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From Renaissance masters to pop artists, modern visionaries alongside a renowned Mexican director, galleries and institutions across the US have a series of spectacular exhibitions coming up for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back in 2023, now merely a mostly empty page at The Whitney’s online schedule, this expansive survey of a pioneering figures of the Pop Art era comes with some pretty heavy expectations. The museum will be drawing on its long-held collection of nearly 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, numerous loans from institutions globally. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

San Francisco sister institutions, the Legion of Honor and another, will be centering the Floating City through two interconnected exhibitions: one location presents a celebration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, and the latter zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the challenge of depicting Venice – a theme that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – but he eventually met the challenge, producing approximately 37 canvases, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and 21 March-26 July.

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

Marking the quarter-century of his groundbreaking first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than 1m ft of footage that was left out of the final cut, creating an immersive experience that also serves as a homage to film. 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 installation will evoke a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her initial pieces and progressing through to a new series of pieces fashioned from scrap metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove often sources her materials straight from the urban landscape, producing intriguing and unusual sculptures that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable art spots. With major shows in the MoMA and a Parisian institution, Bove’s three decades of creation are ready for a thorough overview. Early Spring to Summer.

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* – it’s actually one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus some 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has seldom been honored with a major show on American soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from all across Europe and more than 200 works in all, this is poised as a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a significant and immersive film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang here investigates the everyday realities of transgender existence. The installation is designed as a highly interactive piece, with audience members invited to interact with the multiple movable screens that show the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center showcases recent creations 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 transforming unconventional materials to make intricate, queer-themed sculptures. This exhibition showcases new work based on the theme of queer weddings. This continues her ongoing project of employing reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are conditioned to use physical space differently, this show investigates how non-verbal communication influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s research spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and put into conversation with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a collection of the artist's architectural studies. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.