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From Renaissance masters and contemporary icons, modern visionaries alongside a renowned Latin American director, art museums and institutions throughout the United States are preparing some spectacular shows coming up for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back in 2023, and currently merely a placeholder listing on a major museum's website, this expansive survey of one of the pioneering figures of the Pop Art era comes with some pretty heavy anticipation. The museum will be drawing on its decades-old holdings of close to 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, dozens borrowed works from collections around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area sister institutions, one prestigious venue and deYoung, will be centering Venice through two linked exhibitions: one location will offer a exploration 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 enchanting city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the prospect of painting Venice – a theme that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – yet he ultimately rose to the task, creating some 37 canvases, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

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

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than a million feet of footage that never made it into the released movie, creating an art installation that also serves as a homage to celluloid. Accounts suggest Iñárritu 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 hardship he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the mixed media sculpture and installation creator a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her early works and progressing all the way up to a fresh series of pieces fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her materials directly from the urban landscape, producing fascinating and strange sculptures that have appeared in prestigious venues. With significant exhibitions at the MoMA and a Parisian institution, Bove’s three decades of creation are ripe for a in-depth overview. Early Spring to Summer.

Henri Matisse's *Jazz*: A Symphony of Cut Paper

Anyone who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus around 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of Renaissance Italy – but he has seldom received a large-scale exhibition on US soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from all across Europe and more than 200 works in all, this is poised as a major event. 29 March–28 June.

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

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a major, large-scale video installation by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang here investigates the daily struggles of trans life. Lover Love promises to be a highly interactive experience, with audience members encouraged to play around with the four moveable screens that display the central film. 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 when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming unconventional materials to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights new work based on the concept of same-sex marriage. This continues her ongoing project of employing found items as a meaningful gesture of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how genders are conditioned to use physical space differently, this show examines how body language influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies included art dating back to ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

And more …

In February, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the evocative silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of up and coming artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, an Arkansas museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a collection of the artist's architectural studies. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.