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From old masters and contemporary icons, contemporary greats alongside a major Latin American director, galleries and galleries throughout the United States are preparing some dazzling exhibitions on the horizon in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed all the way back during 2023, and currently just a placeholder listing on The Whitney’s website, this expansive survey of one of the pioneering figures of the Pop Art era comes with some pretty heavy anticipation. The museum will be drawing on its long-held collection of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, dozens borrowed works from collections globally. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area sister institutions, the Legion of Honor along with deYoung, will be centering Venice through two linked shows: the former museum will offer a exploration of the city as an engine of high art throughout the centuries, while the other zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself felt intimidated by the prospect of depicting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for centuries – but he eventually rose to the task, creating some 37 paintings, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Celebrating the quarter-century of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over 1m ft of footage that was left out into the final cut, crafting an immersive experience that also serves as a homage to film. Accounts suggest Iñárritu dug deep 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 a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of 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 creator a major career survey, beginning with her initial pieces and progressing all the way up to a new series of pieces fashioned from scrap metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove frequently takes her materials straight from the city environment, producing fascinating and strange constructions that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable venues. Having had major shows at the MoMA and a Parisian institution, Bove’s thirty years of creation are ready for a thorough survey. Early Spring to Summer.

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

Those familiar with the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *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 will display the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as around 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works represented 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 renowned titans of Renaissance Italy – yet he has seldom received a major show on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from throughout Europe and over 200 works in all, this promises to be a major event. 29 March–28 June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a significant and immersive video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the daily struggles of trans life. Lover Love promises to be a highly interactive experience, with audience members encouraged to play around with the multiple movable screens that display the central film. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center showcases new work from this artist, who was forced to flee her home country of Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for deconstructing unconventional materials to make elaborate, queer-themed sculptures. The show showcases new work based on the concept of same-sex marriage. It extends her longstanding practice of employing found items as a symbolic act of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Expanding upon the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how genders are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this exhibition investigates how non-verbal communication shapes unspoken interaction. Wex’s studies included art dating back to ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s explorations are displayed and put into conversation with the work of contemporary diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum celebrates the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, an Arkansas museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum presents a selection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.