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From Renaissance masters to pop artists, contemporary greats and even a major Mexican director, galleries and institutions throughout the US are preparing a series of dazzling shows on the horizon in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago during 2023, and currently merely a mostly empty page at The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of one of the central creators of the Pop Art era carries significant anticipation. The museum will be drawing on its decades-old collection of nearly 500 works from Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, dozens borrowed works from institutions globally. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area partner museums, the Legion of Honor and another, will focus on the Floating City with two linked shows: one location will offer a exploration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, while the other will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the prospect of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually rose to the task, creating some 37 paintings, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

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

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over a million feet of footage that never made it into the final cut, creating an immersive experience that doubles as a love letter to film. Accounts suggest Iñárritu delved into the vaults to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of one of his most beloved films. It's possible the exhibit will evoke a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a major career survey, starting with her initial pieces and moving through to a new series of pieces made from found metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove frequently sources her components straight from the city environment, creating intriguing and unusual constructions that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable art spots. Having had major shows at the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s three decades of work are ready for a in-depth overview. Early Spring to Summer.

Henri Matisse's *Jazz*: A Symphony of Cut Paper

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

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of Renaissance Italy – yet he has seldom 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*. With loans from all across Europe and more than 200 works in all, this is poised as a major event. Late March through June.

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

NYC’s queer art museum will host a major, large-scale film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. As with much of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the everyday realities of trans life. Lover Love promises to be a very engaging piece, with visitors invited to interact with the multiple movable screens that show the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center will feature new work from this artist, who was compelled to leave her home country of Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for transforming unconventional materials to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. The show highlights recent pieces based on the concept of same-sex marriage. It extends her ongoing project of using reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Building on the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are conditioned to use physical space differently, this exhibition examines how body language influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s research spanned art dating back to 2000 BC. Here, Wex’s explorations are displayed and put into conversation with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the evocative shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of up and coming Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum presents a collection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.