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Spanning Renaissance masters and pop artists, contemporary greats and even a renowned Mexican film-maker, galleries and galleries across the US are preparing some dazzling shows on the horizon in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago in 2023, now merely a mostly empty page on The Whitney’s website, this expansive survey of one of the pioneering figures of the pop art movement comes with some pretty heavy anticipation. The museum will be drawing on its decades-old holdings of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, numerous loans from collections around the world. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area sister institutions, one prestigious venue and another, will be centering Venice through two linked shows: one location will offer a celebration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, and the latter will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the challenge of painting Venice – a subject that had captivated the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually met the challenge, producing approximately 37 paintings, among them the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over 1m ft of footage that was left out into the released movie, crafting an art installation that doubles as a homage to film. Accounts suggest the director dug deep into the archives to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of one of his most beloved films. It's possible the installation will evoke a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the mixed media sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her early works and moving through to a new collection of pieces fashioned from found metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove often sources her components directly from the city environment, producing fascinating and strange constructions that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable venues. Having had major shows in the MoMA and a Parisian institution, Bove’s thirty years of work are ripe for a thorough survey. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – it’s in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum will display all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus some 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations represented 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 – yet he has seldom been honored with a large-scale exhibition on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from throughout Europe and over 200 works in all, this is poised as a blockbuster show. 29 March–28 June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a significant and immersive video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. As with most of her work, Cheang here investigates the daily struggles of trans life. The installation is designed as a highly interactive experience, with visitors encouraged to play around with the multiple movable screens that show 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 assemblages. The show showcases new work based on the concept of same-sex marriage. This continues her ongoing project of using found items as a symbolic act of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how genders are socialized to use physical space differently, this exhibition examines how body language shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art as old as ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and put into conversation with the work of contemporary diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

In February, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the haunting silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a collection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.