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Spanning Renaissance masters and contemporary icons, contemporary greats and even a major Latin American director, art museums and institutions throughout the US have a series of spectacular shows on the horizon for 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago in 2023, now just a placeholder listing at The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of one of the central creators of the Pop Art era comes with significant anticipation. The institution plans to utilize its long-held collection of nearly 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, dozens borrowed works from collections globally. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

San Francisco partner museums, the Legion of Honor along with deYoung, will be centering the Floating City through two interconnected exhibitions: one location will offer a exploration of the city as an engine of high art throughout the centuries, and the latter zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the challenge of painting Venice – a subject that had inspired the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually met the challenge, creating approximately 37 paintings, 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 never made it of the final cut, creating an art installation that doubles as a homage to celluloid. Reportedly the director dug deep into the archives to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. Perhaps the installation will evoke a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the mixed media sculpture and installation artist a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her early works and moving all the way up to a new series of pieces made from found metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her materials straight from the urban landscape, creating fascinating and strange constructions that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable art spots. Having had significant exhibitions in Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, her thirty years of creation are ripe for a in-depth overview. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – it’s in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus around 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works were part of a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of the Italian Renaissance – but he has rarely received a major show on American soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces 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 major event. 29 March–28 June.

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

NYC’s queer art museum will host a significant and immersive video installation by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. As with much of her work, Cheang here explores the daily struggles of trans life. The installation promises to be a highly interactive experience, with visitors encouraged to play around with the four moveable screens that display the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston will feature new work from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming unconventional materials to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. The show showcases recent pieces based on the theme of same-sex marriage. This continues her longstanding practice of employing found items as a meaningful gesture of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this show examines how body language shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art as old as ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and put into conversation with the work of contemporary diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the haunting silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of up and coming Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum revisits iconic pop 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.