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From Renaissance masters to contemporary icons, contemporary greats and even a major Latin American film-maker, galleries as well as institutions throughout the US have some spectacular shows coming up in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back during 2023, and currently just a mostly empty page on a major museum's website, this expansive survey of a pioneering figures of the Pop Art era comes with some pretty heavy expectations. The institution will be drawing on its long-held collection of nearly 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, numerous borrowed works from collections globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area sister institutions, the Legion of Honor and another, will focus on the Floating City through two interconnected exhibitions: the former museum will offer a exploration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, while the other will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the challenge of depicting Venice – a theme that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – yet he ultimately rose to the task, creating approximately 37 paintings, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Marking the 25th anniversary 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 also serves as a love letter to celluloid. Accounts suggest the director dug deep into the archives to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of one of his most beloved films. It's possible the installation will evoke a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the mixed media sculptor creator a major career survey, starting with her initial pieces and moving through to a new series of pieces fashioned from scrap metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove often takes her components directly from the city environment, creating fascinating and strange sculptures that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable art spots. Having had significant exhibitions in Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, her three decades of creation are ripe for a in-depth survey. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he combined with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of the Italian Renaissance – but he has seldom received a large-scale exhibition on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from throughout Europe and more than 200 works in all, this is poised as a major event. 29 March–28 June.

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

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a major, large-scale video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the everyday realities of trans life. The installation is designed as a very engaging piece, with audience members invited to play around with the multiple movable screens that show the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center will feature new work from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming unconventional materials to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. This exhibition showcases new work based on the theme of queer weddings. This continues her ongoing project of using reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this show investigates how body language shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s research spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a selection of the artist's architecture paintings. And also in September, an Arizona venue exhibits the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.