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From Renaissance masters to pop artists, modern visionaries alongside a major Mexican film-maker, galleries and institutions across the United States have a series of dazzling exhibitions on the horizon in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back in 2023, and currently just a placeholder listing at a major museum's website, this major retrospective of one of the central creators of the Pop Art era carries significant anticipation. The institution plans to utilize its long-held holdings of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, numerous loans from collections around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area partner museums, one prestigious venue and another, will focus on the Floating City with two interconnected exhibitions: the former museum will offer a exploration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, while the other zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the prospect of painting Venice – a subject that had inspired the most revered artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately met the challenge, creating some 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 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than 1m ft of film that never made it of the final cut, creating an art installation that also serves as a love letter to film. Reportedly the director delved into the archives to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. It's possible the exhibit will evoke a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation creator a major career survey, starting with her early works and moving through to a new collection of works fashioned from scrap metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove often sources her materials directly from the city environment, producing intriguing and unusual sculptures that have been displayed in prestigious art spots. Having had significant exhibitions in the MoMA and a Parisian institution, her thirty years of work are ready for a thorough 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 cut-out *Icarus* – it’s actually 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 the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of Renaissance Italy – but he has seldom received a large-scale exhibition on American soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from all across Europe and over 200 works total, this promises to be a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a significant and immersive video installation by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang in this piece explores the everyday realities of trans life. Lover Love promises to be a very engaging experience, with visitors invited to interact with the four moveable screens that show the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston 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 recognized for deconstructing discarded objects to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights new work based on the concept of same-sex marriage. This continues her longstanding practice of using found items as a symbolic act 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 studied how men and women are socialized to inhabit space differently, this show investigates how non-verbal communication influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies included art dating back to 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are displayed and put into conversation with the work of modern diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of up and coming Black artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, a Michigan museum presents a collection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.