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Spanning Renaissance masters and pop artists, contemporary greats and even a renowned Mexican director, galleries as well as institutions throughout the US have a series of dazzling exhibitions on the horizon for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back during 2023, and currently just a placeholder listing at The Whitney’s website, this expansive survey of one of the central creators of the Pop Art era carries some pretty heavy anticipation. The museum plans to utilize its long-held collection of nearly 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, dozens loans from collections around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area sister institutions, the Legion of Honor along with deYoung, will focus on Venice with two interconnected exhibitions: one location presents a celebration of the city as an engine of high art throughout the centuries, while the other zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the challenge of painting Venice – a theme that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately rose to the task, creating approximately 37 paintings, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and 21 March-26 July.

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

Celebrating the quarter-century of his groundbreaking first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over 1m ft of footage that never made it of the released movie, creating an art installation that also serves as a homage to film. Accounts suggest Iñárritu dug deep into the vaults to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of one of his most beloved films. It's possible the exhibit will instil some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the multidisciplinary sculptor artist a major career survey, starting with her early works and progressing all the way up to a fresh series of pieces fashioned from scrap metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her components straight from the urban landscape, creating fascinating and strange constructions that have been displayed in prestigious art spots. With major shows in Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, Bove’s thirty years of work are ready for a in-depth survey. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – it’s in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as around 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of Renaissance Italy – but he has seldom been honored with a major show on US soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works from throughout Europe and more than 200 works in all, this promises to be a major event. 29 March–28 June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s queer art museum will host a significant and immersive film-based work by Taiwanese-American 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 transgender existence. The installation promises to be a highly interactive piece, with visitors encouraged to play around with the multiple movable screens that show the central film. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center showcases recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming unconventional materials to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. The show highlights recent pieces based on the theme of same-sex marriage. It extends her longstanding practice of employing found items as a meaningful gesture of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to use physical space differently, this exhibition investigates how non-verbal communication influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s research spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the haunting shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of rising Black artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a collection of the artist's architecture paintings. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue displays the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.