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Spanning Renaissance masters to contemporary icons, modern visionaries and even a renowned Latin American director, galleries and institutions throughout the United States are preparing a series of dazzling shows coming up for 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago in 2023, and currently merely a mostly empty page at The Whitney’s website, this major retrospective of a pioneering figures of the Pop Art era carries some pretty heavy anticipation. The museum will be drawing on its decades-old holdings of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, numerous loans from collections around the world. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco partner museums, the Legion of Honor and another, will focus on the Floating City with two interconnected exhibitions: the former museum presents a exploration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, and the latter zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the prospect of depicting Venice – a subject that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – but he eventually met the challenge, creating some 37 canvases, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and 21 March-26 July.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Celebrating the quarter-century of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over a million feet of footage that never made it into the released movie, creating an art installation that also serves 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 a cherished films. Perhaps the exhibit will instil some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the mixed media sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her initial pieces and progressing through to a fresh collection of works made from found metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove frequently takes her components straight from the city environment, creating intriguing and unusual sculptures that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable venues. With significant exhibitions at the MoMA and a Parisian institution, Bove’s three decades of creation are ready for a thorough survey. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – it’s in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum will display all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works were part of a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of Renaissance Italy – yet he has seldom been honored with a large-scale exhibition on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works from throughout Europe and over 200 works total, 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 Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. As with much of her work, Cheang in this piece explores the daily struggles of transgender existence. The installation promises to be a highly interactive piece, with audience members invited to play around with the multiple movable screens that show the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center showcases recent creations 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 unconventional materials to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. The show showcases new work based on the concept of queer weddings. This continues her longstanding practice of employing found items as a meaningful gesture of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are socialized to use physical space differently, this exhibition investigates how body language shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s research included art as old as ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

And more …

In February, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a selection of the artist's architectural studies. And also in September, an Arizona venue displays the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.