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From Renaissance masters to pop artists, modern visionaries alongside a renowned Mexican director, galleries as well as galleries across the US are preparing some spectacular exhibitions on the horizon for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back in 2023, and currently just a mostly empty page at a major museum's online schedule, this major retrospective of one of the pioneering figures of the Pop Art era comes with significant expectations. The institution plans to utilize its long-held holdings of nearly 500 works by Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, numerous loans from collections around the world. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco sister institutions, the Legion of Honor along with another, will be centering Venice through two linked shows: one location will offer a celebration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, and the latter zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the prospect of depicting Venice – a subject that had captivated the most revered artists for centuries – but he eventually met the challenge, creating approximately 37 paintings, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and 21 March-26 July.

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

Marking the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over a million feet of film that never made it into the final cut, crafting an immersive experience that also serves as a love letter to celluloid. Reportedly Iñárritu delved into the vaults to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of one of his most beloved films. It's possible the installation will instil some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation creator a major career survey, beginning with her initial pieces and moving all the way up to a fresh series of pieces fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove often takes her components straight from the city environment, creating intriguing and unusual constructions that have been displayed in prestigious art spots. Having had major shows at Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s thirty years of work are ready for a in-depth overview. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those familiar with 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 paper compositions that he paired with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus some 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

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 – but he has rarely been honored with a major show on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from all across Europe and over 200 works in all, this promises to be a major event. Late March through June.

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

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a significant and immersive video installation by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang here investigates the daily struggles of trans life. The installation is designed as a highly interactive piece, with audience members encouraged to play around with the multiple movable screens that show the central film. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center will feature 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 recognized for transforming discarded objects to make intricate, queer-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights new work based on the theme of queer weddings. It extends her ongoing project 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 genders are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this show investigates how non-verbal communication influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s research included art dating back to ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of modern diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, the Detroit Institute of Arts will show a selection of the artist's architectural studies. And also in September, an Arizona venue displays the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.