🔗 Share this article

Spanning Renaissance masters and contemporary icons, modern visionaries and even a renowned Mexican film-maker, galleries as well as institutions across the United States are preparing some dazzling shows coming up for 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago during 2023, now just a placeholder listing at a major museum's online schedule, this major retrospective of a pioneering figures of the Pop Art era comes with some pretty heavy expectations. The institution plans to utilize its long-held collection of close to 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, numerous loans from collections globally. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area sister institutions, the Legion of Honor along with another, will be centering Venice through two linked exhibitions: one location will offer a celebration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, and the latter zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the prospect of depicting Venice – a theme that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately met the challenge, producing approximately 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

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 into the final cut, crafting an art installation that also serves as a love letter to celluloid. Accounts suggest Iñárritu delved into the archives to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. Perhaps the installation will evoke some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the mixed media sculpture and installation creator a major career survey, beginning with her early works and progressing through to a fresh collection of works fashioned from scrap metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her components directly from the urban landscape, producing intriguing and unusual sculptures that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable art spots. With significant exhibitions in Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, her three decades of work are ready 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* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as 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 artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of the Italian Renaissance – but he has rarely received a major show on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from throughout Europe and over 200 works total, this promises to be a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York queer art museum will host a major, large-scale video installation by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. As with most of her work, Cheang here investigates the daily struggles of trans life. Lover Love is designed as a very engaging experience, with visitors encouraged to play around with the multiple movable 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 native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for transforming unconventional materials to make intricate, queer-themed assemblages. The show showcases new work based on the concept of queer weddings. It extends her longstanding practice of employing found items as a symbolic act of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this show investigates how non-verbal communication shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art dating back to 2000 BC. Here, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising Black artist an innovative creator. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, a Michigan museum presents a selection of the artist's architectural studies. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue exhibits the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.