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Spanning old masters and contemporary icons, contemporary greats alongside a renowned Latin American film-maker, galleries as well as institutions across the United States have some spectacular exhibitions coming up in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back in 2023, now just a mostly empty page at a major museum's online schedule, this major retrospective of a pioneering figures of the Pop Art era comes with significant anticipation. The museum plans to utilize its decades-old collection of close to 500 works from Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, numerous loans from institutions around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area sister institutions, one prestigious venue along with deYoung, will be centering Venice through two interconnected exhibitions: the former museum will offer a celebration of the city as a source of high art for hundreds of years, and the latter zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the challenge of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately met the challenge, creating some 37 paintings, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over 1m ft of film that was left out of the released movie, crafting an art installation that also serves as a love letter to film. Reportedly the director dug deep into the vaults to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of one of his most beloved films. It's possible the installation will instil some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the mixed media sculpture and installation creator a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her initial pieces and progressing all the way up to a new collection of works fashioned from scrap metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her components straight from the city environment, producing intriguing and unusual sculptures that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable venues. Having had major shows in Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, Bove’s three decades of creation are ready for a in-depth survey. Early Spring to Summer.

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 papercut *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 of Matisse’s other works. 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 masters of Renaissance Italy – but he has seldom been honored with a large-scale exhibition on US soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from all across Europe and over 200 works total, this promises to be a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York queer art museum presents a major, large-scale video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. As with most of her work, Cheang here explores the everyday realities of transgender existence. The installation promises to be a very engaging experience, with visitors invited to interact with the multiple movable screens that show the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston will feature recent creations from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for transforming unconventional materials to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. The show showcases recent pieces based on the concept of same-sex marriage. This continues her longstanding practice of using found items as a meaningful gesture of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this show examines how non-verbal communication shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art dating back to 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming artist an innovative creator. During the summer, an Arkansas museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents 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.