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Spanning Renaissance masters to pop artists, modern visionaries alongside a major Latin American director, art museums and galleries throughout the United States have a series of spectacular exhibitions on the horizon for 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago during 2023, now merely a mostly empty page on a major museum's online schedule, this expansive survey of one of the pioneering figures of the pop art movement comes with significant anticipation. The institution will be drawing on its long-held holdings of nearly 500 works from Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, numerous borrowed works from institutions globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area sister institutions, one prestigious venue and deYoung, will be centering the Floating City with two interconnected exhibitions: the former museum presents a exploration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, while the other will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the challenge of depicting Venice – a theme that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually rose to the task, producing some 37 paintings, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and 21 March-26 July.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Celebrating the quarter-century of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than 1m ft of film that was left out of the released movie, crafting an art installation that doubles as a homage to celluloid. Accounts suggest Iñárritu dug deep into the vaults to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. It's possible the exhibit will evoke a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he simultaneously documents. 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 initial pieces and moving through to a fresh collection of works made from found metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove frequently sources her components directly from the city environment, producing fascinating and strange sculptures that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable venues. Having had significant exhibitions at Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, Bove’s three decades of work are ready for a thorough overview. 5 March–2 August.

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

Anyone familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of Renaissance Italy – but he has seldom been honored with a large-scale exhibition on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from throughout Europe and more than 200 works in all, this promises to be a major event. Late March through June.

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

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a significant and immersive film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang here explores the daily struggles of trans life. The installation promises to be a highly interactive piece, with audience members encouraged to play around with the four moveable screens that show the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases 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 discarded objects to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. The show highlights recent pieces based on the theme of queer weddings. This continues her longstanding practice of using found items as a symbolic act of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are socialized to use physical space differently, this show examines how non-verbal communication shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s research included art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are displayed and put into conversation with the work of contemporary diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

And more …

In February, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming Black artist an innovative creator. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, the Detroit Institute of Arts will show a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.