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From Renaissance masters to contemporary icons, contemporary greats and even a major Latin American film-maker, galleries as well as galleries across the US have some dazzling exhibitions coming up for 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back in 2023, now merely a mostly empty page at a major museum's website, this major retrospective of a pioneering figures of the Pop Art era comes with significant anticipation. The institution will be drawing on its long-held collection of close to 500 works from Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, numerous loans from institutions globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area partner museums, the Legion of Honor along with another, will focus on Venice with two linked exhibitions: the former museum will offer 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 romantic city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the prospect of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for centuries – yet he ultimately met the challenge, creating approximately 37 canvases, including the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and 21 March-26 July.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Marking the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than a million feet of film that never made it into the released movie, creating an art installation that doubles as a love letter to celluloid. Reportedly Iñárritu delved into the archives to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of one of his most beloved films. It's possible the installation will evoke some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the mixed media sculpture and installation artist a major career survey, beginning with her initial pieces and moving through to a new series of pieces fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her components directly from the urban landscape, creating intriguing and unusual sculptures that have appeared in prestigious art spots. With significant exhibitions at the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s thirty years of work are ripe for a thorough overview. 5 March–2 August.

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

Those familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 paper compositions 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 – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as around 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated masters of Renaissance Italy – yet he has seldom been honored with a major show 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 in all, this is poised as a blockbuster show. 29 March–28 June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York queer art museum will host a significant and immersive video installation by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang here investigates the daily struggles of transgender existence. The installation promises to be a highly interactive piece, with visitors encouraged to play around with the four moveable 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 compelled to leave her native Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for deconstructing discarded objects to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. This exhibition highlights new work based on the concept of same-sex marriage. This continues her longstanding practice of employing reclaimed materials as a symbolic act of defiance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the pioneering work of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how genders are socialized to inhabit space differently, this exhibition investigates how non-verbal communication influences unspoken interaction. Wex’s research spanned art as old as ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

In February, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the haunting shadow-based work of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of rising artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum displays the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.