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Spanning Renaissance masters and pop artists, contemporary greats and even a renowned Latin American film-maker, art museums and institutions across the US are preparing a series of dazzling exhibitions coming up in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago in 2023, and currently merely a mostly empty page at a major museum's website, this major retrospective of a pioneering figures of the Pop Art era carries significant expectations. The institution will be drawing on its decades-old holdings of nearly 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, numerous loans from collections around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco partner museums, the Legion of Honor and another, will focus on Venice through two interconnected shows: one location will offer a exploration of the city as a source of high art for hundreds of years, and the latter will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the prospect of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for centuries – but he eventually met the challenge, producing some 37 paintings, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and 21 March-26 July.

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

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over a million feet of film that was left out of the final cut, crafting an art installation that doubles as a love letter to celluloid. Reportedly Iñárritu delved into the archives to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. Perhaps the exhibit will instil a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the mixed media sculptor artist a major career survey, starting with her early works and moving through to a new collection of works made from found metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove often takes her components straight from the city environment, producing fascinating and strange sculptures that have been displayed in prestigious venues. With significant exhibitions at the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s thirty years of work are ready for a thorough overview. Early Spring to Summer.

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 cut-out *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of the Italian Renaissance – but he has seldom received a major show on American soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from throughout Europe and over 200 works total, this promises to be a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a significant and immersive video installation by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the daily struggles of transgender existence. The installation is designed as a highly interactive experience, with visitors encouraged to interact with the four moveable screens that show the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center showcases recent creations from this artist, who was compelled to leave her home country of Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming unconventional materials to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. The show highlights new work based on the concept of queer weddings. This continues her longstanding practice of employing found items as a symbolic act of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 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 exhibition examines how non-verbal communication influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies included art dating back to 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming Black artist an innovative creator. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a collection of the artist's architectural studies. And also in September, an Arizona venue exhibits the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.