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Spanning old masters and pop artists, contemporary greats and even a major Mexican film-maker, galleries as well as institutions throughout the United States have a series of dazzling shows on the horizon for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back in 2023, now just a placeholder listing at The Whitney’s website, this major retrospective of one of the central creators of the Pop Art era comes with significant anticipation. The museum plans to utilize its long-held holdings of close to 500 works by Lichtenstein, in addition to, one would imagine, numerous borrowed works from institutions globally. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area sister institutions, the Legion of Honor along with another, will be centering Venice with two linked exhibitions: one location presents a exploration of the city as an engine of high art throughout the centuries, while the other zooms in on what the Impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the prospect of painting Venice – a subject that had inspired the most revered artists for hundreds of years – yet he ultimately met the challenge, creating approximately 37 canvases, including 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 revisits more than a million feet of footage that never made it of the released movie, crafting an immersive experience that also serves as a love letter to film. Reportedly the director delved into the vaults to create what he described as “a rebirth, not merely a tribute” of a cherished films. Perhaps the exhibit will evoke some of the hope that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the mixed media sculpture and installation creator a major career survey, beginning with her early works and progressing through to a fresh series of pieces fashioned from found metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 60s” and minimalism, Bove frequently sources her materials straight from the urban landscape, producing fascinating and strange constructions that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable venues. Having had major shows in Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, her three decades of work are ready for a thorough overview. 5 March–2 August.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Those familiar with the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute will display the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as around 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations represented a prolific final chapter for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has rarely been honored with a major show on US soil. A premier East Coast institution seeks to change that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is well-known for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from all across Europe and over 200 works in all, this is poised as a major event. Late March through June.

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

A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host 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 much of her work, Cheang here investigates the daily struggles of transgender existence. The installation is designed as a very engaging piece, with audience members encouraged to play around with the multiple movable screens that show the central film. 2 April–January 2027.

Leilah Babirye

A Boston contemporary art center showcases recent creations from this artist, who was compelled to leave her home country of Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for transforming discarded objects to make intricate, queer-themed sculptures. The show showcases recent pieces based on the theme of same-sex marriage. It extends her ongoing project of using found items as a symbolic act of resistance. 27 August–18 January 2027.

Taking Back Our Space

Expanding upon the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to use physical space differently, this exhibition investigates how non-verbal communication shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s studies spanned art dating back to 2000 BC. Here, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of contemporary diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the evocative silhouette art of an emerging artist. Beginning 5 March, an art gallery is featuring the work of up and coming artist an innovative creator. During the summer, an Arkansas museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a collection of Georgia O’Keefe’s architectural studies. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the colorful work of artist Kim Chong Hak.