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From old masters and pop artists, contemporary greats alongside a major Latin American director, galleries and galleries across the United States are preparing some dazzling shows coming up in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back in 2023, now just a placeholder listing at The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of one of the pioneering figures of the pop art movement carries some pretty heavy expectations. The museum will be drawing on its long-held holdings of nearly 500 works from Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, dozens borrowed works from institutions around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area sister institutions, the Legion of Honor along with another, will focus on the Floating City with two linked exhibitions: the former museum presents a exploration of the city as an engine of high art throughout the centuries, and the latter 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 captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – but he eventually met the challenge, creating some 37 canvases, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and 21 March-26 July.

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

Marking the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than 1m ft of footage that never made it of the released movie, crafting an art installation that also serves as a love letter to film. Accounts suggest the director dug deep into the vaults to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. It's possible the exhibit will instil some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the mixed media sculpture and installation creator a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her initial pieces and moving through to a fresh series of pieces made from scrap metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove often sources her materials directly from the urban landscape, creating fascinating and strange sculptures that have been displayed in prestigious venues. Having had major shows in Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, her thirty years of work are ready for a in-depth overview. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and published as a book 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 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of the Italian Renaissance – but he has rarely received a major show on US soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from all across Europe and more than 200 works in all, this promises to be a major event. Late March through June.

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

A New York queer art museum presents a significant and immersive film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. As with most of her work, Cheang here explores the daily struggles of transgender existence. Lover Love is designed as a highly interactive experience, with audience members encouraged 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 will feature recent creations from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for deconstructing discarded objects to make elaborate, queer-themed assemblages. This exhibition showcases new work based on the theme of same-sex marriage. This continues her ongoing project of employing 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 west 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 spanned art as old as ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s explorations are displayed and put into conversation with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the evocative shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of rising artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a selection of the artist's architecture paintings. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue displays the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.