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From Renaissance masters to pop artists, contemporary greats and even a major Latin American director, art museums as well as institutions throughout the US are preparing a series of spectacular exhibitions on the horizon in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back during 2023, now merely a mostly empty page on a major museum's online schedule, this expansive survey of a central creators of the Pop Art era comes with significant anticipation. The institution plans to utilize its long-held holdings of close to 500 works from Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, numerous borrowed works from collections around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area sister institutions, the Legion of Honor along with another, will be centering Venice with two interconnected shows: the former museum presents a celebration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, and the latter will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. The artist was daunted by the prospect of depicting Venice – a subject that had captivated the most revered artists for centuries – but he eventually rose to the task, producing approximately 37 paintings, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and 21 March-26 July.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Marking the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than 1m ft of film that never made it of the released movie, crafting an immersive experience that doubles as a homage to film. Reportedly the director dug deep into the archives to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of one of his most beloved films. It's possible the exhibit will instil some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the multidisciplinary sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her early works and progressing all the way up to a fresh series of works made from scrap metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her components directly from the city environment, producing fascinating and strange sculptures that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable venues. With significant exhibitions at Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, Bove’s three decades of creation 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* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – it’s in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus some 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has rarely received a major show on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from all across Europe and more than 200 works in all, this promises to be a major event. 29 March–28 June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s queer art museum presents a significant and immersive video installation by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang here investigates the daily struggles of trans life. Lover Love promises to be a very engaging experience, with visitors encouraged to interact with the four moveable screens that display the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases recent creations from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming unconventional materials to make intricate, queer-themed assemblages. The show highlights new work based on the concept of queer weddings. It extends her longstanding practice of using found items as a symbolic act of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Building on the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are socialized to use physical space differently, this show investigates how body language influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art as old as 2000 BC. Here, Wex’s findings are displayed and put into conversation with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the evocative shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of up and coming Black artist an innovative creator. During the summer, an Arkansas museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum presents a selection of the artist's architectural studies. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.