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Spanning old masters and pop artists, contemporary greats and even a renowned Mexican film-maker, galleries and galleries across the United States have some dazzling shows coming up in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago during 2023, and currently just a placeholder listing on The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of a pioneering figures of the pop art movement carries some pretty heavy anticipation. The institution will be drawing on its long-held collection of nearly 500 works from Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, numerous loans from collections globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco partner museums, one prestigious venue along with deYoung, will focus on the Floating City with two interconnected shows: the former museum presents a exploration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, while the other will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the prospect of depicting Venice – a subject that had inspired the most revered artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately rose to the task, creating some 37 canvases, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Marking the quarter-century of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than a million feet of footage that was left out of the released movie, crafting an immersive experience that also serves as a love letter to film. Accounts suggest the director dug deep into the vaults to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of one of his most beloved films. Perhaps the installation will evoke a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the mixed media sculpture and installation artist a major career survey, beginning with her initial pieces and progressing all the way up to a new series of works made from scrap metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove often takes her materials directly from the urban landscape, creating intriguing and unusual constructions that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable venues. Having had major shows at Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s thirty years of work are ready for a thorough survey. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus some 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

Italian master painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has seldom received a large-scale exhibition on US soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works from throughout Europe and over 200 works in all, this promises to be a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a significant and immersive video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang here investigates the everyday realities of trans life. The installation is designed as a highly interactive piece, with visitors encouraged to interact with the four moveable screens that display the core footage. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston will feature recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her home country of Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming discarded objects to make intricate, queer-themed sculptures. The show highlights new work based on the theme of queer weddings. This continues her ongoing project of using found items as a symbolic act of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are conditioned to use physical space differently, this show investigates how non-verbal communication shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s research included art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the haunting silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of rising artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum presents a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architecture paintings. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue displays the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.