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Spanning Renaissance masters to contemporary icons, contemporary greats alongside a major Mexican film-maker, art museums as well as institutions across the US are preparing a series of dazzling shows coming up for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago in 2023, now merely a placeholder listing on a major museum's website, this major retrospective of a central creators of the Pop Art era comes with significant anticipation. The institution plans to utilize its decades-old collection of nearly 500 works by Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, dozens borrowed works from institutions globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area partner museums, the Legion of Honor along with another, will be centering Venice through two linked shows: one location presents a celebration of the city as an engine of high art for hundreds of years, and the latter will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. The artist was daunted by the challenge of depicting Venice – a theme that had captivated the most revered artists for centuries – but he eventually rose to the task, producing approximately 37 paintings, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and 21 March-26 July.

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

Marking the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over a million feet of footage that never made it into the final cut, crafting an art installation that also serves as a homage to film. Accounts suggest the director dug deep into the vaults to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of one of his most beloved films. Perhaps the exhibit will instil a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a major career survey, starting with her initial pieces and progressing all the way up to a fresh series of works fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her materials straight from the city environment, creating intriguing and unusual constructions that have appeared in prestigious venues. Having had significant exhibitions at Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, Bove’s thirty years of work are ripe for a thorough overview. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – it’s actually one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations were part of a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

Italian master painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of Renaissance Italy – but he has seldom been honored with a major show on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from throughout Europe and over 200 works in all, this promises to be a major event. Late March through June.

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

A New York queer art museum presents a significant and immersive film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the daily struggles of transgender existence. Lover Love is designed as a highly interactive piece, with audience members invited to interact with the four moveable screens that display the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center showcases new work from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for deconstructing discarded objects to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. The show highlights new work based on the theme of same-sex marriage. It extends her longstanding practice 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 exhibition examines how non-verbal communication shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies included art as old as 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the evocative shadow-based work of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, an Arkansas museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.