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Spanning old masters to contemporary icons, modern visionaries and even a renowned Mexican film-maker, art museums as well as galleries across the United States have some spectacular exhibitions coming up for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago during 2023, now merely a placeholder listing at The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of a central creators of the pop art movement carries some pretty heavy expectations. The institution plans to utilize its long-held collection of nearly 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, dozens loans from institutions around the world. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

San Francisco sister institutions, the Legion of Honor and deYoung, will focus on the Floating City through two linked exhibitions: the former museum will offer a exploration of the city as a source of high art for hundreds of years, while the other zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated 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 approximately 37 canvases, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Marking the 25th anniversary of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than 1m ft of footage that was left out of the final cut, crafting an immersive experience that doubles as a love letter to celluloid. Reportedly the director delved into the vaults to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. It's possible the exhibit will instil some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her initial pieces and moving through to a new collection of pieces made from scrap metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove frequently takes her components directly from the urban landscape, producing fascinating and strange sculptures that have appeared in prestigious venues. With major shows at the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, her thirty years of work are ripe for a thorough survey. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone familiar with 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 paper compositions that he paired with text and published as 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 around 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations 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 Renaissance Italy – yet he has seldom received a major show on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works from all across Europe and more than 200 works total, this is poised as a major event. 29 March–28 June.

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

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a significant and immersive film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang in this piece explores the everyday realities of trans life. Lover Love promises to be a highly interactive experience, with audience members encouraged to interact with the four moveable screens that display the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center showcases new work from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for transforming discarded objects to make elaborate, queer-themed assemblages. The show showcases recent pieces based on the theme of same-sex marriage. This continues her longstanding practice of using found items as a symbolic act of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Building on the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are socialized to inhabit space differently, this show investigates how body language influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art as old as 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and put into conversation with the work of contemporary diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the evocative silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of rising artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue exhibits the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.