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Spanning old masters to pop artists, modern visionaries and even a major Mexican director, galleries and institutions throughout the United States have a series of dazzling shows on the horizon in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago in 2023, now just a placeholder listing at The Whitney’s website, this major retrospective of a central creators of the Pop Art era comes with some pretty heavy expectations. The museum will be drawing on its long-held collection of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, numerous loans from institutions globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area sister institutions, one prestigious venue along with another, will focus on Venice through two interconnected exhibitions: the former museum will offer a celebration of the city as a source of high art for hundreds of years, while the other will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. The artist was daunted by the challenge of painting Venice – a subject that had inspired the most revered artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately rose to the task, producing approximately 37 canvases, among them the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Marking the 25th anniversary of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over 1m ft of film that was left out into the released movie, crafting an art installation that also serves as a love letter to film. Reportedly Iñárritu delved into the archives to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. It's possible the installation will evoke a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite 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 creator a major career survey, starting with her initial pieces and progressing through to a fresh collection of works made from scrap metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove frequently sources her components straight from the city environment, creating fascinating and strange sculptures that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable art spots. Having had major shows at the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, her thirty years of creation 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 cut-out *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 paper compositions that he combined with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, Chicago’s Art Institute will display the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus around 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works were part of a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of Renaissance Italy – 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 iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from throughout Europe and more than 200 works in all, this is poised as a blockbuster show. 29 March–28 June.

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

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a significant and immersive video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang here explores the daily struggles of trans life. The installation promises to be a very engaging piece, with audience members encouraged to interact with the four moveable screens that display the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center will feature new work from this artist, who was compelled to leave her home country of Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for transforming discarded objects to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights recent pieces based on the theme of same-sex marriage. 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

Expanding upon the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this exhibition examines how non-verbal communication influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies included art as old as 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s findings 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 celebrates the evocative shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, an Arkansas museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. And also in September, an Arizona venue exhibits the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.