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Spanning Renaissance masters and contemporary icons, contemporary greats alongside a major Latin American director, art museums and galleries across the United States have some spectacular shows on the horizon in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back in 2023, and currently just a placeholder listing on The Whitney’s online schedule, this expansive survey of one of the pioneering figures of the Pop Art era carries some pretty heavy anticipation. The museum plans to utilize its decades-old holdings of nearly 500 works from Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, dozens borrowed works 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 the Floating City through two linked exhibitions: one location presents a celebration of the city as an engine of high art throughout the centuries, and the latter zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. The artist was daunted by the challenge of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – yet he ultimately met the challenge, creating some 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 quarter-century of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over 1m ft of footage that never made it of the released movie, crafting an immersive experience that also serves as a homage to film. Reportedly the director dug deep into the vaults to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of one of his most beloved films. It's possible the exhibit will instil some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculptor artist a major career survey, starting with her initial pieces and moving through to a fresh collection of pieces fashioned from found metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove often takes her materials directly from the city environment, creating fascinating and strange constructions that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable venues. Having had major shows in the MoMA and a Parisian institution, Bove’s three decades of work are ready for a thorough survey. Early Spring to Summer.

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

Those familiar with the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – it’s actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus some 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has rarely received a large-scale exhibition on US soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from all across Europe and over 200 works in all, this is poised as a major event. Late March through June.

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

A New York queer art museum will host a major, large-scale film-based work by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the daily struggles of transgender existence. The installation is designed as a very engaging piece, with visitors encouraged to play around with the multiple movable screens that display the core footage. 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 known for deconstructing discarded objects to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. The show highlights new work based on the theme of queer weddings. It extends her longstanding practice of using found items as a meaningful gesture of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the foundational research of west 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 spanned art as old as 2000 BC. Here, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and put into conversation with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

In February, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the evocative silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming Black artist an innovative creator. During the summer, an Arkansas museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, a Michigan museum presents a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. And also in September, an Arizona venue exhibits the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.