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Spanning old masters and pop artists, contemporary greats alongside a renowned Mexican director, galleries and institutions throughout the US are preparing a series of spectacular exhibitions on the horizon in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back during 2023, now just a mostly empty page on a major museum's online schedule, this expansive survey of one of the central creators of the Pop Art era comes with significant expectations. The museum will be drawing on its long-held holdings of nearly 500 works from Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, dozens loans from institutions around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area sister institutions, the Legion of Honor along with deYoung, will be centering the Floating City through two linked shows: the former museum presents a celebration of the city as a source of high art for hundreds of years, while the other zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the prospect of painting Venice – a subject that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately rose to the task, creating some 37 paintings, 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 quarter-century of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than a million feet of film that never made it into the released movie, crafting an immersive experience that also serves as a love letter to celluloid. Accounts suggest the director delved into the archives to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. It's possible the exhibit will instil a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the mixed media sculptor artist a major career survey, beginning with her initial pieces and progressing through to a fresh series of pieces fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove frequently takes her materials straight from the urban landscape, creating intriguing and unusual constructions that have been displayed in prestigious art spots. With significant exhibitions in Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, her three decades of creation are ripe for a thorough overview. Early Spring to Summer.

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

Those who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum will display all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus around 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has seldom been honored with a large-scale exhibition on American soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works from throughout Europe and over 200 works in all, this is poised as a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York queer art museum presents a significant and immersive film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang here explores the everyday realities of transgender existence. Lover Love is designed as a very engaging piece, with visitors encouraged to interact with the four moveable screens that display the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center showcases recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for deconstructing unconventional materials to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights new work based on the theme of same-sex marriage. This continues her ongoing project of using reclaimed materials 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 use physical space differently, this show investigates how body language influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s research spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of rising artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a selection of the artist's architecture paintings. Simultaneously, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.