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From old masters and contemporary icons, contemporary greats and even a major Latin American film-maker, art museums and galleries throughout the United States are preparing a series of dazzling exhibitions coming up for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back in 2023, now just a placeholder listing at The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of a central creators of the pop art movement comes with significant expectations. The museum will be drawing on its decades-old holdings of nearly 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, dozens loans from institutions around the world. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area partner museums, one prestigious venue and deYoung, will focus on the Floating City with two linked exhibitions: the former museum presents a celebration of the city as a source of high art throughout the centuries, and the latter zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic 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 centuries – yet he ultimately rose to the task, producing approximately 37 canvases, 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

Marking the quarter-century of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over a million feet of footage that never made it into the final cut, creating an immersive experience that doubles as a homage to film. Accounts suggest 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. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the mixed media sculpture and installation creator a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her early works and progressing all the way up to a new collection of pieces fashioned from found metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove frequently sources her components directly from the urban landscape, producing intriguing and unusual sculptures that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable venues. With significant exhibitions in Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, her three decades of creation are ready for a thorough overview. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as around 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has seldom received a large-scale exhibition on US soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works from throughout Europe and over 200 works in all, this promises to be a major event. 29 March–28 June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a significant and immersive video installation by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. As with much of her work, Cheang here explores the daily struggles of trans life. Lover Love is designed as a highly interactive experience, with visitors invited to interact with the four moveable screens that display the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her home country of Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for transforming unconventional materials to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. The show showcases recent pieces based on the theme of queer weddings. This continues her longstanding practice of employing found items as a meaningful gesture of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are conditioned to use physical space differently, this exhibition examines how non-verbal communication shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s research spanned art as old as ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s findings are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the evocative shadow-based work of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of up and coming artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, a Michigan museum presents a selection of the artist's architectural studies. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.