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Spanning Renaissance masters to contemporary icons, modern visionaries and even a major Mexican film-maker, galleries and galleries throughout the United States have a series of spectacular shows coming up for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back in 2023, and currently just a placeholder listing on The Whitney’s website, this major retrospective of a pioneering figures of the Pop Art era comes with some pretty heavy expectations. The museum plans to utilize its decades-old holdings of close to 500 works by Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, numerous borrowed works from institutions around the world. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

San Francisco partner museums, one prestigious venue and another, will focus on Venice through two interconnected exhibitions: one location presents a celebration of the city as a source of high art throughout the centuries, and the latter will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the challenge of depicting Venice – a theme that had captivated the most revered artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately rose to the task, producing approximately 37 canvases, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

Alejandro G Iñárritu's *Sueño Perro*: A Cinematic Resurrection

Marking the 25th anniversary of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than a million feet of footage that was left out of the final cut, creating an art installation that also serves as a love letter to film. Accounts suggest Iñárritu dug deep into the archives to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of one of his most beloved films. It's possible the installation will instil some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the mixed media sculpture and installation artist a major career survey, starting with her early works and moving all the way up to a new collection of pieces fashioned from found metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her materials straight from the urban landscape, creating intriguing and unusual sculptures that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable art spots. Having had major shows at Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s three decades of work are ready for a thorough survey. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute will display the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as around 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of the Italian Renaissance – but he has seldom 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 masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from throughout Europe and more than 200 works total, this promises to be a major event. 29 March–28 June.

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

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a major, large-scale film-based work by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang here explores the everyday realities of trans life. The installation promises to be a highly interactive experience, with visitors invited to interact with the four moveable screens that display the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center showcases 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 recognized for deconstructing unconventional materials to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. This exhibition highlights new work based on the theme of same-sex marriage. This continues her ongoing project of employing reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how genders are socialized to use physical space differently, this show investigates how non-verbal communication shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art as old as 2000 BC. Here, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the evocative silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a collection of the artist's architectural studies. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.