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From old masters to pop artists, modern visionaries and even a major Latin American director, galleries as well as institutions throughout the United States have some dazzling exhibitions on the horizon in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back in 2023, and currently merely a mostly empty page at The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of a pioneering figures of the Pop Art era carries some pretty heavy expectations. The museum plans to utilize its decades-old holdings of close to 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, dozens borrowed works from institutions globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area partner museums, the Legion of Honor and deYoung, will focus on the Floating City with two interconnected shows: one location presents a celebration of the city as a source of high art throughout the centuries, and the latter will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the challenge of painting Venice – a subject that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – but he eventually rose to the task, producing some 37 canvases, among them the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and 21 March-26 July.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over 1m ft of film that was left out of the final cut, creating an immersive experience that doubles as a love letter to celluloid. Reportedly the director dug deep into the vaults to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of one of his most beloved films. Perhaps the exhibit will evoke some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the multidisciplinary sculptor creator a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her initial pieces and progressing all the way up to a new series of pieces made from found metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove often sources her materials straight from the city environment, creating fascinating and strange sculptures that have appeared in prestigious art spots. With significant exhibitions in Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, her three decades of creation are ripe for a thorough overview. 5 March–2 August.

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

Anyone familiar with the book *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he combined with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute will display the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus some 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations represented 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 the Italian Renaissance – yet he has seldom received a major show on US soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from throughout Europe and more than 200 works total, this is poised as a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

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

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a significant and immersive film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. As with most of her work, Cheang here explores the everyday realities of trans life. The installation promises to be a very engaging experience, with visitors encouraged to play around with the multiple movable 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 compelled to leave her home country of Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for deconstructing discarded objects to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. This exhibition showcases new work based on the concept of queer weddings. This continues her ongoing project of employing reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how genders are conditioned to use physical space differently, this show investigates how body language influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies included art as old as 2000 BC. Here, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the haunting silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising Black artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring through a show of his sculptural works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts will show a collection of the artist's architecture paintings. And also in September, an Arizona venue exhibits the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.