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From old masters and contemporary icons, contemporary greats alongside a major Mexican director, art museums and galleries across the US are preparing some dazzling exhibitions coming up in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back during 2023, and currently merely a mostly empty page at The Whitney’s online schedule, this expansive survey of one of the central creators of the pop art movement comes with significant anticipation. The museum plans to utilize its long-held holdings of nearly 500 works by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, dozens borrowed works from collections globally. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area sister institutions, the Legion of Honor along with deYoung, will focus on the Floating City through two linked shows: one location will offer a celebration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, and the latter will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the prospect of painting Venice – a theme that had captivated the most revered artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually rose to the task, producing approximately 37 canvases, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

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

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over a million feet of film that was left out of the final cut, creating an art installation that doubles as a love letter to celluloid. Accounts suggest the director dug deep 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. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the mixed media sculptor artist a major career survey, starting with her initial pieces and progressing all the way up to a new collection of works made from scrap metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove frequently takes her materials straight from the city environment, producing fascinating and strange sculptures that have been displayed in prestigious venues. Having had major shows in the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s thirty years of creation are ready for a in-depth survey. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside 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 landmark show. Raphael is well-known for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring 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 significant and immersive film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. As with most of her work, Cheang here explores the daily struggles of trans life. Lover Love promises to be a very engaging experience, with audience members encouraged to play around with the multiple movable screens that display 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 native Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for deconstructing unconventional materials to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights recent pieces based on the concept of same-sex marriage. This continues her ongoing project of employing reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are socialized to inhabit space differently, this exhibition 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 shadow-based work of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising artist an innovative creator. During the summer, an Arkansas museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a collection of the artist's architectural studies. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.