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Spanning Renaissance masters and contemporary icons, contemporary greats and even a renowned Latin American director, art museums as well as galleries throughout the United States have a series of dazzling shows coming up in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago in 2023, and currently merely a placeholder listing on a major museum's online schedule, this expansive survey of one of the central creators of the Pop Art era carries significant expectations. The museum will be drawing on its long-held holdings of nearly 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, 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 and deYoung, will focus on Venice through two interconnected shows: the former museum will offer a exploration of the city as an engine of high art throughout the centuries, and the latter will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet made of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the challenge of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – yet he ultimately rose to the task, producing approximately 37 canvases, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

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

Marking the quarter-century of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over a million feet of film that never made it of the final cut, creating an art installation that doubles as a homage to film. Reportedly the director delved into the vaults to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of one of his most beloved films. Perhaps the exhibit will evoke a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer.

Carol Bove

A major New York museum will give the multidisciplinary sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her early works and progressing through to a fresh collection of works fashioned from scrap metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her materials directly from the city environment, producing intriguing and unusual constructions that have appeared in prestigious venues. With significant exhibitions at Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, her thirty years of creation are ripe for a thorough overview. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and bound into a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, a Midwestern museum exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus around 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations were part of a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of the Italian Renaissance – but he has seldom received a major show on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from all across Europe and more than 200 works in all, this promises to be a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

NYC’s queer art museum presents a major, large-scale video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in digital art. As with most of her work, Cheang here explores the daily struggles of trans life. The installation promises to be a very engaging experience, with visitors 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 new work from this artist, who was compelled to leave her home country of Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming unconventional materials to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. The show highlights new work based on the theme of queer weddings. It extends her ongoing project of employing found items as a meaningful gesture of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to use physical space differently, this exhibition investigates how body language influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies included art dating back to 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the evocative shadow-based work of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of up and coming Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum reexamines iconic pop 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, an Arizona venue displays the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.