major, large-scale video installation by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. As with most of her work, Cheang here investigates the daily struggles of trans life. The installation is designed as a highly interactive experience, with visitors invited to interact with the multiple movable screens that display the central film. 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 when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming unconventional materials to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. This exhibition showcases recent pieces based on the theme of queer weddings. This continues her ongoing project of using found items as a symbolic act of defiance. 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 studied how men and women are socialized to use physical space differently, this exhibition investigates how body language influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s research included art as old as 2000 BC. Here, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of up and coming artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts will show a selection of the artist's architectural studies. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue displays the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.