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Spanning Renaissance masters to pop artists, contemporary greats alongside a renowned Latin American director, art museums as well as galleries across the United States have a series of spectacular shows on the horizon for 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back in 2023, now just a placeholder listing at a major museum's website, this major retrospective of a central creators of the Pop Art era carries significant expectations. The institution will be drawing on its decades-old collection of close to 500 works from Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, numerous loans from collections globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

San Francisco partner museums, one prestigious venue along with another, will focus on Venice through two interconnected shows: one location will offer a celebration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, while the other will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the prospect of painting Venice – a subject that had captivated the most revered artists for centuries – yet he ultimately rose to the task, producing approximately 37 paintings, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and 21 March-26 July.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Marking the quarter-century of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than 1m ft of film that was left out of the final cut, crafting an immersive experience that doubles as a homage to film. Reportedly Iñárritu dug deep into the vaults to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. Perhaps the installation will instil some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the mixed media sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her initial pieces and progressing through to a fresh collection of pieces fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove often takes her components directly from the city environment, creating intriguing and unusual constructions that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable art spots. Having had major shows at the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, her thirty years of work are ready for a in-depth survey. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus some 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations were part of a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of Renaissance Italy – but he has rarely been honored with a large-scale exhibition on American soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change 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. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s queer art museum presents a major, large-scale film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. As with most of her work, Cheang here explores the daily struggles of transgender existence. Lover Love promises to be a very engaging experience, with audience members encouraged to play around with the four moveable screens that display the central film. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston will feature new work 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, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. The show highlights recent pieces based on the theme of same-sex marriage. It extends her longstanding practice of using found items as a symbolic act of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are socialized to inhabit space differently, this exhibition examines how body language shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s research included art as old as ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the evocative 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 reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, a Michigan museum presents a selection of the artist's architecture paintings. And also in September, an Arizona venue displays the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.