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Spanning Renaissance masters and pop artists, modern visionaries alongside a major Latin American director, galleries as well as galleries throughout the United States are preparing some spectacular exhibitions on the horizon for 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back in 2023, now merely a mostly empty page at a major museum's online schedule, this expansive survey of one of the pioneering figures of the Pop Art era comes with significant expectations. The institution plans to utilize its decades-old holdings of close to 500 works from Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, dozens loans from collections around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area partner museums, one prestigious venue and another, will be centering Venice through two linked shows: the former museum will offer a exploration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, while the other will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the prospect of depicting Venice – a theme that had captivated the most revered artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately rose to the task, creating approximately 37 canvases, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

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

Marking the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than a million feet of film that was left out of the final cut, crafting an art installation that doubles as a homage to celluloid. Accounts suggest the director delved into the archives to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” 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. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the mixed media sculptor artist a major career survey, beginning with her initial pieces and moving through to a new series of works made from scrap metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove frequently takes her materials directly from the city environment, producing fascinating and strange sculptures that have been displayed in prestigious venues. With major shows in Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, her thirty years of creation are ready for a thorough survey. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he combined with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of the Italian Renaissance – but he has seldom been honored with a major show on US soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify 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 more than 200 works total, this promises to be a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang's *Lover Love*: An Interactive Vision

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a significant and immersive film-based work by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. As with most of her work, Cheang here explores the daily struggles of transgender existence. The installation is designed as a highly interactive experience, with audience members encouraged to interact with the multiple movable screens that show the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston 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 known for transforming discarded objects to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. This exhibition showcases new work based on the theme of queer weddings. It extends her ongoing project of using found items as a meaningful gesture of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are conditioned to use physical space differently, this exhibition investigates how body language shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s research spanned art as old as 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and put into conversation with the work of contemporary diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

In February, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the haunting silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 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 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a collection of the artist's architectural studies. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.