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From Renaissance masters to pop artists, contemporary greats and even a renowned Mexican director, art museums and galleries across the United States are preparing some dazzling shows coming up in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back during 2023, now merely a mostly empty page at a major museum's website, this expansive survey 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 pieces from Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, numerous borrowed works from collections around the world. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco partner museums, the Legion of Honor and deYoung, will focus on the Floating City with two interconnected shows: one location will offer a celebration of the city as a source of artistic inspiration throughout the centuries, while the other will focus on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the prospect of depicting Venice – a subject that had captivated the most revered artists for centuries – but he eventually met the challenge, producing some 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

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his massive first feature, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over a million feet of film that never made it of the final cut, creating an immersive experience that doubles as a love letter to film. Reportedly the director dug deep into the archives to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. It's possible the installation will evoke some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her initial pieces and progressing through to a new series of works made from scrap metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove often sources her components directly from the urban landscape, producing intriguing and unusual sculptures that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable venues. Having had significant exhibitions in the MoMA and a Parisian institution, her three decades of work are ripe for a thorough survey. 5 March–2 August.

Henri Matisse's *Jazz*: A Symphony of Cut Paper

Those who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 cut-paper works that he combined with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, Chicago’s Art Institute will display all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works were part of a late stage flowering 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 renowned masters of the Italian Renaissance – but he has rarely received a large-scale exhibition on American soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from all across Europe and more than 200 works total, this promises to be a major event. 29 March–28 June.

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

NYC’s Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art presents a significant and immersive film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. As with most of her work, Cheang here investigates the everyday realities of trans life. The installation is designed as a highly interactive experience, with visitors invited to interact with the four moveable screens that show the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center showcases recent creations from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for deconstructing unconventional materials to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. This exhibition showcases new work based on the theme of same-sex marriage. This continues her ongoing project of using found items as a symbolic act of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how men and women are conditioned to use physical space differently, this show examines how non-verbal communication influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s research included art dating back to ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s findings 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 evocative silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of rising artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, an Arkansas museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a selection of the artist's architectural studies. Simultaneously, an Arizona venue displays the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.