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From old masters and pop artists, contemporary greats alongside a renowned Latin American director, galleries as well as galleries throughout the US are preparing some spectacular shows coming up in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back during 2023, and currently merely a placeholder listing at The Whitney’s online schedule, this expansive survey of a pioneering figures of the Pop Art era carries significant anticipation. The institution will be drawing on its long-held collection of close to 500 works by Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, dozens loans from institutions around the world. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

San Francisco partner museums, the Legion of Honor along with deYoung, will be centering the Floating City through two linked shows: one location presents a celebration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, and the latter zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the prospect of painting Venice – a subject that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – yet he ultimately rose to the task, creating approximately 37 paintings, among them the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.

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

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over 1m ft of film that never made it of the released movie, creating an immersive experience that doubles as a homage to film. Accounts suggest the director dug deep into the archives to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. Perhaps the installation will evoke a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation artist a major career survey, starting with her initial pieces and progressing through to a new series of works made from found metal and steel tubing. Inspired by “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove often sources her components directly from the urban landscape, creating intriguing and unusual constructions that have been displayed in prestigious art spots. With major shows in Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo, Bove’s thirty years of creation are ripe for a thorough overview. Early Spring to Summer.

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

Those who know a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 paper compositions that he combined with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – the first such showing after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – plus some 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works were part of a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Sublime Poetry

Italian master painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the celebrated titans of Renaissance Italy – yet he has rarely received a large-scale exhibition on American soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works from all across Europe and more than 200 works in all, this promises to be a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York queer art museum presents a major, large-scale film-based work by transmedia 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. Lover Love promises to be a very engaging experience, with audience members invited to interact with the four moveable screens that display the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center showcases 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 known for deconstructing discarded objects to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. This exhibition highlights new work based on the theme of same-sex marriage. It extends her longstanding practice of employing found items as a symbolic act of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are socialized to use physical space differently, this exhibition examines how body language influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies included art dating back to 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s findings are displayed and put into conversation with the work of contemporary diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

In February, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the haunting silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of rising artist an innovative creator. During the summer, an Arkansas museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. Come fall, a Michigan museum presents a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. And also in September, an Arizona venue displays the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.