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Spanning Renaissance masters and pop artists, modern visionaries and even a renowned Mexican director, art museums and galleries throughout the United States are preparing a series of spectacular shows coming up for 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago during 2023, now just a placeholder listing at The Whitney’s website, this expansive survey of one of the pioneering figures of the Pop Art era carries significant expectations. The museum plans to utilize its decades-old holdings of nearly 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, numerous loans from institutions around the world. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area sister institutions, one prestigious venue along with deYoung, will focus on the Floating City through two linked exhibitions: one location will offer a exploration of the city as an engine of high art throughout the centuries, while the other will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the challenge of depicting Venice – a subject that had captivated the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually rose to the task, producing some 37 paintings, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and 21 March-26 July.

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

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than a million feet of film that was left out into the final cut, creating an art installation that also serves as a love letter to film. Reportedly Iñárritu delved into the vaults to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. Perhaps the exhibit will evoke a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her initial pieces and progressing through to a fresh collection of works made from found metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her components straight from the urban landscape, creating intriguing and unusual constructions that have appeared in prestigious venues. Having had significant exhibitions at the MoMA and a Parisian institution, her thirty years of work are ripe for a thorough survey. Early Spring to Summer.

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

Those who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – it’s in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he combined with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus around 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of Renaissance Italy – but he has rarely been honored with a large-scale exhibition on US soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from throughout Europe and more than 200 works in all, this is poised as a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a significant and immersive video installation by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. As with much of her work, Cheang here investigates the daily struggles of transgender existence. The installation promises to be a very engaging piece, with audience members encouraged to play around with the four moveable screens that display the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center will feature 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 recognized for transforming unconventional materials to make intricate, queer-themed assemblages. The show highlights recent pieces based on the concept of queer weddings. It extends her longstanding practice of employing reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are socialized to use physical space differently, this exhibition examines how non-verbal communication influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s research included art dating back to 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the evocative silhouette art of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring through a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a collection of the artist's architectural studies. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.