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From old masters and pop artists, contemporary greats and even a major Mexican film-maker, galleries as well as institutions throughout the United States have a series of spectacular exhibitions on the horizon in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back in 2023, now merely a placeholder listing on a major museum's online schedule, this expansive survey of one of the pioneering figures of the pop art movement comes with significant expectations. The institution will be drawing on its decades-old collection of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, dozens borrowed works from institutions globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

San Francisco partner museums, one prestigious venue and deYoung, will focus on Venice through two interconnected shows: the former museum presents a celebration of the city as a source of high art for hundreds of years, and the latter zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the challenge of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – yet he ultimately rose to the task, producing some 37 canvases, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and 21 March-26 July.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Marking the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than a million feet of footage that never made it into the final cut, creating an immersive experience that also serves as a homage to film. Accounts suggest Iñárritu dug deep into the vaults to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. It's possible the installation will instil some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the multidisciplinary sculptor artist a major career survey, beginning with her early works and progressing all the way up to a fresh series of works made from scrap metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her materials straight from the city environment, producing intriguing and unusual sculptures that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable art spots. With significant exhibitions at Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, her three decades of work are ripe for a thorough overview. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – it’s in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.

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 Renaissance Italy – but he has rarely received a large-scale exhibition on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works 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: Lover Love

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a significant and immersive film-based work by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. As with much of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the everyday realities of trans life. Lover Love is designed as a highly interactive experience, with visitors invited to play around with the four moveable screens that display the core footage. 2 April–January 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 deconstructing unconventional materials to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. The show highlights recent pieces based on the theme of same-sex marriage. It extends her ongoing project of employing reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of resistance. 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 show examines how body language influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art as old as 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and put into conversation with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the evocative silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, the Detroit Institute of Arts will show a collection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue exhibits the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.