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Spanning old masters and pop artists, contemporary greats alongside a major Latin American director, art museums and institutions across the United States have some spectacular exhibitions on the horizon in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back in 2023, now merely a mostly empty page at a major museum's online schedule, this major retrospective of a central creators of the Pop Art era comes with significant expectations. The museum will be drawing on its decades-old collection of close to 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, numerous loans from institutions around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area sister institutions, one prestigious venue and another, will focus on the Floating City through two interconnected shows: the former museum presents a celebration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, and the latter will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the prospect of painting Venice – a subject that had inspired the most revered artists for centuries – but he eventually met the challenge, producing some 37 canvases, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

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

Marking the quarter-century of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than 1m ft of footage that never made it into the released movie, creating an immersive experience that doubles as a homage to celluloid. Accounts suggest Iñárritu delved into the vaults to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of one of his most beloved films. It's possible the installation will instil some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a major career survey, starting with her early works and moving through to a fresh series of works fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove often sources her components directly from the urban landscape, creating fascinating and strange constructions that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable venues. With major shows at Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, her thirty years of work are ready for a thorough overview. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those familiar with the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus around 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations were part of a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of Renaissance Italy – but he has rarely been honored with a major show on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from throughout Europe and over 200 works total, this is poised as a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a significant and immersive video installation by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang here investigates the everyday realities of transgender existence. The installation promises to be a very engaging experience, with audience members invited to interact with the multiple movable screens that display the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston 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 sculptures. The show highlights recent pieces based on the concept of queer weddings. This continues her ongoing project of using found items as a meaningful gesture of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on 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 body language shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s research included art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are displayed and put into conversation with the work of modern diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the evocative shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, the Detroit Institute of Arts will show a selection of the artist's architectural studies. And also in September, an Arizona venue displays the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.