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From old masters to contemporary icons, modern visionaries alongside a major Mexican film-maker, galleries and galleries across the United States are preparing some dazzling exhibitions on the horizon for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back in 2023, and currently just a mostly empty page on The Whitney’s website, this major retrospective of one of the pioneering figures of the Pop Art era carries some pretty heavy expectations. The museum will be drawing on its long-held collection of nearly 500 works from Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, dozens loans from institutions globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area partner museums, the Legion of Honor and deYoung, will be centering Venice through two linked exhibitions: the former museum will offer a exploration of the city as an engine of high art for hundreds of years, while the other will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the prospect of painting Venice – a subject that had captivated the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually rose to the task, creating some 37 paintings, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August 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 returns to over 1m ft of footage that never made it of the released movie, creating an art installation that also serves as a homage to film. Accounts suggest the director dug deep into the vaults to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. Perhaps the installation will instil a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the mixed media sculpture and installation artist a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her initial pieces and moving through to a fresh collection of works fashioned from scrap metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her components straight from the urban landscape, creating fascinating and strange sculptures that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable venues. Having had significant exhibitions at Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, her thirty years of creation are ripe for a thorough overview. 5 March–2 August.

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

Anyone who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – it’s in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of the Italian Renaissance – but he has seldom received a large-scale exhibition on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works from throughout Europe and more than 200 works in all, this promises to be a major event. Late March through June.

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

A New York queer art museum will host a major, large-scale film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. As with much of her work, Cheang here explores the daily struggles of transgender existence. The installation promises to be a very engaging experience, with visitors invited to play around with the four moveable screens that display the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center will feature recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming discarded objects to make intricate, queer-themed sculptures. The show showcases recent pieces based on the concept of same-sex marriage. It extends her ongoing project 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 analyzed how genders are conditioned to use physical space differently, this show examines how body language influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies included art as old as 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of modern diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, 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 Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring through a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, the Detroit Institute of Arts will show a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue exhibits the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.