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From Renaissance masters and contemporary icons, modern visionaries alongside a major Mexican film-maker, galleries and galleries throughout the US have a series of dazzling exhibitions coming up in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back during 2023, now merely a mostly empty page at a major museum's website, this expansive survey of one of the pioneering figures of the Pop Art era carries some pretty heavy expectations. The institution plans to utilize its decades-old holdings of nearly 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, numerous loans from collections around the world. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area sister institutions, the Legion of Honor along with another, will be centering the Floating City through two linked shows: the former museum will offer a celebration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, while the other zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. The artist was daunted by the prospect of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for centuries – yet he ultimately rose to the task, creating some 37 paintings, 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 25th anniversary of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over 1m ft of footage that never made it of the final cut, crafting an immersive experience that also serves as a homage to film. Reportedly Iñárritu dug deep into the archives to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. Perhaps the exhibit will evoke a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation creator a major career survey, starting with her early works and moving all the way up to a new collection of pieces made from scrap metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove frequently sources her components directly from the city environment, producing fascinating and strange constructions that have appeared in prestigious art spots. Having had major shows at the MoMA 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

Those who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus around 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

Italian master painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has seldom been honored with a large-scale exhibition on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from all across Europe and over 200 works in all, this promises to be a blockbuster show. 29 March–28 June.

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

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a significant and immersive video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the everyday realities of transgender existence. The installation promises to be a very engaging piece, with visitors invited to play around with the multiple movable screens that show the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

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 known for transforming unconventional materials to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. The show showcases recent pieces based on the theme of queer weddings. This continues her ongoing project of employing found items as a meaningful gesture of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this show investigates how body language influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s research included art dating back to ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and put into conversation with the work of modern diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the haunting shadow-based work of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of rising Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, a Michigan museum presents a collection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.