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Spanning old masters and contemporary icons, modern visionaries and even a renowned Latin American film-maker, galleries as well as institutions across the US are preparing some spectacular shows coming up for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago during 2023, and currently just a placeholder listing at a major museum's online schedule, this expansive survey of a central creators of the pop art movement carries some pretty heavy expectations. The institution plans to utilize its decades-old holdings of close to 500 works by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, numerous loans from collections around the world. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area partner museums, one prestigious venue along with another, will be centering Venice with two interconnected shows: one location presents a celebration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, while the other will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the challenge of painting Venice – a subject that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately met the challenge, creating some 37 paintings, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

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

Marking the quarter-century of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over 1m ft of footage that never made it into the released movie, crafting an art installation that doubles as a homage to film. Reportedly the director dug deep into the vaults to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. It's possible the exhibit will evoke some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation creator a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her initial pieces and progressing through to a new collection of works fashioned from scrap metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove often takes her materials straight from the city environment, creating intriguing and unusual constructions that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable art spots. With major shows in the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s three decades of creation are ripe for a thorough overview. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those who know 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 paper compositions that he combined with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum will display all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as around 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works were part of a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of Renaissance Italy – but he has rarely received a major show on American 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 works from all across Europe and over 200 works in all, this promises to be a major event. Late March through June.

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

NYC’s queer art museum presents a major, large-scale video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. As with much of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the daily struggles of trans life. Lover Love promises to be a very engaging piece, with audience members 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 will feature new work from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for deconstructing discarded objects to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. The show highlights new work based on the theme of same-sex marriage. It extends her ongoing project of using found items as a meaningful gesture 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 analyzed how genders are conditioned to use physical space differently, this show investigates how non-verbal communication shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art as old as ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and put into conversation with the work of modern diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the evocative shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of rising artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring through a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.