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From Renaissance masters to pop artists, contemporary greats alongside a renowned Latin American director, art museums and institutions across the United States are preparing some spectacular shows on the horizon for 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago in 2023, and currently merely a mostly empty page at The Whitney’s online schedule, this expansive survey of a central creators of the pop art movement comes with significant anticipation. The museum will be drawing on its decades-old collection of close to 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, numerous borrowed works from collections around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco partner museums, one prestigious venue and another, will be centering Venice with two linked shows: the former museum will offer a celebration of the city as a source of high art throughout the centuries, while the other will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the challenge of painting Venice – a subject that had captivated the most revered artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately rose to the task, creating 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

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than a million feet of film that never made it into the final cut, creating an art installation that doubles as a love letter to celluloid. Accounts suggest Iñárritu dug deep into the archives to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. Perhaps the exhibit will evoke some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her early works and moving all the way up to a new collection of works fashioned from scrap metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove often takes her materials directly from the city environment, producing fascinating and strange sculptures that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable venues. Having had significant exhibitions in Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, Bove’s three decades of work are ready for a thorough overview. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize 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 volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works were part of a late stage flowering 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 masters of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has rarely received a large-scale exhibition 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*. With works from all across Europe and over 200 works in all, this is poised as a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

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

A New York queer art museum will host a significant and immersive video installation by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang here explores the everyday realities of transgender existence. The installation is designed as a highly interactive piece, with audience members encouraged to play around with the four moveable screens that display the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases recent creations 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 unconventional materials to make intricate, queer-themed sculptures. The show showcases new work based on the concept of queer weddings. This continues her longstanding practice of using reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 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 exhibition examines how body language influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies included art dating back to 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of modern diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the evocative silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, an Arkansas museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum presents a collection of the artist's architectural studies. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue exhibits the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.