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From Renaissance masters and contemporary icons, contemporary greats alongside a renowned Mexican film-maker, galleries as well as institutions across the US are preparing a series of spectacular exhibitions coming up in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago in 2023, now merely a mostly empty page on The Whitney’s online schedule, this expansive survey of one of the pioneering figures of the Pop Art era carries some pretty heavy expectations. The museum will be drawing on its decades-old holdings of nearly 500 works by Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, dozens borrowed works from institutions around the world. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

San Francisco sister institutions, one prestigious venue and another, will focus on Venice with two interconnected exhibitions: one location presents a celebration of the city as an engine of high art throughout the centuries, while the other will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the prospect of painting Venice – a subject that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – 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.

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

Celebrating the quarter-century of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than 1m ft of film that never made it of the released movie, crafting an immersive experience that doubles as a homage to celluloid. Reportedly the director delved into the vaults 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 evoke some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation creator a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her initial pieces and moving all the way up to a fresh collection of works fashioned from scrap metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove often sources her materials directly from the urban landscape, producing intriguing and unusual constructions that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable art spots. With significant exhibitions at Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s thirty years of creation are ripe for a in-depth survey. Early Spring to Summer.

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

Anyone familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus some 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works were part of a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has seldom been honored with a major show on American soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from throughout Europe and over 200 works total, this is poised as a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York 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 much of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the daily struggles of transgender existence. Lover Love is designed as a very engaging piece, with visitors encouraged to interact with the multiple movable screens that display the central film. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center showcases recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her home country of Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming unconventional materials to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. This exhibition showcases new work based on the theme of same-sex marriage. It extends her longstanding practice of employing found items as a meaningful gesture of resistance. 27 August–18 January 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 socialized to use physical space differently, this exhibition examines how body language shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the evocative shadow-based work of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of rising artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a collection of the artist's architectural studies. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.