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Spanning old masters to contemporary icons, modern visionaries alongside a renowned Latin American director, galleries as well as galleries throughout the US are preparing a series of dazzling shows on the horizon for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago in 2023, and currently merely a mostly empty page on a major museum's website, this expansive survey of a central creators of the Pop Art era carries significant anticipation. The institution will be drawing on its long-held collection of nearly 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, numerous borrowed works from institutions around the world. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area partner museums, one prestigious venue along with deYoung, will be centering Venice with two linked shows: the former museum will offer a celebration of the city as a source of high art for hundreds of years, while the other will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the challenge of depicting Venice – a theme that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately rose to the task, producing 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

Marking the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking first feature, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than 1m ft of footage that was left out of the final cut, crafting an immersive experience that also serves as a homage to film. Accounts suggest the director delved into the archives to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. It's possible the exhibit will instil some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the mixed media sculpture and installation creator a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her initial pieces and progressing through to a fresh series of pieces fashioned from found metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove often takes her materials straight from the urban landscape, creating fascinating and strange constructions that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable venues. Having had significant exhibitions in the MoMA 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

Those familiar with a certain publication *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 volume 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 – plus around 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of Renaissance Italy – but he has rarely been honored with a large-scale exhibition on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works from throughout Europe and over 200 works total, this is poised as a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s queer art museum will host a significant and immersive film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang in this piece explores the daily struggles of transgender existence. Lover Love promises to be a very engaging experience, with visitors encouraged 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 recent creations from this artist, who was compelled to leave 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 sculptures. The show highlights recent pieces based on the theme of queer weddings. It extends her ongoing project of employing reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are socialized to inhabit space differently, this show examines how body language shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s research included art as old as 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the haunting shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising Black artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a selection of the artist's architectural studies. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.