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Spanning Renaissance masters and pop artists, modern visionaries and even a renowned Latin American film-maker, art museums and institutions throughout the US are preparing some spectacular exhibitions coming up in 2026.

The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein

First revealed several years ago in 2023, now merely a mostly empty page at The Whitney’s online schedule, this major retrospective of one of the central creators of the Pop Art era comes with some pretty heavy expectations. The museum will be drawing on its long-held collection of close to 500 works by Lichtenstein, as well as, presumably, dozens loans from collections globally. TBD 2026.

Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet

Bay Area partner museums, one prestigious venue and deYoung, will be centering Venice through two linked shows: one location presents a celebration of the city as a source of high art for hundreds of years, while the other zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the challenge of depicting Venice – a subject that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for hundreds of years – but he eventually rose to the task, 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

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to over 1m ft of footage that was left out into the released movie, creating an art installation that also serves as a love letter to film. Accounts suggest the director delved into the vaults to create what he called “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. It's possible the exhibit will evoke some of the hope that runs through Iñárritu’s film despite the pain he simultaneously documents. 22 February-26 July.

The Sculptural World of Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculpture and installation creator a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her initial pieces and moving all the way up to a fresh series of pieces fashioned from found metal and industrial materials. Inspired by “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove often takes her materials directly from the urban landscape, creating intriguing and unusual sculptures that have appeared in some of the country’s most notable art spots. Having had major shows at the MoMA and a Parisian institution, Bove’s three decades of creation are ripe for a thorough survey. Early Spring to Summer.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Anyone who know the book *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 bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. In the coming season, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – the first such showing since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus some 50 additional pieces by the artist. The cut paper works represented a late stage flowering for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

Italian master painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned masters of Renaissance Italy – yet he has seldom received a large-scale exhibition on US soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known 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 major event. 29 March–28 June.

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

NYC’s queer art museum presents a significant and immersive film-based work by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in digital art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang here investigates the everyday realities of transgender existence. The installation is designed as a very engaging piece, with visitors invited to interact with the four moveable screens that display the central film. Spring 2026 through early 2027.

Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston will feature new work 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. The show 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 foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to use physical space differently, this exhibition investigates how body language shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s research included art as old as ancient sculptures. Here, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of modern diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

Additional Highlights for 2026

Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the haunting silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Starting 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of rising artist an innovative creator. During the summer, an Arkansas museum revisits iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, a Michigan museum will show a collection of the artist's architecture paintings. And also in September, an Arizona venue displays the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.