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Spanning old masters to contemporary icons, modern visionaries alongside a major Latin American film-maker, galleries as well as galleries across the United States are preparing a series of spectacular exhibitions on the horizon in 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced several years ago in 2023, now just a mostly empty page at a major museum's online schedule, this expansive survey of a pioneering figures of the pop art movement comes with some pretty heavy expectations. The institution will be drawing on its long-held holdings of close to 500 works from Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, numerous borrowed works from collections globally. Dates to be announced 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area partner museums, one prestigious venue along with another, will be centering the Floating City with two interconnected shows: the former museum will offer a exploration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, while the other will focus on what impressionist Claude Monet made of the enchanting city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the prospect of depicting Venice – a theme that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually rose to the task, producing some 37 paintings, among them the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and 21 March-26 July.

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

Marking the 25th anniversary of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over 1m ft of footage that was left out of the released movie, creating an immersive experience that also serves as a homage to film. Accounts suggest the director 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 exhibit will evoke a sense of optimism that runs through Iñárritu’s film in spite of the pain he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.

Carol Bove

The Guggenheim will give the mixed media sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her early works and moving all the way up to a new collection of works fashioned from scrap metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 1960s” and minimalism, Bove frequently takes her materials straight from the urban landscape, creating intriguing and unusual sculptures that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable art spots. Having had major shows at Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, her thirty years of creation are ripe for a in-depth overview. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – this is in fact 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 the complete set of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus around 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations represented 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 the Italian Renaissance – yet he has seldom received a large-scale exhibition on American soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With works from all across Europe and more than 200 works in all, this is poised as a blockbuster show. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love

A New York queer art museum will host a major, large-scale video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. As with much of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the everyday realities of trans life. Lover Love is designed as a very engaging piece, with visitors invited to play around with the four moveable screens that show the central film. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance

A Boston contemporary art center showcases new work from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for deconstructing discarded objects to make elaborate, queer-themed assemblages. This exhibition showcases recent pieces based on the concept of queer weddings. It extends her ongoing project of employing reclaimed materials as a meaningful gesture of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Building on the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to use physical space differently, this show investigates how non-verbal communication influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art dating back to ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the evocative shadow-based work of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. In the summer months, the Crystal Bridges Museum revisits 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum presents a collection of the artist's architecture paintings. And also in September, an Arizona venue exhibits the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.