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Spanning old masters to pop artists, contemporary greats alongside a renowned Latin American film-maker, galleries as well as galleries across the US are preparing a series of spectacular shows on the horizon in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago in 2023, and currently just a placeholder listing on The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of one of the central creators of the pop art movement carries some pretty heavy expectations. The museum plans to utilize its decades-old collection of nearly 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, dozens borrowed works from institutions around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area partner museums, one prestigious venue and deYoung, will focus on Venice with two linked exhibitions: the former museum presents a celebration of the city as a source of high art throughout the centuries, while the other will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. The artist was daunted by the prospect of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually met the challenge, producing approximately 37 canvases, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and 21 March-26 July.

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

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than 1m ft of footage that was left out of the released movie, creating an immersive experience that doubles as a homage to celluloid. Accounts suggest the director dug deep into the archives to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of one of his most beloved films. Perhaps the installation will evoke a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation creator a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her initial pieces and moving through to a fresh series of works fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove often sources her materials directly from the city environment, producing intriguing and unusual sculptures that have appeared in prestigious venues. Having had major shows in Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, her three decades of work are ripe for a thorough survey. Early Spring to Summer.

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

Anyone familiar with the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of the Italian Renaissance – but he has rarely received a major show on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum 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 loans from throughout Europe and over 200 works in all, this promises to be a blockbuster show. 29 March–28 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 major figure in digital art. As with most of her work, Cheang here explores the everyday realities of transgender existence. Lover Love is designed as a highly interactive piece, 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

A Boston contemporary art center showcases recent creations from this artist, who was compelled to leave her home country of Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for transforming unconventional materials to make intricate, queer-themed sculptures. The show highlights recent pieces based on the theme of same-sex marriage. It extends her longstanding practice of using reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Building on the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this show examines how non-verbal communication shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s research spanned art as old as 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the haunting shadow-based work of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of rising artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring through a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, a Michigan museum presents a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.