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Spanning Renaissance masters to pop artists, contemporary greats alongside a major Latin American director, galleries and galleries throughout the United States have some spectacular exhibitions coming up in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back during 2023, now merely a mostly empty page on The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of one of the central creators of the pop art movement comes with significant anticipation. The institution plans to utilize its decades-old collection of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, dozens loans from collections globally. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco sister institutions, one prestigious venue along with another, will focus on Venice with two interconnected shows: the former museum presents a celebration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, while the other zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. The artist was daunted by the challenge of painting Venice – a subject that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately met the challenge, creating some 37 paintings, among them the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August 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 returns to more than 1m ft of footage that never made it into the final cut, creating an art installation that also serves as a love letter to film. Accounts suggest Iñárritu dug deep into the archives to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. It's possible the installation will evoke a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the mixed media sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her initial pieces and moving all the way up to a fresh series of pieces fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove frequently takes her materials directly from the urban landscape, creating intriguing and unusual constructions that have been displayed in prestigious art spots. Having had significant exhibitions in Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, Bove’s thirty years of creation are ready for a in-depth overview. 5 March–2 August.

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

Those familiar with the book *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus some 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations were part of a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has seldom been honored with a major show on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from throughout Europe and more than 200 works total, this promises to be a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a major, large-scale video installation by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. As with most of her work, Cheang here explores the daily struggles of transgender existence. Lover Love promises to be a highly interactive piece, with audience members invited to play around with the four moveable screens that display the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston will feature new work from this artist, who was forced to flee her home country of Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for deconstructing discarded objects to make elaborate, queer-themed assemblages. This exhibition highlights new work based on the theme of same-sex marriage. This continues her longstanding practice of using reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Building on the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are conditioned to use physical space differently, this show examines how non-verbal communication influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies included art dating back to 2000 BC. Here, Wex’s explorations are displayed and put into conversation with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the haunting shadow-based work of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of rising Black artist an innovative creator. During the summer, an Arkansas museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his sculptural works. In September, a Michigan museum presents a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.