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Spanning old masters and contemporary icons, contemporary greats alongside a renowned Mexican film-maker, galleries as well as galleries across the US are preparing some dazzling exhibitions on the horizon in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago during 2023, now just a mostly empty page on The Whitney’s website, this major retrospective of one of the central creators of the Pop Art era carries some pretty heavy anticipation. The museum will be drawing on its long-held collection of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, dozens borrowed works from institutions globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco partner museums, the Legion of Honor and deYoung, will focus on the Floating City through two linked shows: the former museum will offer a exploration of the city as an engine of high art for hundreds of years, and the latter will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the prospect of painting Venice – a theme that had captivated the most revered artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately met the challenge, producing approximately 37 canvases, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Marking the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than a million feet of footage that was left out into the final cut, crafting an immersive experience that also serves as a homage to celluloid. Accounts suggest the director delved 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 instil some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her early works and moving through to a new collection of works fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove often sources her components directly from the urban landscape, creating intriguing and unusual sculptures that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable art spots. Having had major shows in the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, her three decades of creation are ripe for a in-depth survey. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – it’s in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as 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 artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of the Italian Renaissance – but he has rarely received a large-scale exhibition on US soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from throughout Europe and more than 200 works in all, this promises to be a blockbuster show. 29 March–28 June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a major, large-scale film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang here investigates the everyday realities of transgender existence. The installation is designed as a highly interactive piece, with visitors invited to interact with the four moveable screens that show the central film. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases 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 transforming discarded objects to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights recent pieces based on the concept of same-sex marriage. This continues her longstanding practice of using reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are socialized to use physical space differently, this show examines how body language shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s research included art as old as ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of modern diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the evocative silhouette art of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of rising Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.