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Spanning Renaissance masters to pop artists, modern visionaries alongside a renowned Latin American film-maker, galleries and galleries throughout the US are preparing a series of dazzling exhibitions coming up in 2026.

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 era comes with significant anticipation. The museum plans to utilize its long-held holdings of close to 500 works from Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, numerous loans from institutions around the world. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco sister institutions, the Legion of Honor and deYoung, will focus on the Floating City with two interconnected exhibitions: the former museum will offer a celebration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, and the latter zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the prospect of painting Venice – a subject that had captivated the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually met the challenge, producing approximately 37 canvases, among them 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 revisits more than a million feet of footage that never made it into the final cut, crafting an immersive experience that doubles as a homage to film. Accounts suggest the director delved into the vaults to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. It's possible the installation will evoke some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the mixed media sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her early works and progressing through to a new series of pieces made from scrap metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her components straight from the urban landscape, producing fascinating and strange sculptures that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable art spots. With significant exhibitions in the MoMA and a Parisian institution, her thirty years of creation are ready for a in-depth survey. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he combined with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, Chicago’s Art Institute will display all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus around 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works were part of a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

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 – but he has rarely been honored with a large-scale exhibition on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from all across Europe and over 200 works in all, this promises to be a blockbuster show. 29 March–28 June.

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

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a significant and immersive video installation by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the everyday realities of trans life. Lover Love is designed as a very engaging piece, with audience members encouraged to play around with the multiple movable screens that display the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases new work from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for deconstructing discarded objects to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. The show highlights recent pieces based on the theme of same-sex marriage. This continues her longstanding practice of employing reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Building on the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this show investigates how non-verbal communication influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies included art dating back to 2000 BC. Here, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of rising Black artist an innovative creator. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a collection of the artist's architecture paintings. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue displays the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.