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Spanning old masters and contemporary icons, modern visionaries and even a renowned Mexican film-maker, art museums as well as institutions across the United States have a series of spectacular exhibitions coming up in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back in 2023, and currently merely a mostly empty page at The Whitney’s website, this major retrospective of a central creators of the Pop Art era carries significant anticipation. The institution will be drawing on its decades-old collection of close to 500 works from Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, dozens borrowed works from institutions globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area partner museums, the Legion of Honor along with another, will be centering the Floating City with two linked shows: the former museum will offer a celebration of the city as a source of high art throughout the centuries, 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 depicting Venice – a theme that had captivated the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually met the challenge, creating approximately 37 canvases, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Celebrating the quarter-century of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over a million feet of footage that was left out into the released movie, crafting an art installation that also serves as a homage to celluloid. Accounts suggest Iñárritu delved into the archives to create what he called “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 hardship he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her initial pieces and moving all the way up to a new collection of works fashioned from scrap metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her materials directly from the urban landscape, creating intriguing and unusual sculptures that have been displayed in prestigious venues. With significant exhibitions at Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, Bove’s thirty years of work are ready for a thorough overview. 5 March–2 August.

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

Anyone who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 paper compositions that he combined with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as around 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

Italian master painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of Renaissance Italy – but he has seldom been honored with a major show on US soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from throughout Europe and over 200 works in all, this promises to be a major event. 29 March–28 June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s queer art museum presents a major, large-scale video installation by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. As with most of her work, Cheang here investigates the daily struggles of trans life. The installation promises to be a highly interactive piece, with audience members encouraged to interact with the multiple movable screens that show the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for transforming discarded objects to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights new work based on the theme of same-sex marriage. This continues her ongoing project of employing found items as a symbolic act of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are socialized to use physical space differently, this show examines how body language influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies included art dating back to 2000 BC. Here, Wex’s findings are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of modern diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the haunting silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of rising artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, a Michigan museum presents a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue displays the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.