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From old masters to pop artists, modern visionaries and even a renowned Latin American film-maker, galleries as well as institutions throughout the US have a series of spectacular exhibitions coming up for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago during 2023, now just a placeholder listing on a major museum's online schedule, this major retrospective of a pioneering figures of the pop art movement carries significant anticipation. The institution will be drawing on its long-held collection of nearly 500 works by Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, dozens loans from institutions around the world. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

San Francisco sister institutions, the Legion of Honor and deYoung, will focus on Venice through two linked exhibitions: the former museum presents a celebration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, and the latter will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the prospect of painting Venice – a theme that had captivated the most revered artists for centuries – yet he ultimately met the challenge, producing some 37 paintings, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and 21 March-26 July.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Celebrating the quarter-century of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over a million feet of film that was left out of the final cut, creating an immersive experience that doubles as a love letter to celluloid. Reportedly Iñárritu delved into the archives to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of one of his most beloved films. Perhaps the installation will instil a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation creator a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her initial pieces and progressing through to a new series of works made from found metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her components straight from the city environment, producing fascinating and strange sculptures that have appeared in prestigious venues. Having had significant exhibitions in Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s thirty years of creation are ready for a in-depth overview. 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 papercut *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum will display the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works represented a late stage flowering 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 renowned titans of Renaissance Italy – yet he has seldom been honored with a large-scale exhibition on US soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from throughout Europe and over 200 works in all, this is poised as 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 Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. As with most of her work, Cheang in this piece explores the everyday realities of trans life. The installation is designed as a highly interactive experience, with audience members invited to play around with the four moveable screens that show the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center showcases new work from this artist, who was forced to flee her home country of Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for transforming unconventional materials to make intricate, queer-themed sculptures. The show showcases new work based on the theme of queer weddings. It extends her longstanding practice of employing reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are conditioned to use physical space differently, this show investigates how non-verbal communication influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s research included art as old as 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

In February, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the evocative silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of rising artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, an Arkansas museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring through a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. And also in September, an Arizona venue displays the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.