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From Renaissance masters and pop artists, contemporary greats alongside a major Mexican director, art museums and galleries throughout the US are preparing some dazzling exhibitions on the horizon in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago in 2023, now just a mostly empty page at The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of a pioneering figures of the pop art movement comes with some pretty heavy expectations. The institution will be drawing on its long-held holdings of nearly 500 works by Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, dozens loans from institutions around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco partner museums, the Legion of Honor and another, will be centering Venice through two linked exhibitions: the former museum will offer a exploration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, while the other zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the prospect of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually rose to the task, creating approximately 37 paintings, among them the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

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

Marking the quarter-century of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over 1m ft of film that was left out into the final cut, crafting an immersive experience that also serves as a love letter to celluloid. Reportedly the director delved into the archives to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. Perhaps the installation will evoke some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the mixed media sculpture and installation artist a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her early works and progressing through to a fresh collection of pieces fashioned from scrap metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove often sources her components straight from the urban landscape, creating intriguing and unusual constructions that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable art spots. Having had significant exhibitions at the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, her three decades of work are ripe for a in-depth survey. Early Spring to Summer.

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

Anyone familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – it’s actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus some 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of the Italian Renaissance – but he has seldom received a major show on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous 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. 29 March–28 June.

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

A New York queer art museum presents a significant and immersive video installation by transmedia 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. Lover Love is designed as a highly interactive piece, with visitors encouraged to play around with the multiple movable screens that show the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center 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 transforming unconventional materials to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. The show showcases new work based on the theme of queer weddings. This continues her longstanding practice of using found items as a meaningful gesture of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are socialized to inhabit space differently, this exhibition examines how body language shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s research included art as old as 2000 BC. Here, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the haunting shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting 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 collection of the artist's architecture paintings. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.