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Spanning old masters and contemporary icons, contemporary greats alongside a major Latin American film-maker, galleries and institutions throughout the US have some dazzling shows coming up in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back in 2023, now just a mostly empty page on a major museum's online schedule, this expansive survey of one of the pioneering figures of the pop art movement carries some pretty heavy anticipation. The museum plans to utilize its decades-old collection of close to 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, dozens borrowed works from collections globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area partner museums, one prestigious venue along with another, will focus on Venice through two linked shows: one location presents a celebration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, while the other zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the prospect of depicting Venice – a subject that had captivated the most revered artists for centuries – yet he ultimately met the challenge, producing some 37 canvases, among them the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and 21 March-26 July.

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 1m ft of film that was left out of the released movie, crafting an art installation that also serves as a homage to celluloid. Accounts suggest the director dug deep into the vaults to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. Perhaps the exhibit will evoke some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the pain 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, beginning with her initial pieces and moving through to a new collection of pieces fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her components straight from the urban landscape, creating fascinating and strange constructions that have appeared in prestigious venues. With significant exhibitions in Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, her three decades of creation are ready 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 actually one of 20 paper compositions that he combined with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum obtained 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: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has seldom received a large-scale exhibition on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from throughout Europe and over 200 works in all, this is poised as a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York queer art museum will host a significant and immersive film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. As with most of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the everyday realities of transgender existence. The installation is designed as a very engaging experience, with visitors encouraged to interact with the multiple movable screens that display the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston will feature recent creations from this artist, who was forced to flee her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming discarded objects to make elaborate, queer-themed assemblages. This exhibition showcases new work based on the concept of queer weddings. This continues her ongoing project of employing found items as a meaningful gesture of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to use physical space differently, this show investigates how non-verbal communication shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s research spanned art as old as ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and put into conversation with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the haunting silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his sculptural works. In September, a Michigan museum will show a selection of the artist's architecture paintings. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.