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Spanning old masters to contemporary icons, contemporary greats and even a renowned Mexican director, galleries and institutions across the US are preparing a series of dazzling exhibitions coming up in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago in 2023, and currently merely a placeholder listing on a major museum's online schedule, this expansive survey of a pioneering figures of the Pop Art era comes with some pretty heavy anticipation. The institution plans to utilize its decades-old holdings of nearly 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, numerous loans from collections globally. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area sister institutions, one prestigious venue along with another, will focus on the Floating City with two linked exhibitions: one location presents a celebration of the city as an engine of high art for hundreds of years, while the other zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the prospect of painting Venice – a subject that had inspired the most revered artists for centuries – but he eventually rose to the task, creating some 37 canvases, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Celebrating the quarter-century of his groundbreaking first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over a million feet of film that never made it into the final cut, creating an immersive experience that also serves as a homage to film. Reportedly the director 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 evoke some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation creator a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her early works and progressing all the way up to a new series of pieces made from scrap metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove often sources her components straight from the city environment, creating intriguing and unusual sculptures that have been displayed in prestigious art spots. Having had major shows at the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, her thirty years of work are ready for a in-depth survey. 5 March–2 August.

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

Those familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works were part of a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of Renaissance Italy – yet he has rarely been honored with a large-scale exhibition on US soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from all across Europe and over 200 works in all, this is poised as a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a major, large-scale video installation by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. As with much of her work, Cheang here investigates the everyday realities of trans life. The installation promises to be a very engaging piece, with visitors encouraged 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 will feature new work from this artist, who was forced to flee her home country of Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for deconstructing discarded objects to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. The show highlights new work based on the concept of queer weddings. It extends her ongoing project of employing found items as a meaningful gesture of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to use physical space differently, this show examines how non-verbal communication shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s research spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations 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 showcases the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of rising artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, the Detroit Institute of Arts will show a selection of the artist's architectural studies. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.