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From Renaissance masters and pop artists, contemporary greats alongside a renowned Latin American film-maker, art museums and institutions throughout the United States are preparing some spectacular exhibitions on the horizon in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back during 2023, and currently merely a mostly empty page at a major museum's website, this expansive survey of a pioneering figures of the pop art movement comes with significant anticipation. The institution will be drawing on its long-held holdings of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, dozens loans from collections around the world. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco sister institutions, one prestigious venue and another, will focus on the Floating City with two interconnected shows: one location presents a exploration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, while the other will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the challenge of depicting Venice – a theme 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 Spring into Summer.

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

Marking the quarter-century of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over 1m ft of footage that was left out into the final cut, crafting an immersive experience that also serves as a homage to celluloid. Accounts suggest the director dug deep into the archives to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. Perhaps the exhibit will evoke some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the mixed media sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her early works and moving all the way up to a fresh collection of works fashioned from scrap metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove often takes her materials straight from the urban landscape, creating intriguing and unusual sculptures that have appeared in prestigious venues. With significant exhibitions at the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, her three decades of creation are ripe for a in-depth 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* – it’s actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of the Italian Renaissance – but he has seldom received a large-scale exhibition on US 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 more than 200 works total, this is poised as a major event. 29 March–28 June.

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

NYC’s queer art museum presents a significant and immersive film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang here explores the daily struggles of trans life. The installation promises to be a highly interactive piece, with visitors invited to interact with the four moveable screens that display the core footage. 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 known for deconstructing discarded objects to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. This exhibition showcases recent pieces based on the theme of same-sex marriage. It extends her ongoing project of using reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture 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 genders are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this show investigates how non-verbal communication influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s research spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of modern diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

In February, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the evocative silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising Black artist an innovative creator. During the summer, an Arkansas museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue exhibits the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.