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From Renaissance masters and pop artists, contemporary greats alongside a renowned Mexican director, art museums as well as galleries throughout the United States are preparing some dazzling shows coming up in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago during 2023, and currently merely a placeholder listing at The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of a central creators of the pop art movement comes with significant anticipation. The institution plans to utilize its decades-old holdings of close to 500 works from Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, numerous loans from institutions globally. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

San Francisco partner museums, one prestigious venue and another, will focus on the Floating City with two linked shows: the former museum presents a celebration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, and the latter zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the challenge of painting Venice – a subject that had inspired the most revered artists for centuries – but he eventually rose to the task, producing some 37 canvases, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and 21 March-26 July.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Marking the quarter-century of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over a million feet of footage that was left out of the final cut, crafting an art installation that also serves as a love letter to film. Accounts suggest the director 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 installation will instil some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her initial pieces and progressing through to a new collection of works made from scrap metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove often takes her components straight from the urban landscape, creating fascinating and strange constructions that have appeared in prestigious art spots. Having had major shows in Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, her three decades of work are ready for a in-depth overview. Early Spring to Summer.

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 papercut *Icarus* – it’s actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus some 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works represented a prolific final chapter 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 masters of Renaissance Italy – yet he has seldom been honored with a major show on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from all across Europe and over 200 works total, this is poised as a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a major, large-scale video installation by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. As with most of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the daily struggles of trans life. The installation promises to be a very engaging experience, with visitors encouraged to interact with the multiple movable screens that show the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center showcases new work from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for deconstructing unconventional materials to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. This exhibition showcases recent pieces based on the theme of same-sex marriage. It extends her ongoing project of using found items as a meaningful gesture of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are conditioned to use physical space differently, this show examines how non-verbal communication shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies included art as old as ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the haunting shadow-based work of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.