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From Renaissance masters and contemporary icons, modern visionaries and even a renowned Mexican director, art museums as well as institutions throughout the United States have a series of dazzling shows on the horizon in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back during 2023, now merely a mostly empty page at The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of one of the central creators of the pop art movement carries some pretty heavy anticipation. The museum plans to utilize its decades-old holdings of nearly 500 works by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, numerous loans from institutions around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco sister institutions, the Legion of Honor and deYoung, will be centering Venice with two interconnected shows: the former museum presents a celebration of the city as an engine of high art throughout the centuries, and the latter will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the prospect of painting Venice – a subject that had inspired the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually met the challenge, creating approximately 37 canvases, among them the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

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

Celebrating the quarter-century of his groundbreaking first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than a million feet of footage that was left out into the final cut, creating an immersive experience that also serves as a love letter to celluloid. Reportedly Iñárritu dug deep into the vaults to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. It's possible the installation will evoke a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her early works and progressing through to a fresh series of works made from scrap metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her materials straight from the city environment, creating intriguing and unusual constructions that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable venues. With major shows in the MoMA and a Parisian institution, Bove’s three decades of creation are ready for a thorough survey. 5 March–2 August.

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

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 volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus some 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of Renaissance Italy – yet he has seldom been honored with a large-scale exhibition on American soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from all across Europe and over 200 works in all, this promises to be a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a significant and immersive film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang here investigates the daily struggles of trans life. The installation promises to be a very engaging piece, with audience members invited to play around with the multiple movable screens that show the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center will feature new work from this artist, who was forced to flee her home country of Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for transforming discarded objects to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights new work based on the concept of same-sex marriage. It extends her longstanding practice of employing reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are conditioned to use physical space differently, this show examines how non-verbal communication influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art as old as ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of modern diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

And more …

In February, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of up and coming artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, a Michigan museum presents a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.