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From old masters to pop artists, contemporary greats alongside a renowned Mexican director, galleries as well as galleries throughout the US have a series of dazzling shows on the horizon for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago during 2023, and currently merely a mostly empty page on The Whitney’s website, this major retrospective of one of the central creators of the Pop Art era carries some pretty heavy anticipation. The institution plans to utilize its long-held holdings of nearly 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, dozens borrowed works from institutions globally. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

San Francisco partner museums, one prestigious venue and another, will be centering Venice through two linked shows: the former museum presents a celebration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, and the latter zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. The artist was daunted by the prospect of painting Venice – a subject that had inspired the most revered artists for centuries – but he eventually rose to the task, creating some 37 paintings, among them the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Celebrating the quarter-century of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than a million feet of film that was left out of the released movie, crafting an immersive experience that doubles as a love letter to celluloid. Accounts suggest Iñárritu delved into the archives to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. Perhaps the installation will instil some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the mixed media sculpture and installation artist a major career survey, beginning with her initial pieces and moving through to a new collection of works made from found metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove often takes her components directly from the city environment, producing fascinating and strange constructions that have appeared in prestigious venues. With major shows at the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s three decades of work are ready for a thorough overview. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – it’s actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus around 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

Italian master painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of the Italian Renaissance – but he has rarely received a major show on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from all across Europe and more than 200 works in all, this is poised as a major event. Late March through June.

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

NYC’s queer art museum presents a significant and immersive video installation by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang here investigates the everyday realities of transgender existence. Lover Love is designed as a very engaging piece, with audience members invited to interact with the multiple movable screens that show the central film. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases new work 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 transforming unconventional materials to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. This exhibition showcases recent pieces based on the concept of same-sex marriage. It extends her ongoing project of using reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are socialized to use physical space differently, this exhibition investigates how body language influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s research included art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

And more …

In February, 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 up and coming artist an innovative creator. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a collection of the artist's architectural studies. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.